As mentioned in previous updates, on August 26th, Council adopted amendments to the Subdivision Control Bylaw. The proposed interim amendments intend to address the provision of works and services as part of Building Permit (BP) applications and related changes. This specifically addresses the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) legislation. The effective date for the changes is September 30th, 2024. 

Notable proposed amendments include new sections outlining required works and services as part of subdivision or BP issuance and the upgrading of existing works and services. The report also outlines the responsibility of the applicant to construct, install, or upgrade the works and services unless a payment-in-lieu is required. It is proposed that current subdivision and building permit applications (i.e. complete applications received on or before September 29th, 2024) be exempt from the new requirements if applications receive subdivision approval or BP issuance by September 29th, 2025.   

More information can be found in the full report by City staff. 

May 23, 2024

At Planning & Development Committee on May 15th, Council authorized the City Solicitor to bring forward amendments to the Subdivision Control Bylaw. The proposed interim amendments intend to address the provision of works and services as part of Building Permit (BP) applications and related changes. It was noted that amongst the ongoing work undertaken to meet legislative changes, a gap has been identified in addressing the necessary servicing for development that can be authorized through a Preliminary Plan Approval (PPA) or Building Permit without an accompanying rezoning or subdivision application. This specifically addresses the Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (SSMUH) legislation.   

Notable proposed amendments are as follows: 

Servicing Standards, Applicable Developments and Exemption 

• Section 5 of the current bylaw, setting out servicing requirements as part of a subdivision application will be replaced with a new section to outline the required works and services as part of subdivision or BP issuance and establish standards for these works and services. The required services include: 
• road, sidewalk and walkway works; 
• water distribution; 
• sewage collection; 
• drainage collection; and 
• underground wiring and third party utilities. 
• A new section will require the upgrading of existing works and services where current standards are not met. 

Responsibility for Servicing and Payment-in-Lieu  

• It will be the responsibility of the owner applying for a subdivision or building permit to construct, install or upgrade the works and services, at the owner’s cost, unless an exemption applies, or a payment-in-lieu is required. 
• For R12 Residential District subdivision applications, the current payment-in-lieu provision is proposed to be replaced with a provision allowing for more general authority for the General Manager Engineering to require a cash-in-lieu payment instead of providing some or all of the required works or services where, based on sound civil engineering practices or cost considerations, it would be more appropriate to delay delivery of the works and services.   

During the meeting, the effective date for the changes was amended to take effect on September 30th, 2024, rather than July 1st, 2024. Regarding the transition for in-stream applications, it is proposed that current subdivision and building permit applications (i.e. complete applications received on or before September 29th, 2024) be exempt from the new requirements if applications receive subdivision approval or BP issuance by September 29th, 2025.  

More information can be found in the full report by City staff.