About the OCP Public Hearing

The public hearing will consider replacing Victoria’s current OCP with Victoria 2050 and related bylaw updates that will modernize the City’s zoning.

The proposed updates will guide and regulate new development across the city to enable housing to be built faster and ensure new development supports climate solutions and communities with amenities and services close to home.

Learn more about Victoria 2050 and zoning modernization below. Several other policies and bylaws are being considered for final approval along with the OCP and zoning. Read a full summary here.

Victoria 2050: The Updated Official Community Plan

The proposed plan includes new development permit areas, heritage conservation areas and guidelines that will impact properties across the city. It guides:

  • Development for land use that aims to meet future housing and employment needs.
  • Low-carbon growth that is responsive to climate change.
  • Thoughtful decision making that protects what we love about Victoria, like heritage and ecological assets and our unique, walkable neighbourhoods.

Learn more about the approach to these changes in Schedule B of the proposed OCP and in the documents below:

Zoning Modernization

Victoria is modernizing its zoning through amendments to Zoning Bylaw 2018 which regulates use, height, density and other key features on private property. The proposed approach to zoning:

  • Enables diverse housing, between four and six storeys, to be developed in residential areas throughout the city.
  • Simplifies regulations, making the process for realizing new housing easier and new development regulations clearer.
  • Ensures development makes space for trees and open space and contributes to an enjoyable and interesting city.

Learn more about the approach to Zoning Modernization.

Access a blackline copy with proposed changes:Zoning Bylaw 2018 (Blackline copy with proposed changes)

Review the full amendment bylaw: Zoning Bylaw 2018, Amendment Bylaw (No. 17), No. 25-038

Both updates above require changes to the City’s other zoning bylaw for alignment. Read the Zoning Regulation Bylaw, Amendment Bylaw (No. 1361), No. 25-051