Land use contracts in BC are coming to an end

If you own a property in BC, development on that land might be governed by a land use contract, rather than a zoning bylaw.

Local governments like the City of Prince George are seeing an influx of homeowners trying to discharge their land use contract, as a deadline for discharges is just on the horizon.

“Land use contracts were created in BC throughout the 1970’s as a form of a site specific land use regulation tool between local governments and property owners,” said Director of Planning and Development, Deanna Wasnik.

“Fast forwarding 40-50 years these documents still exist on property titles, not on every title, just on certain sectors or portions of our city. And what they do is regulate land use and development of a property.”

She said all land use contracts in BC are being terminated by June 30,2024, but if people want to have their land use contract discharged before then, they need to do so before June 30th of this year, or more specifically for PG, June 27th.

“That’s why recently we’re seeing a bit of an increase in land use contract discharges being presented to council, because some property owners would like to have that off the title of their property, or properties, prior to June 30th of this year to help facilitate development sooner than the June 30th, 2024 date.”

Wasnik noted that some contracts could be more limiting for development than current zoning bylaws.

When the June 30th, 2024 date comes, Wasnik said that property owners won’t see a massive change to how their property is regulated, but added that it’s still valuable to see what those differences are.

“It might be worthwhile for residents to have a look at what their zoning is, and what that would mean in a couple years from now that their property would be permitted to have in terms of development or use. But like I say, oftentimes it’s not far off from what the land use contract has already stipulated.”