The Official Community Plan (OCP) is a Town bylaw that defines policies for land use and development. An OCP takes a long-range view to ensure that the long-term needs of the community are met. It defines policies for land use and growth management for the long term benefit of the community. All other plans and policies must comply with the OCP.
Official Community Plan
2025 Official Community Plan Update
The OCP is reviewed and updated during an open, inclusive public engagement process every six years, as set out in the current Official Community Plan Bylaw.
The 2025 OCP update will marks over 65 years since the adoption of the 1957 Land Use Plan that the Town is still building on today.
Impacts of New Provincial Housing Legislation
In 2023, province-wide legislation to increase housing density and availability was enacted. To meet these mandatory Provincial requirements, the Town of Qualicum Beach has updated its zoning bylaws and policies. Learn more about Provincial Housing Changes.
As an impact of the provincial legislation, the Town has delayed the Quality of Life Survey until late 2024, and the OCP Review until 2025. The scope of the OCP review will also be affected, as the province requires all municipalities to update their OCP prior to December 31, 2025. More details on the upcoming OCP review will be forthcoming in early 2025.
Current Official Community Plan
Official Community Plan FAQ
The OCP reflects the community’s values and priorities.
By setting out a clear community vision today, the Town can shape future growth in a way that is sustainable and provides a high quality of life for current and future residents.
All municipal policies, plans and regulations must be in alignment with the OCP Bylaw; it acts as a powerful guide for Town planning and Council decision-making.
An effective OCP provides clear direction but does not prevent change based on evolving policies.
Council, Town staff, developers and professionals (architects, engineers, planners, landscape architects, etc.) use the OCP to understand the community needs for housing and other land uses, transportation services, infrastructure and amenities. They also use the OCP to understand which areas are suitable for development and which are not (environmentally sensitive areas, steep slopes, hazardous areas, etc.).
The public can use the OCP to gain a better understanding of local issues and how they are planned to be addressed or what changes may happen in their neighbourhood.
Provincial legislation (Local Government Act) outlines the purpose, required content, and discretionary content of an OCP.
The purpose of an OCP, under this legislation, is a “statement of objectives and policies to guide decisions on planning and land use management.”
The zoning bylaw is a regulatory tool that is very specific about land use, density, building siting (where it’s located on a lot) and other issues such as landscaping and lot coverage requirement as it relates to a lot or site.
The OCP is more strategic and often less prescriptive about specific sites. For instance, the OCP will say ‘this area will be a future growth area for high-density housing’ where the Zoning Bylaw will say that the building on that specific lot will be not be more than 9m tall or cover more than 35% of the lot.