Development Control

The purpose of development control is not to stop development or to make life difficult for developers or home builders. Instead, the main purpose is to ensure the orderly and rational development of land to create sustainable human settlements that accommodate a variety of land uses to meet the needs of the people who live in these settlements.

I am sure we can all think of examples of:

  • inappropriate or poorly sited development which should not be located where it is; or
  •  projects/buildings that do not have the necessary facilities (car parking, sewage treatment plant) or infrastructure (access roads, drainage, water supply) to support it; or
  •  buildings that are structurally weak and are easily damaged during hurricanes, earthquakes or other disaster events; or
  •  development projects which have serious negative impacts on the country’s sensitive environment, particularly its beaches/coastal areas

The development control function seeks to manage and regulate property development to ensure that all development takes place at an appropriate time and place and in such a manner that it conforms to a pre determined set of policies or standards, especially the land use bylaw.

The development officer is responsible for administering and enforcing development agreements once they have been entered into by council and the applicant. There is little discretion in issuing permits. If an application is in compliance with the requirements of the bylaw, then a permit must be issued, if the application fails to meet requirements then it must be refused.

Zoning Confirmation

Upon written request, the Development Officer can provide a letter certifying the zoning and the requirements of the Land Use Byaw for parcel of land. There is no fee for zoning confirmation letters.

Forms

Building & Development Permit Application (2.68 MB)

Application For Development Agreement (775.09 kB)

See our fee schedule for a list of fees.

See our map gallery for zoning maps (coming soon).