Planning to Develop Your Property? Please Consider the Following Information
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Planning to develop your property? please consider the following information qathet Regional District provides PLANS & ZONING planning services to Electoral Areas Prior to any development or alteration of land on A, B, C and D (Texada Island). The City your property speak to Planning staff to determine of Powell River and Tla’amin Nation whether your proposed development complies with have their own planning departments. qathet Regional District land use policies and bylaws. Electoral Area E (Lasqueti Island) What is an Official Community Plan? receives planning services from the Islands Trust. An Official Community Plan (OCP) sets out a vision, goals and overarching policies guiding land use For planning and land use related and development in the area covered by the plan. questions please contact Planning staff: The Regional Board, staff, and property owners use qathet Regional District the OCP to help guide decisions on where to locate 202-4675 Marine Avenue new development and where to provide regional Powell River, BC V8A 2L2 and electoral area services. www.qathet.ca What is a zoning bylaw? 604-485-2260 [email protected] A zoning bylaw sets out specific land use regulations in the area covered by the zoning. The Regional Board and staff use zoning bylaws to ensure specific types of land use occur in appropriate areas, and to ensure that new development complies with policies outlined in the Official Community Plan. qathet Regional District official community plans, zoning bylaws, and development resources are available online: www.qathet.ca/land-use ENVIRONMENTALLY SUBDIVISION SENSITIVE AREAS & BUILDING Environmentally sensitive areas such as natural Can I subdivide my property? hazard areas and riparian areas are identified in all Subdivision approvals in the electoral areas of the qathet Regional District Official Community Plans. regional district are under the authority of the Specific development policies and guidelines BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. apply to all new development within these areas. Prior to making an application to the ministry to What are riparian areas? subdivide your property, qathet Regional District Riparian areas are lands adjacent to watercourses Planning staff can provide advice to help ensure such as lakes, streams, creeks, and wetlands. These your proposal complies with local land use bylaws. areas support a unique mixture of native trees For more information on the rural subdivision and vegetation that directly influence fish and approval process and how to make an application wildlife habitat. contact: Prior to any new development or alteration of Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure land in riparian areas, it is recommended that a 6953 Alberni Street, Powell River, BC V8A 2B8 site-level riparian area assessment be completed 604-485-3610 [email protected] by a qualified environmental professional to ensure sensitive riparian areas and fish habitat are www.th.gov.bc.ca/DA/Subdivision_Home.asp protected from proposed development. Do I need a building permit? For more details, review the Developing properties The BC Building Code applies to all lands in the where there are Riparian Areas brochure and province. qathet Regional District has not contact Planning staff. adopted a building bylaw to implement building What are natural hazard areas? inspections or issue building permits. It is Natural hazard areas are lands that may be advised that you hire a certified builder for any environmentally sensitive to development. Hazard construction, renovation, or restoration. Builders lands can include steep-slope areas subject to rock in BC are regulated by: fall or landslide, and low-lying coastal areas and BC Housing: Licensing & Consumer Services floodplains subject to flooding. Suite 203-4555 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H 4T8 Prior to any new development or alteration of land 1-800-407-7757 [email protected] in natural hazard areas, it is recommended that a www.bchousing.org/licensing-consumer-services site-level assessment by a qualified professional be completed to ensure safe building sites and If I am building my own home, or a home safe development practices are selected. for someone else, do I need home warranty insurance? For more details and good design practices for natural hazard areas, review the Developing Land owners and owner-builders in the province properties where there are Natural Hazard Areas are subject to all licensing and warranty insurance brochure and contact Planning staff. managed by BC Housing: Licensing & Consumer Services. Home Warranty Insurance must be in place prior to the commencement of construction. Do I need an electrical permit? Yes, electrical permits are managed by: Technical Safety BC 1-866-566-7233 [email protected] www.technicalsafetybc.ca ADDRESSING & SETBACKS FOR DRIVEWAYS CONSTRUCTION How do I get an address for my property? Are there setbacks for development? qathet regional district assigns addresses in the Property owners must ensure that all buildings and electoral areas. To request a new address for your structures are sited within the legal boundaries of property, contact Planning staff. A visible civic their property. Land Surveyors of BC are exclusively address is critical for the provision of emergency responsible for determining boundaries of interests in services. For questions about your existing address land and can provide exact property line boundaries assignment, contact our Mapping Department to ensure adequate setbacks for wells, septic systems, at 604-485-2260. building and fire safety. Contact the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for specific setbacks I want to develop a driveway access onto my required for the location of structures from a road. property from the road. Do I need a permit? Are there building setbacks from the sea? Yes, driveway access permits are managed by: qathet Regional District encourages compliance with Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure the BC Ministry of Environment & Climate Change 6953 Alberni Street, Powell River, BC V8A 2B8 Strategy’s guidelines for recommended setbacks 604-485-3610 [email protected] from the sea and steep banks. For more details, www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/ contact Planning staff. funding-engagement-permits Am I responsible for maintaining my driveway PARK DEDICATION access including my culvert? Are there requirements for park dedication? Yes, a property owner who has a driveway access If your subdivision proposal creates three or more onto any road is responsible for maintaining it. additional lots, the Local Government Act requires This includes maintaining culverts to ensure they park dedication to local government. Park dedication are clear of debris and draining properly, replacing could be land for a community park or money for a culverts when necessary, clearing snow from the community park reserve fund. The amount of land access entrance, and maintaining the access to or money to be provided will not exceed 5% of the ensure that drainage and materials do not spill market value of the land being subdivided. For more onto the road. Failing to maintain your driveway details, contact Planning Staff. access and culvert can cause damage to the road, your property and adjacent properties. AGRICULTURAL LANDS From the perspective of emergency response, I think my property may be in the Agricultural what other things should I consider when Land Reserve, what does that mean? developing a driveway? Lands within the BC Agricultural Land Reserve Your driveway should be clearly marked with are subject to provisions of the BC Agricultural your address numbers, be at least 5 metres wide, Land Commission (ALC) Act and Agricultural Land have a solid base of gravel or asphalt, and should Reserve (ALR) Use Regulation. The ALC Act and ALR not be too steep or have very sharp curves. Use Regulation prohibit or restrict non-farm use of Driveways should remain clear of excess vehicles or land within the ALR, unless otherwise permitted anything else that would hinder access by a large or exempted. Contact ALC staff for information on emergency vehicle. land use and development in the ALR: Agricultural Land Commission 236-468-3285 [email protected] www.alc.gov.bc.ca SEWER & WATER SERVICING PROPERTY LINES & TITLE Is my property serviced by the Myrtle Pond How do I know where my property lines are or if Water System or the Lund Sewer System? there are encumbrances on my property title? qathet Regional District owns, operates, and The Land Title and Survey Authority of British maintains the Myrtle Pond Water System and the Columbia is responsible for administering the land Lund Sewer System. Contact Operational Services title and survey systems. Only BC land surveyors staff to determine if you are in the service area, for carry the authority to advise property owners on establishing property boundaries. It is important to connection requirements, or general information: seek legal advice for encumbrances registered on qRD Operational Services your title that may impact the use of the property. 604-487-1380 [email protected] Land Title and Survey Authority Who do I contact regarding septic of British Columbia installation on my property? 1-877-577-LTSA (5872) [email protected] A Registered Onsite Wastewater Practitioner www.ltsa.ca (ROWP) or professional engineer is required to manage successful onsite septic installation. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES For more information contact Vancouver Coastal Health (contact below). How do I know if there are archaeological remains on my property? Who do I contact regarding water servicing on my property? To find out if there may be registered archaeological sites on your property, contact All new wells are required to be drilled by a certified the BC Archaeology Branch. Archaeological sites well driller. For more information on wells, water are highly valued by First Nations and protected quality or test results, and water supply systems, under the BC Heritage Conservation Act. This contact: legislation applies equally to sites on public Vancouver Coastal Health and private land.