Development Permits
What is a Development Permit?
The purpose of a Development Permit is to provide guidelines for the exterior form and character of residential, multi-family, commercial and business developments, to protect development from hazardous conditions, and to protect the natural environment. Development Permits also aim to establish objectives for energy and water conservation and greenhouse gas reduction.
Development Permits applications are handled by Development Services. Once approved by staff or Council, Development Permits are binding for current and future owners of the property.
What is a Development Permit Area?
Development Permit Areas are designated in order to promote appropriate development through the use of guidelines. The guidelines are meant to specify how proposed development can address the special conditions or objectives.
Twelve Development Permit Area guidelines are set out in Esquimalt’s Official Community Plan.
All new developments in the Township of Esquimalt are subject to Development Permit Area requirements in DPA 1 – Natural Environment, DPA 2 – Hazardous Conditions (where applicable, please ask staff), DPA 7 – Energy Conservation and Greenhouse Gas Reduction, and DPA 8 – Water Conservation.
The Development Permit Areas are identified in Schedule H of the Official Community Plan. Esquimalt has 12 Development Permit Areas:
• DPA 1 – Natural Environment
• DPA 2 – Hazardous Conditions
• DPA 3 – Enhanced Design Control Residential
• DPA 4 – Commercial
• DPA 5 – Industrial
• DPA 6 – Multi-Family Residential
• DPA 7 – Energy Conservation and Greenhouse Gas Reduction
• DPA 8 – Water Conservation
• DPA 9 – English Inn
• DPA 10 – Esquimalt Town Square
• DPA 11 – West Bay
• DPA 12 – McLoughlin Point
Fees
Resources
- Download a Development Permit Application.
- Download a Development Permit Application Checklist
- View our development tracker for information about current developments.