Development Permit Areas
The Local Government Act of BC, Section 488, gives local governments the authority to designate Development Permit Areas (DPA) within an Official Community Plan. These DPAs may be created to establish building form and character or intensive residential development within a specific area. DPAs may also be created for protection of natural or sensitive environments, to promote energy conservation, and for the reduction of greenhouse gases. Developments that trigger a DPA will require an approved Development Permit which provides permission from the City for development to take place on a parcel.
Each Development Permit Area has corresponding guidelines which are the guiding principles of all new development within each specific DPA. When a development is within a DPA (or within multiple DPAs) it is required that the development meet specific requirements prior to the issuance of a Building Permit.
The City of Duncan’s Official Community Plan has 3 designated Development Permit Areas:
| Development Permit Area | DPA # | Regulation Objective | Applicable Area |
| Design Standards | DPA #1 | Form and Character; Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions | All lands within the City of Duncan |
| Natural Environment | DPA #2 | Protection of the Natural Environment | Environmentally Sensitive and Hazard Areas (Map 2) |
| Natural Hazards | DPA #3 | Protection of Development from Hazardous Conditions (i.e. floods) | Environmentally Sensitive and Hazard Areas (Map 2) |
In addition to the above DPAs, the entire area within the City of Duncan is established as a Development Approval Information Area which gives the City the authority to request additional information or requirements (above and beyond those of the DPA guidelines) to mitigate specific conditions or effects of development.
If you would like to know more or believe your project may require a Development Permit, please review the process guide below. If you have any further questions, please contact the Development Services Department at developmentservices@duncan.ca or call 250-746-6126 for further guidance to help you navigate through the process.
- Development Permit Application Guide
- Authorization of Agent
- DP Application
- Development Approvals Procedure Bylaw No. 1901
- Development Cost Charges Bylaw No. 3234, 2023
As of February 1, 2021, all development permit applications must include a completed Site Disclosure Statement at the time of submission, or the application will be returned to the applicant as incomplete.
Site Disclosure Statements are required by the BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy (MoE) and the Environmental Management Act, as a way of identifying and reporting properties with past or present Schedule 2 industrial or commercial activities that may require site remediation. Schedule 2 activities are defined in the Contaminated Sites Regulation.
For more information, visit the MoE Site Remediation webpage.
Site Disclosure Statement Form
Environmental Management Act, Contaminated Sites Regulation Schedule 2
