We are currently analyzing the responses and will be presenting a summary report to Council in September.
In the fall, we will be hosting workshops to further dive into some of the issues with zoning and parking in Sparwood.
Please sign up with the form at the bottom of this page to keep updated on this project!
The purpose of a Zoning Bylaw is to control the use of land in accordance with the District's Official Community Plan (OCP). This bylaw sets out the rules and regulations respecting how land can be used within the community and includes what can be built, where it can be built, and how it can be used. Zoning is typically intended to create compatibility between different land uses. The Zoning Bylaw can be amended as a Council-led initiative, or by application.
Growth and change in the community can be managed effectively through policies related to the provision of infrastructure, services, and amenities and through the regulation of land use and development. Promoting compact, mixed-use, and high quality development will help protect our natural areas by reducing urban sprawl, eliminating unnecessary infrastructure spending, and fostering a convenient, walkable, and livable community. Two of the District’s main land use regulations are the Official Community Plan and the Zoning Bylaw, which are described below. You can review the applicable zoning of properties in Sparwood by viewing our interactive map.
The District of Sparwood is in the process of updating its Zoning Bylaw. This document sets out the rules and regulations respecting land uses within the community, such as setbacks, building size and property uses. The current Zoning Bylaw which was adopted in 1981 has seen many amendments without a comprehensive review.
The purpose of this update is to modernize the bylaw, check-in with the community and business owners on any potential changes they may like to see, and to ensure consistency with the District’s Official Community Plan which was adopted in 2015.
For any questions or comments pertaining to this project, please contact Planning at planning@sparwood.ca or 250-425-6271.
In 2019, The District undertook community-wide engagement work to help identify issues and potential changes that should be made to the Zoning and Parking Bylaws. This included a community survey, workshop and direct stakeholder engagement. The 2019 project was not completed; however, the work done by the community has been saved and is a starting point for the 2025 project.
Below are links to the summary documents of the work completed in 2019:
The District's Zoning and Parking Bylaws are old. The Zoning Bylaw was adopted in 1981 and the Off Street Parking and Loading Bylaw was adopted in 1988. Typically these Bylaws would be re-written every 10 to 20 years. Over time these bylaws have been amended to try to keep them current; however, amendment after amendment can lead to conflicts within a bylaw. These bylaws are due for a significant update and the District will be seeking input and suggestions from the community to help develop these new bylaws.
Sign up to receive information and engagement opportunities for updating Sparwood's Zoning Bylaw.
Personal information you provide on this form is being collected for the purposes of providing updates on the Zoning Bylaw Re-write. The information is collected under the authority of Section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Questions about the collection of your personal information may be referred to the Manager of Corporate Services, District of Sparwood, 136 Spruce Avenue, Sparwood, B.C., via phone at 250.425.6271, or via email at corporate@sparwood.ca