Community planning in North Cowichan focuses on proactively addressing long-range challenges and opportunities while providing guidance for decision-making. Our planning initiatives encompass various aspects of the community, ensuring a sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous future for all residents.
Official Community Plan
The Official Community Plan establishes the community vision and values that guide decision-making in North Cowichan. It outlines key policies and objectives for land use, transportation, environmental conservation, and other essential aspects of community development.
Provincial Housing Target Order
The Province has issued a Housing Target Order requiring North Cowichan to facilitate the construction of 1,233 new housing units by July 31, 2029. This reflects provincial efforts to increase housing supply across B.C.
Progress toward this target is being tracked through a structured reporting framework as required by the province. For the first year, reporting is divided into two half-year phases:
- Phase 1.1 (August 1, 2024 – January 31, 2025) has been completed.
- Phase 1.2 (February 1 – July 31, 2025) is currently underway.
After these initial phases, progress updates will be provided annually. For detailed results from Phase 1.1, please review the results from the Provincial Housing Target Progress Report Form which was received by Council on March 5, 2025.
Affordable housing
As one of the Council's top 20 priorities, Affordable Housing in North Cowichan highlights our commitment to creating and preserving diverse, safe, and affordable housing options for all residents. The 2022 Official Community Plan supports this commitment through various policies and objectives.
Housing needs assessment
The Cowichan Valley Regional District is collaborating with the Municipality of North Cowichan and three other member municipalities—Town of Ladysmith, City of Duncan, and Town of Lake Cowichan—to develop a comprehensive Regional Housing Needs Assessment. This assessment will help inform future housing policies and strategies.
Small scale multi-units housing zoning (Bill 44) – June 2024
North Cowichan has amended the zoning bylaw to comply with the new requirements of the Local Government Act in respect of small-scale multi-unit housing. The new requirements mean that the zoning bylaw must allow three or four dwelling units on most parcels inside the Urban Containment Boundary. The bylaw also amends certain site standards, general regulations and definitions to accommodate the uses and increased densities. North Cowichan is required to adopt the zoning amendment by June 30, 2024. Learn more at ConnectNorthCowichan.ca/Bill44
By working together on these key planning initiatives, we strive to create a sustainable, vibrant, and inclusive community for all residents of North Cowichan.