Development

Development decisions are guided by Colwood's Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaws, which describe the City's vision for how our community will evolve in terms of land use, density and housing types. Some of the goals we are working toward include:

  • creating vibrant town centres, streets and public places
  • emphasizing Colwood's world-class waterfront
  • preserving connections to nature and protecting natural assets
  • increasing the availability of realistic transportation choices
  • minimizing water and soil pollution and reducing automobile dependency, resource consumption and waste

See Colwood's interactive GIS Map tool for property, infrastructure, and zoning information. 

Provincial Housing Mandates

In alignment with the Province’s Homes for People Action Plan, Bill 44 requires that all municipalities review and update their OCPs and land use bylaws to enable small-scale multi-unit housing and accommodate the number of housing units required by the Housing Needs Report. 

The City has initiated the process to achieve compliance with Bill 44 by the end of the year by enabling small scale multi-unit housing and aligning our Land Use Bylaw and Official Community Plan (OCP) with our housing needs for the next 20 years. Staff will be sharing information and engaging residents [PDF/1.8MB] in conversations at community events. Learn more at Bill 44 Implementation | Let's Talk Colwood

How do I access information about my property?

Complete and submit this Property Information Request to obtain information about the age of your house, the date of occupancy, zoning information, and building permits issued, including for oil tanks, furnace, and woodstove or fireplace insert.

Types of Development and Land Use Applications

Development Guidelines

Pre-Application Meetings

If you are applying for a Rezoning, OCP amendment and/or subdivision we recommend you email planning@colwood.ca requesting a pre-application meeting.  

  • Staff will aim to schedule a pre-application meeting within 10-business days of receiving a request for a meeting including all requirements listed below. 
  • Pre-application meetings are limited to 30-minutes unless, the file manager determines the proposal or nature of your questions warrants a longer discussion.

Development in Progress

Colwood is an exciting place to be! Opportunities abound in our fast growing, family-friendly community that is nestled along 5 kilometers of breathtaking oceanfront and set amongst some of the most beautiful parks and trails on Southern Vancouver Island.

View our Development Tracker to see current and archived applications in Colwood.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about the types of land use and development applications, the application process, or development activity, please contact the Development Services department at 250-294-8153 or planning@colwood.ca.