What is an Official Community Plan (OCP)?
An OCP implements the community’s vision.
It provides a long-term strategy for land use management, outlining broad objectives and policies to guide future growth and development of the community.
What is a Land Use Bylaw (LUB)?
A LUB creates regulation based on OCP policy
A LUB is developed in alignment with and OCP policy, turning high level vision into local regulation. A Land Use Bylaw implements the community vision included in the OCP on the ground by regulating the use and development of land, and the construction of buildings on the land.
The Salt Spring Island Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw update project aims to refresh 1999/2008 policy and regulation through a community driven process to identify and implement current and flexible options to address current housing gaps. Through this exercise, LTC will remain committed to implementing solutions in line with:
- The interests of First Nations with treaty and territorial interests in the Salt Spring Island Local Trust Area
- Ecosystem integrity and connectivity
- Climate change resiliency
Public Engagement Opportunities
We want to hear your thoughts on how the updated OCP can address housing needs over the next decade. Hearing from the community guides planning for a resilient and inclusive future.
What’s Happening Now: Phase 1 Community Visioning
From September 8 to October 24, we’re asking foundational questions:
- What kind of community do Salt Spring Islanders want to live in?
- What needs to be protected, supported, or changed?
- What are our shared priorities and core values?
How to Participate:
- Complete the community visioning survey.
- Sign up for future engagement information here.
Please follow this space, and Islands Trust’s Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn social media channels to learn more.
What Happens After October 24?
Phase 1 engagement closes on October 24, but this marks a milestone, not an endpoint. Our project team will:
- Analyze all community input from Phase 1
- Produce a Summary of Engagement Findings Report
- Use your input to draft initial OCP policies
- Return in 2026 with draft policies for Phase 2 community review or make a recommendation for further visioning engagement.
Don’t miss future phases: Sign up for project updates to receive notifications about Phase 2 and Phase 3 engagement opportunities here.
Salt Spring Island OCP/LUB Review Timeline
Advisory Planning Commission (APC) and Board of Variance (BOV)
To support the update to the Official Community Plan (OCP) and Land Use Bylaw (LUB), Islands Trust has invited community members to serve on the Advisory Planning Commission (APC) and Board of Variance (BOV). These volunteer roles provide an opportunity to help shape land use policies and regulations that will guide the future of Salt Spring Island.
The Special Project Advisory Planning Commission (APC) is an essential part of the community engagement and land use planning process for Salt Spring Island. Under Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee (SS LTC) Bylaw No. 467, this advisory body is responsible for providing feedback and advice to the LTC on a range of matters related to land use, community planning, and proposed bylaws and permits. Specifically, the OCP-LUB (Official Community Plan-Land Use Bylaw) Update Advisory Planning Commission (APC) plays a key role in advising the LTC on the OCP-LUB Update Project.
To support the update to the Official Community Plan (OCP) and Land Use Bylaw (LUB), Islands Trust has created a Project Advisory Planning Commission (PAPC). The PAPC will promote community engagement and the project process by providing advice to the LTC for consideration. These volunteer roles provide an opportunity to help shape land use policies and regulations that will guide the future of Salt Spring Island.
In May 2025, the PAPC members were appointed: Eric G. March (Chair), Tim Hiltz, Anne Gunn, Robert Steinback, Riley Donovan, Maxine Leichter, and John Cade.
Updates
Subscribe for updates to receive the latest information on the OCP process and get information on discussions on key topics.
Questions?
What is a Complete Communities Assessment?
Part of Phase 1 of the OCP/LUB update was the Complete Communities Assessment, and it took place in the Fall and Winter of 2024. The assessment included a grant-funded Complete Communities Assessment, in accordance with the UBCM Guide. This assessment aims to identify gaps in the communities completeness, through various lenses including Transportation, Housing, Amenities, and the Environment. Learn more about the Complete Communities Assessment here.
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1 - About the Project
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2 - Staff Reports
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3 - Proposed Bylaws-none
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4 - Public Correspondence
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5 - Community Consultation-none
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6 - Other Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this my only chance to provide input?
A: No! This is the first of three major engagement phases. You’ll have multiple opportunities throughout 2026 to review and shape draft policies.
Q: How will my Phase 1 input be used?
A: All Phase 1 input will be analyzed and summarized in a report that directly guides policy development for Phase 2.
Q: When will I see the results of this engagement?
A: We’ll share a Summary of Engagement Findings Report following Phase 1, and draft policies based on your input will be presented in Phase 2 (early-mid 2026).