Land development in Kitimat often requires approval before work begins. The approval process is often straightforward. Where you want to do something different than what is designated by zoning, you will require a variance or zoning amendment. In some cases you may also require an Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment.
Approvals
Kitimat has three types of development permits. Before finalizing your project or applying for a permit, please meet with staff to review your application and identify any potential issues or challenges. Please email or call 250-632-8910 to book an appointment.
Delivering Your Application
Completed application and fee payment can be delivered to the District of Kitimat reception desk. Payment can also be made by mail or phone.
For more information on development applications please review Part 9, Division 2 of the Kitimat Municipal Code.
Development Permits
Downtown Revitalization Area (DP-DRA) Development Permit |
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Our Official Community Plan (OCP) sets the Downtown Revitalization Area (DRA) boundary. Development permits for this area help ensure all projects contribute to the vision of a revitalized downtown core by following Kitimat's Downtown Design Guidelines and recommended colour palette. Exterior renovations, new construction and most signs require review by the Downtown Design Panel. The panel evaluates the aesthetic components based on standards set in the guidelines and provides recommendations to Kitimat Council or delegate. |
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Multi-Family Residential Development Permit |
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A development permit is required for construction or exterior renovations of multi-family developments, including, in some cases, accessory buildings on land in a multi-family zone. A multi-family dwelling is defined in the Kitimat Municipal Code as "a dwelling containing three or more dwelling units". |
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Development Permit: Development Approval Information Area (DP-DI) |
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Kitimat's 2008 Official Community Plan (OCP) established a new development permit area for purposes of development approval information. This permit applies to all land in Kitimat; see OCP sections 4.4.1 - 4.4.6 and maps labelled Schedules A and C. This permit process ensures that development is protected from natural hazards such as land slip and flooding, and that key environmentally sensitive areas and important fisheries and wildlife habitats are protected. A permit under this designation is not required if a permitting or approval process has already been required:
OPC Schedule A and Schedule C will be updated as new information on environmentally sensitive lands and hazard areas becomes avaliable. Any proposal to remove hazard land designation will consider existing hazards, potential impacts and proposed mitigation measures. |
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Variances and Amendments |
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Do you want to do something different than what the ground rules set by the Kitimat Municipal Code and Official Community Plan suggest? Is your site located in a development permit area? If you answered yes to either question, please consult the Community Planning & Development Department. Staff can confirm if development approval is required, help fine tune your proposal and provide some of the information that may be needed to complete your development application. Development applications allow property owners to bring forward an idea that may not follow Kitimat's current regulations. Each approval process is a bit different. All applications include neighbourhood and/or community consultation; and advertising opportunities for public comment on our municipal website and municipal bulletin boards. Some approvals require newspaper ads. OCP and zoning amendments almost always require a bylaw, a public hearing, and consideration by the Advisory Planning Commission. Fees vary to reflect advertising and other costs. Applications may take 16 weeks or more to process. Complex proposals or applications that are changed during the review process, in response to public comment or other reasons, may take longer. Building permit applications may be submitted and reviewed while a development application is under consideration. A building permit will not be issued, however, until development application approvals are complete. Before finalizing your project or applying for a permit, we encourage you to meet with staff to review the application and identify any potential issues or challenges.
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Temporary Use Permit |
Temporary Use Permits (TUPs) allow a short-term land use not otherwise permitted in the zone. For example a TUP may allow a home-based business to operate in the R1-A Residential Zone. Find a zoning map here. TUPs are approved by Kitimat Council or by the Director of Community Planning and Development through delegate approval. A permit may be issued for up to three years and renewed once. Find the Temporary Use Permit Application on this page. |
For more information contact Community Planning and Development by email or call 250-632-8910.
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