This page includes answers to frequently asked questions about the Gabriola Island Official Community Plan Review and its process. If you have a question that has not been answered here, please Email us.
What is an Official Community Plan?
The Official Community Plan (OCP) is a legal document that provides policy direction for planning and land use management including: heritage and cultural preservation and protection, ecosystem preservation and protection, community heath and wellness, community resilience, and stewardship of lands and waters.
Why is the Gabriola Island OCP being reviewed?
The Gabriola Island Official Community Plan (OCP) has not been substantially updated since 1997, and a lot has changed in the last 25 years. The OCP will help guide changes, address growth issues and strengthen the community’s resilience.
What are bylaw readings?
The Gabriola Island OCP review bylaw must receive three readings before it can proceed to final adoption. This process allows the Local Trust Committee opportunities to provide input and make necessary changes before it is adopted.
All bylaws must be read and adopted in a meeting that is open to the public. The Local Trust Committee can make changes to the OCP bylaw at any point during first, second or third reading.
The various bylaw readings are generally taken to mean:
- First reading = tabling or introduction
- Second = discussion in principle and on the content of the bylaw
- Third reading = final discussion, including any changes made along the way
The bylaw must be approved by provincial Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs before it is adopted.
Does the project to update the Islands Trust Policy Statement impact the OCP review?
An updated Policy Statement will only be in effect after it has received approval from the Minister of Municipal Affairs and has been adopted by Islands Trust Council. The new Policy Statement will only apply to local trust committee and Bowen Island Municipality bylaws created after its adoption.
What does legal non-conforming mean and how does it affect me?
A legal non-conforming use is a use of land or a building that was lawful when it was established before zoning existing or under former zoning but no longer meets current zoning regulations because the rules changed later.
For example, a property may have been used for a purpose that was allowed when it was built or developed. If zoning regulations change and that use is no longer permitted, the existing use may still be allowed to continue as a legal non-conforming use. This is sometimes referred to as being “grandfathered.”
Legal non-conforming status does not usually allow a use or building to be enlarged or expanded. For example, if a commercial building exists in an area that is now zoned for residential use only, the business may be allowed to continue operating, but the building may not be able to expand. Legal non-conforming status may also be lost if the use stops for six months or more, or if the building is significantly damaged or destroyed.
If you think your property may have legal non-conforming status, contact your local Islands Trust planning office for more information about your specific situation.
Learn more about it in the Local Government Act, Part 14, Division 5 — Zoning Bylaws
Which version of the Draft OCP should I review and comment on, and will it be changed before the July 16 LTC meeting?
The draft OCP that is on the Islands Trust website is the same document that was presented to the LTC at its May 21, 2026 LTC meeting and was available at the Community Information Meeting. Proposed changes to the draft OCP based on LTC and public feedback will be presented to the LTC at the July 16, 2026 LTC meeting.
Learn how to provide feedback on the OCP here.
How has community input informed the development of the OCP and what has the role of staff been?
Community input has shaped the draft Official Community Plan (OCP) at every stage, through an iterative process where each phase built on the one before it. The Gabriola Island OCP has not been updated since 1997, and the review began in 2023.
In the first phase, Gabriola Visioning 2050 (Fall 2023), the community was asked what it values, its hopes for the island, and what it would like to see change. People were engaged through on-island events, a survey, a Community Information Meeting, and community-led events held in cooperation with local groups such as the Gabriola Housing Advisory Planning Commission, Gabriola Land and Trails Trust, Gabriola Arts Council, and many others. The values and goals that emerged were organized into three themes: Natural Environment, Built Environment, and Community.
Those themes led to topic-focused engagement (Winter 2024/25), where residents took part in in-person discussion groups or an online survey on specific topics — housing, economy, environmental protection, climate change, connectivity, cultural heritage protection, and waste and water. Discussion guides were provided to support informed participation. The survey ran from September 18, 2024 to May 15, 2025 and received 590 responses. The outcomes of each topic were then discussed at Gabriola Island Local Trust Committee (LTC) meetings, and the data gathered is what informs the drafting of policy language.
In Fall 2025, a Reimagining Growth workshop and a third community survey invited residents into values-based conversations about growth, housing, subdivision, rezoning, secondary dwelling units, and shoreline properties, supported by a new Gabriola Island Community Profile.
The role of staff has been to turn this community input into policy. Islands Trust staff drafted policy language grounded in the community’s identified values and principles, the existing Gabriola OCP, and a review of best practices from across the Islands Trust Area and British Columbia. Staff brought the outcomes of each engagement phase to the LTC, prepared the staff reports considered at LTC meetings, and are now revising the draft OCP based on continued input. Throughout, staff have supported and reported to the Gabriola Island LTC, which directs the project and will ultimately decide on revisions and bylaw readings.
This remains an ongoing, iterative process. The draft OCP is currently open for public input, and there will be more opportunities to participate after first reading. You can read the draft OCP, its Companion Document, and the full engagement timeline on the project page: https://islandstrust.bc.ca/island-planning/gabriola/projects/gabriola-ocpreview/.
If a use is not identified in the OCP, does this mean it can’t occur?
No. If a use is not explicitly identified in the Official Community Plan (OCP), it does not automatically mean it is prohibited. An OCP is a policy document, not a regulatory bylaw. It guides decisions about land use, but it does not, by itself, authorize or prohibit specific uses. What actually determines whether a use can occur is the zoning bylaw, along with any applicable provincial requirements.
What is a Community Amenity Contribution?
Community amenity contributions are voluntarily provided by developers on a case-by-case basis when a local government approves additional development rights. They are provided at the time land of a rezoning application and fulfill a couple purposes including the addressing increased demand for services and facilities caused by new development.
For a variety of reasons, within Islands Trust the amenities offered through rezoning processes are different than in other settings (such as municipalities). Typically, amenities with the Islands Trust take the form of conservation covenants, trail and parkland dedication, or land donation for conservation.
To help provide direction on this and reduce uncertainty within the rezoning process, the draft OCP provides direction on community amenities within the section related to amendments to the Plan and Land Use Bylaw.
Does the draft OCP restrict the use of trailers on wheels as a secondary unit on a residential parcel or as a primary dwelling?
No, any dwelling that is constructed to the BC Building Code, CSA standards for manufactured homes or equivalent and receives a Building Permit from the RDN can be considered a primary or a secondary dwelling unit.
What is a Community Amenity Contribution?
Community amenity contributions are voluntarily provided by developers on a case-by-case basis when a local government approves additional development rights. They are provided at the time land of a rezoning application and fulfill a couple purposes including the addressing increased demand for services and facilities caused by new development.
For a variety of reasons, within Islands Trust, the amenities offered through rezoning processes are different than in other settings, like in municipalities. Typically, amenities with the Islands Trust Area take the form of conservation covenants, trail and parkland dedication, or land donation for conservation.
To help provide direction on this and reduce uncertainty within the rezoning process, the draft OCP provides direction on community amenities within the section related to amendments to the Plan and Land Use Bylaw.
Why do many policies say “should“ instead of “must”?
In interpreting the objectives and policies of an OCP, the term “must” indicates that the identified action or measure is a requirement. The term “should” indicates that the policy provides clear direction or guidance that is intended to inform decisions and be applied by the authority having jurisdiction, where appropriate.
While some policies could use stronger language such as “must,” consideration should be given to the purpose and legal role of an Official Community Plan (OCP). An OCP is not a regulatory document and does not directly regulate land use or development. Rather, it establishes objectives and policies that guide regulatory bylaws, development applications, and land use decisions.
Stronger directive language, such as “must,” is generally more appropriate in regulatory documents, such as a Land Use Bylaw, where specific requirements and standards are established. Within an OCP, “should” is often the more appropriate term because it communicates the desired direction while recognizing the broader policy role of the Plan.
What does collaborative governance mean with respect to First Nations engagement and the OCP?
The OCP speaks to “working collaboratively to integrate First Nations’ interests” but this does not mention “collaborative governance”. Collaborative governance is something to be explored at the Islands Trust and Provincial level.
How does the Gabriola Island OCP address hospice care?
In BC, individuals can receive hospice or palliative care in their own homes without special land use approvals. This type of care is treated as part of normal residential living and does not typically raise planning or zoning issues.
Land use considerations arise only where a dwelling is used to provide residential hospice or palliative care to multiple unrelated individuals, which may be considered a form of small-scale care facility and could require provincial licensing. It becomes an issue for land use if it has building siting, size and location implications that are in excess of home occupation permissions.
In the Gabriola/Islands Trust context, OCP policy could provide clarity on whether and how small-scale, home-like hospice uses may be supported within residential areas. Any such policy would focus on land use compatibility (e.g., scale, neighbourhood fit, servicing capacity) rather than the delivery of health services themselves, which fall under provincial jurisdiction.
If a use is not identified in the OCP, does this mean it can’t occur?
No. If a use is not explicitly identified in the OCP, it does not automatically mean it is prohibited. An Official Community Plan (OCP) is a policy document, not a regulatory bylaw. It guides decisions about land use, but it does not, by itself, authorize or prohibit specific uses. What actually determines whether a use can occur is the zoning bylaw, along with any applicable provincial requirements.
Why doesn’t the OCP include policies related to composting toilets?
No policy is necessary. Composting toilets can be used on Gabriola as long as they adhere to Islands Health policy. However, they are not automatically a direct substitute for septic systems. In most cases, a full wastewater solution is still required, including approved management of greywater. Using composting toilets is permitted only where the overall system meets Island Health requirements.
What does a minimum lot size of 35 hectares mean?
The minimum lot size is the smallest lot that can be created through subdivision without a rezoning application.
On Gabriola Island, the minimum lot size is set at 35 hectares, which is large enough that most proposed subdivisions will require rezoning before they can proceed. A rezoning application gives the community an opportunity to provide input and allows the local trust committee to review whether the proposal aligns with the Official Community Plan and community interests.
What is a Community Amenity Contribution?
Community amenity contributions are voluntarily provided by developers on a case-by-case basis when a local government approves additional development rights. They are provided at the time land of a rezoning application and fulfill a couple purposes including the addressing increased demand for services and facilities caused by new development.
For a variety of reasons, within Islands Trust, the amenities offered through rezoning processes are different than in other settings such as municipalities. Typically, amenities with the Islands Trust Area take the form of conservation covenants, trail and parkland dedication, or land donation for conservation.
To help provide direction on this and reduce uncertainty within the rezoning process, the draft OCP provides direction on community amenities within the section related to amendments to the Plan and Land Use Bylaw.
Why don’t we put a moratorium on development altogether?
The Local Government Act gives local governments broad authority to regulate land use and density through zoning bylaws. Section 479 authorizes local governments to regulate the use and density of land, buildings, and structures. This means a local government can reduce permitted density or change permitted uses through a zoning amendment, but it cannot remove all reasonable use of a property without potentially creating legal risk.
The distinction is that downzoning is permitted, but eliminating all reasonable development potential may be viewed differently and could raise issues related to expropriation or compensation. This is not because the Local Government Act expressly prohibits it, but because of common law principles and the limits on local government regulatory authority.
I am currently allowed a secondary unit in the LUB, will that be removed if my lot is in the Freshwater Hazard Area?
On lots 2 hectares larger in the Rural Residential Designation and the Agricultural Designation, up to one secondary suite will be permitted in addition to the principal dwelling in the freshwater hazard area. To support freshwater sustainability in the freshwater hazard area, secondary dwelling units must use an alternative to groundwater as a potable water source.
Why don’t we see a policy stating that no water pipelines connecting the island to Vancouver Island?
The draft OCP does not anticipate this as a specific proposal. The policies anticipate that groundwater will continue to be the dominant source of freshwater for development and focus on collection, conservation and protection of freshwater resources on Gabriola Island. While an OCP policy could not prohibit consideration of a proposal for a water pipeline, the LTC could direct staff to include a policy indicating that there is not support for water pipelines or to encourage that water supply for development be local to the Island.
