Official Community Plans

What is an Official Community Plan?

The ACRD is made up of six electoral areas, and each area has its own Official Community Plan (OCP).

An OCP establishes a community vision over a short (five year) and long-term (10 to 20 year) period while addressing topics such as land use, housing, growth, and the environment. An OCP helps determine where people will live, work, and play, and how they move around.

Current OCPs were developed collaboratively with community members, residents, property owners, technical agencies, Electoral Area Directors, and ACRD Board of Directors, with overall guidance from the EA Advisory Planning Commissions (APCs).

Development Permits

An OCP may designate areas of land as Development Permit Areas (DPAs) for protection of the natural environment, protection of development from hazardous conditions, or to establish objectives for the form and character of development. Each EA designates different DPAs. There are currently four DPA categories: Riparian Areas Protection, Natural Hazard Areas Protection, Coastal Protection, and Form and Character. If a property owner is considering construction and/or development within any of the DPAs, approval of a development permit is required.

A summary of Development Permit requirements for each OCP area is available on the Application Process & Guides webpage.

Current Official Community Plan Bylaw Schedules and Maps

Bamfield Area 'A'

• Bamfield OCP Bylaw P1309| Amended November 2022 (Bylaw P1445)
• Map 1 Plan Area
• Map 2 Land Use Designations| Amended November 2022 (Bylaw P1445)
• Map 3 Development Permit Areas and Development Approval Information Areas| Amended November 2022 (Bylaw P1445)
• Map 4 Infrastructure and Community Services

Beaufort Area 'B'

• Beaufort OCP Bylaw P1287| Amended March 2023 (Bylaw 1488)
• Map 1 Plan Area
• Map 2 Land Use Designations| Amended March 2023 (Bylaw P1448)
• Map 3 Development Permit Areas| Amended March 2023 (Bylaw P1448)
• Map 4 Infrastructure and Community Services

South Long Beach Area 'C'

• South Long Beach OCP Bylaw P1166| Amended April 2023 (Bylaw P1447)
• Map 1 Plan Area
• Map 2 Sensitive Areas and Habitat
• Map 3 Land Use| Amended April 2023 (Bylaw P1447)
• Map 4 Development Permit Areas| Amended April 2023 (Bylaw P1447)
• Map 5 Road Network and Public Facilities

Sproat Lake Area 'D'

Sproat Lake OCP Bylaw P1310| Amended April 2023 (Bylaw P1443)
• Map 1 Plan Area
• Map 2 Land Use Designations| Amended April 2023 (Bylaw P1443)
• Map 3 Development Permit Areas and Development Approval Information Areas| Amended April 2023 (Bylaw P1443)
• Map 4 Infrastructure and Community Services

Beaver Creek Area 'E'

Beaver Creek OCP Bylaw P1291| Amended April 2023 (Bylaw P1444)
• Map 1 Plan Area
• Map 2 Land Use Designations| Amended April 2023 (Bylaw P1444)
• Map 3 Development Permit Areas| Amended April 2023 (Bylaw P1444)
• Map 4 Infrastructure and Community Services

Cherry Creek Area 'F'

• Cherry Creek OCP Bylaw P1278
• Map 1 Plan Area
• Map 2 Land Use Designations
• Map 2A Land Use Designations
• Map 3 Development Permit Areas and Development Approval Information Areas
• Map 3A Development Permit Areas and Development Approval Information Areas
• Map 4 Infrastructure and Community Services

Additional Resources

• OCP Amendment information is available on the Application Process and Guidelines webpage.
• Housing Needs Reports are used to inform the OCPs and any updates.
• Additional background information on the ACRD is available in the ACRD 2024-2027 Strategic Plan

Contact

Planning and Development
250-720-2700
planning@acrd.bc.ca