Development Permits & Applications
This page seeks to help the residents of McBride understand the rules and regulations that apply to property owners.
How high can I build my garage? What are the setbacks in the R1 zone? Can I switch from residential to commercial? Can I do both? These are all land use questions that you will find answers to in the documents listed below.
Development Procedures
The Bylaws listed in this section regulate land use and development within the Village of McBride. See below for more details, and contact the Village Office if you have any questions.
Bylaws
Development Procedure Bylaw No. 743, 2014
Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 682, 2008
Appendix 'A' Development Area Permit Guidelines
Subdivision and Servicing Bylaw No. 704, 2010
McBride’s Development Area Permit
Since 1985, Council and the residents of the Village of McBride have supported the concept of a turn-of-the-century railway style for the Village of McBride. Anchored by the railway station at one end and a handsome railway style arch at the entrance, Main Street is intended to be the focus of the railway style. By establishing this area with a unique identity – repeating railway style elements along the main thoroughfare – visitors and residents alike should be able to recognize this area clearly as “A Town on Track.”
The Development Permit Area is the area enclosed within the Black Line.
Development Area Permits are needed for:
- Subdivision
- Temporary Buildings
- Exterior Construction
- Exterior Alteration
- Replacement of Buildings
- Replacement of Materials Repainting
In the Designated Development Area Permit
Process:
Step 1: Fill out a Completed Application for a Development Area Permit.
Step 2: Approving Officer will review your application and collect any referrals necessary. Application fee to be paid. as per Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 805, 2022.
Step 3: Village Council will assess your Application
The Council may approve your application, deny your application or request more information or any adjustments they see necessary.
If you are successful, the Village will register the Development Area Permit with BC Land Titles and you may begin your project.
If you are not successful, you may reapply six months from the date of refusal.
Development Variance Permits
A Development Variance Permit is a tool used to vary the regulations of a Village Bylaw on a site specific basis.
Development Variance Permits can be used to vary setbacks, high restrictions, number of parking spaces required, size of signage, etc.
A Development Variance Permit Application is required to be assessed by Council twice. The Village is required to notify property owners and tenants in adjacent lots to the property listed on the application.
Development Variance Permits are required if you intend to vary from a Village of McBride Bylaw.
Process
Step 1: Fill out a Completed Application for a Development Variance Permit.
Step 2: Approving Officer will review your application and collect any referrals necessary. Application fee to be paid as per Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 805, 2022.
Step 3: Village Council will assess your Application and determine whether or not to authorize Staff to continue the process
Step 4: If you are granted preliminary approval, Staff will notify adjacent property owners and tenants of the intent of the Variance. The Public is invited to comment on the Variance. Council will take this information into account when making a final decision.
Step 5: Council will hold a Final Review of the Application. Council may approve the application, Request additional information or minor adjustments, or may refuse the application.
If you are successful, the Village will register the Development Variance Permit with BC Land Titles and you may begin your project.
If you are not successful, you may reapply six months from the date of refusal.
Temporary Use Permits
A Development Variance Permit is a tool used to allow the property owner to conduct a practice that is not defined for the property within the Zoning Bylaw or Official Community Plan.
Development Variance Permits can be used to allow for businesses to operate on lots that Zoning does not permit them in, for temporary tourist accommodations or seasonal uses for lots.
A Temporary Use Permit Application is required to be assessed by Council twice. The Village is required to notify property owners and tenants in adjacent lots to the property listed on the application and a Public Hearing is required.
Process
Step 1: Fill out a Completed Application for a Temporary Use Permit.
Step 2: Approving Officer will review your application and collect any referrals necessary. Application fee to be paid. as per Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 805, 2022.
Step 3: Village Council will assess your Application and determine whether or not to authorize Staff to continue the process.
Step 4: If you are granted preliminary approval, Staff will put a notice in the local newspaper advising the public of the intention of the Temporary Use Permit and the date and time of the Public Hearing. Council will take this information into account when making a final decision.
Subdivision of Land
Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw
A bylaw to regulate the subdivision of land, require the provision of works and services in the subdivision and development of land, and prescribe the standards for infrastructure works and services.
Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw No. 704, 2010
Before Making an Application to Subdivide
It is strongly recommended that you meet with Village Staff and the Approving Officer before making an application to subdivide land. Often the subject properties will require a change in zoning before subdivision may be approved. Changes in zoning and amendments to the Official Community Plan take some time, and because there is no guarantee that zoning changes will be approved, it is prudent to deal with land use regulations before making a subdivision application. Remember, it is the property owner's responsibility to make what applications are needed to achieve the subdivision.
How to Make an Application for Subdivision
You make your application at the Village Office. Along with a complete application form, you will need:
- a preliminary plan of your subdivision, drawn to scale, showing the subdivision layout, with dimensions and areas of all existing and proposed parcels
- a current copy of a State of Title certificate for the parent parcel, and copies of any registered right of way, easements, or restrictive covenants
- a completed Site Profile
- required application fee
What Happens Next
The Approving Officer will review your application and may contact you for further information. The Officer will then refer the application to various agencies for their comments. In McBride, these agencies usually include, but are not limited to, the Village of McBride Public Works Department, McBride District Volunteer Fire Department, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Telus, B.C. Hydro and CNR.
This process usually takes 4 weeks from the time the application is made. The Approving Officer may contact you for further information based on what has been received from the referral agencies. In short order the Approving Officer will then send to you a letter giving "Preliminary Layout Approval" or "Preliminary Layout not Approved". These letters will list what has to be done in order to achieve approval of your subdivision.
Preliminary Layout Approval
Once the Approving Officer grants Preliminary Layout Approval (PLA), the applicant will be required to complete a list of actions to finalize the subdivision. When you receive your Preliminary Layout Approval, it is reasonable to engage the services of a BC Land Surveyor (BCLS) to survey and post your proposed subdivision. The surveyor will prepare the final subdivision plan. When you have done all the things that are listed in the Preliminary Layout Approval, you, your surveyor, or your solicitor will submit the final plan to the Approving Officer.
Preliminary Layout Not Approved
If the Approving Officers says, in their letter to you, that Preliminary Layout is not Approved, it is usually because the subject property is not appropriately zoned for the proposal, or when underground works and services or road works are still to be constructed. Due to the seasonal nature of construction in the McBride area, it may be some time before underground works can be installed. Zoning applications can take some time and, due to the nature of the process, there is no guarantee that making an application for a change in zoning will mean the zoning gets approved.
Once the zoning is approved, or the underground works and services or road works are completed to the satisfaction of the Village, the Approving Officer may issue a Preliminary Layout Approval, listing the rest of the items required to be done before submitting the plans for Final Approval.
Final Approval of Subdivision
Submission of the survey plans to the Village starts the Final Approval process. The Approving Officer has two months to finalize their part in this process. The Approving Officer will review the Preliminary Layout Approval to ensure all issues have been dealt with. In very rare cases, there may be some additional requirements as a result of information revealed during the construction of subdivision services.
Payment for service connections and parkland are due at this time. All taxes in arrears must-be paid at this time. If there are any securities or bonds required as part of the subdivision, they must be established and submitted at this time. Any final reports or other agency requirements must be completed. Final processing will not be complete until all required information is submitted and evaluated.
For more info please clink on the following link: The Process for Subdividing Land in the Village Of McBride
Application for Subdivision
Fees and Charges Bylaw NO. 805,2022
Development of Land
Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw No. 704, 2010
Before Developing Land
For information regarding Building Permits, click on the button below:
