Official Community Plan Update

The District of Kent is updating our Official Community Plan (OCP). The OCP has a vision, goals, and policies that help us make decisions about land use in our community. This fall, our OCP Update will focus on housing.

What is an OCP?

An OCP is a tool for making decisions about land use. The District looks at the OCP when deciding things like:

Where new homes go;
How we travel by car, bike, or on foot;
How we provide services like water and sewer; and
How we use parks and open spaces.

It also covers things like protecting our environment and the goals we have for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

What is the difference between an OCP and a Zoning Bylaw?

An OCP is a big picture plan that guides how a community will grow and change in the future. A Zoning Bylaw is a set of rules that make the OCP's vision a reality – it helps put our OCP into action! An OCP and a Zoning Bylaw work together to shape a community. A Zoning Bylaw (and other bylaws that relate to land) must follow what the OCP says.

Why update the OCP now?

The Province has new legislation that helps build more homes.
Now, single-family lots can have 3–4 homes, depending on their lot size and available water/waste water services. In our District, that means single-family lots can also add another small home, such as a secondary suite/coach houses, townhouses, or fourplex apartments. Because of these changes, we must now update the housing sections of our OCP, so the plan is consistent. The deadline set by the Province for this update is December 31, 2025.

We are working together to make a plan that fits our community and meets the new provincial housing requirements.

Thank You

The District values your time and input. To say thank you, the District will be entering the names of everyone who completed a survey or attended the community workshop into a draw for a chance to win one of the following:

One pie per month from the Agassiz Cabin Fever Junction Bakery for one year (12 pies)
One hanging flower basket in Spring 2026
One 10-pack of admission to the Community Recreation and Cultural Centre or swimming pool

Contact the planning department: 604 796 2235 or email planning@kentbc.ca

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Official Community Plan (OCP) do?

The Official Community Plan (OCP) is the big picture roadmap for how the District of Kent will grow and change over the next 20 years. It sets out where development can happen (i.e., where things like houses or businesses can go). Once the OCP is updated, all our future bylaws, policies, and plans must follow what it says. This includes things like:

Zoning Bylaws
Rules for building new subdivisions
Fees that Developers pay for new infrastructure (Development Cost Charges)

How will my input be used?

Your feedback is an important part of the OCP. Input from the survey, workshop, and meetings with community groups will be combined with technical research and provincial legislation. Together, this information will shape the draft plan. That draft will then be reviewed by Council before moving forward.

Does the OCP affect zoning?

Yes. The OCP decides at a high level how land can be used, while zoning bylaws provide the detailed rules. Zoning must line up with the OCP. This means that when the OCP changes, zoning may also need to be updated to match.