FAQs

Zoning is the regulation of land use and development. A zone tells you what you can do and where you can build on the land. For example, a residential zone will permit residential use of parcels within that zone, but not permit commercial uses such as restaurants or hotels.   

Currently, each electoral area has a Zoning Bylaw with regulations for each zone, including use, density and siting (e.g. setbacks). Each Zoning Bylaw is equipped with a section of definitions and general regulations that apply to all zones.

Electoral area zoning does not apply to First Nation Reserves or to incorporated municipalities (i.e. City of Duncan, Municipality of North Cowichan, Town of Ladysmith and Town of Lake Cowichan).

The online CVRD Web Map allows anyone to search their property and find important information like zoning, OCP designations, development permit areas, service areas and more. 

To use the Web Map simply go to the Web Map and click on desktop icon (see image #1). From there a disclaimer statement will appear, click 'accept'. The map will launch and show the entire Regional District. To find your property you can either search by scrolling in and navigating to it, or use the address tool or parcel identifier (PID) for bare land (see image #2). Once you have found the property, use the 'identify tool' (top left - see image #3) by clicking on the tool and then on the property. By doing this, information should populate on the left side. From there you can click on any of the items shown in that list for more information. Links are also provided to pertinent bylaws like the applicable zoning bylaw (see image #4).

The project is intended to create a new user-friendly land use bylaw that is simple to navigate and easy to administer and enforce. Additional goals of the project include: 

• Developing a single set of definitions and general regulations that apply to all electoral areas that will make bylaw interpretation clear and consistent 
• Improving the layout and formatting using imagery and simple language to effectively communicate examples, regulations, conditions of use, etc. 
• Updating regulations using best practices to develop effective solutions to current issues
• Directing development to appropriate areas in accordance with the OCP policies
• Improving overall efficiency in processing land use applications

The intent of this project is to make the bylaw more user-friendly, for community members and for those who administer the bylaw.

Online and in-person engagement will be encouraged once a draft Comprehensive Land Use Bylaw & Marine Zoning Bylaw has been completed. 

Consider providing your input by sending an email to zoning@cvrd.bc.ca, and by calling staff at (250) 746-2500. We will schedule public meetings (open houses) to introduce the project and draft bylaws to gain feedback. 

All public input will be provided and considered to the Board.  

For more information on opportunities to provide your input, please visit the project timeline, and subscribe to the project by clicking the "Subscribe" button to receive project update notifications.

There are many factors in determining a property assessment. From the BC Assessment website: In determining the assessed value and the property type, our appraisers may give consideration to: 

• present use, 
• location, 
• original cost, 
• replacement cost, 
• revenue or rental value,
• selling price of the land and improvements and comparable land 
• improvements, economic and functional obsolescence 
• and other circumstances affecting the value of the land and improvements. 

Appraisers also consider a wide variety of physical factors such as size, age, quality and condition of the improvements (buildings) as well as location, availability of services, shape and topography of the land.