Land Use & Zoning

Zoning bylaws are regulatory documents that specify what land uses are permitted in an area, as well as a short list of uses that the community has already decided should not be permitted anywhere.

If a use is permitted by the zoning bylaw, it is a permitted use where clearly stated. Everything is prohibited. This means that if the zoning bylaw doesn’t mention a use, it is not permitted. This is the way in which all zoning bylaws are interpreted and applied. Although universally true for the application of zoning and interpretation of permitted uses, it is `not always clearly understood.

Prohibited Use Clauses are a standard practice, appearing in some form in zoning bylaws in all regional districts in BC. A Prohibited Use Clause is a part of all well written zoning bylaws. It upholds the application of zoning while providing clarity and reducing confusion and potential hardship when applying or interpreting the zoning bylaw. The prohibited uses clause further protects landowners from uses that have not been considered. It helps to ensure that new uses can be considered through a zoning amendment application based on how they made relate or impact neighbouring issues.

In 2024, an important regulatory amendment was made to the general Prohibited Uses section of the Quadra Island Zoning Bylaw. This amendment included the addition of a clearly stated prohibited use clause.