Establishes Courtenay's independent Board of Variance, which hears resident appeals for minor zoning relief such as setback, height or siting requirements.
Zoning & land use — Courtenay, British Columbia
What can I build? Do I need a development permit?
The City of Courtenay, British Columbia has 10 adopted bylaws on file: Board of Variance Bylaw No. 1697; Building Bylaw; Building Bylaw No. 3114; Development Procedures Bylaw No. 3202, 2026; Fill Placement and Soil Removal Bylaw No. 2359, 2004; Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 1743, 1994 (updated May 3, 2011); Official Community Plan (OCP) Bylaw No. 3206, 2026; Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw No. 3200 (Consolidated July 2026); Zoning Bylaw; Zoning Bylaw No. 3203 (Consolidated July 21, 2026), verified 2026-08-28.
Regulates building construction, alterations, and demolition in Courtenay, including permit requirements and inspections.
Regulates construction within Courtenay and administers the BC Building Code, requiring building permits and inspections; includes a 2025 Zero Carbon Step Code amendment.
Establishes the standard application and approval process for development permits, rezonings, variances and other land-use approvals in Courtenay.
Regulates and requires permits for placing fill or removing soil on land within the City, as a land-use and erosion-control measure.
Sets minimum building elevations, setbacks and construction standards for land within Courtenay's mapped floodplain areas to mitigate flood risk.
Sets Courtenay's long-term land use and growth vision (housing, transportation, parks, infrastructure, climate action) that guides zoning and development decisions.
Requires developers to install or upgrade roads, utilities and drainage infrastructure to city construction standards, with financial security, before a subdivision is approved.
Courtenay Zoning Bylaw establishing land use zones, permitted uses, and development standards for the city.
Divides Courtenay into zones (residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, comprehensive development) and sets permitted uses, density, setbacks and siting rules for each.