Development Guide and Checklist
Before you apply for a Development Permit, please review the guide that best matches your project. Please also review the General Plan and Zoning By-law. Each guide explains service standards, required drawings and documents, and the typical review steps so you can submit a complete application the first time.
Use the descriptions below to decide which guide you should download. The three guides are listed in the same order at the bottom of this page.
Minor Projects or Demolitions
Use the Minor Projects or Demolitions guide if your project is small in scale and does not significantly change how a property is used. This includes accessory structures, small site works, minor changes of use, or standalone demolition work.
Typical examples include:
- Accessory buildings and structures (such as sheds, signs, decks, or patios)
- Site work without a building (such as gravel fill or basic site layout)
- Minor changes of use (such as a home-based business)
- Standalone demolitions
Typical Projects
Use the Typical Projects guide if your proposal will be approved by a Development Officer and generally fits within existing zoning and policies. This guide applies to most standard residential and smaller commercial projects.
Typical examples include:
- Residential projects up to 12 housing units
- Additions to existing dwellings
- Secondary suites
- Non-residential projects with floor area less than 1,000 m²
- Amendments to existing Development Permits adding less than 100 m² of gross floor area or six or fewer dwelling units
Major Projects
Use the Major Projects guide if your development is large enough to require City Council approval. These are typically larger residential, commercial, or mixed-use projects.
Council approval is required when:
- A residential project exceeds 12 units
- A non-residential project exceeds 1,000 m² of floor area
- A mixed-use development includes more than 6 residential units