DPA 6 Galiano Island Fact Sheet

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Galiano Island Local Trust Committee, 2014 
 
FACT SHEET 
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL FORM & 
CHARACTER DPA 6 
 
What is the Commercial and Industrial Form and Character Development Permit Area?  
British Columbia’s Local Government Act enables communities to designate parts of their planning area as 
Development Permit Areas (DPAs) so they can set objectives and guidelines for development within those areas. 
The Galiano Island Official Community Plan (OCP) designates seven DPAs generally designed to protect sensitive 
ecosystems or to guide development in areas with special circumstances.    
The Commercial and Industrial Form and Character DPA was adopted by the Galiano Island Local Trust 
Committee (LTC) to ensure that new or additional commercial or industrial uses are developed in a manner that 
is consistent with and enhances rural island character and minimizes impacts on adjacent properties.  
Why is it important to regulate commercial and industrial form and character? 
Development activities may have aesthetic, social, and/or environmental impacts. The rural character of Galiano 
Island is a key facet of island identity for residents and visitors alike, and preservation of this rural character is an 
explicit cornerstone of the OCP. The DPA guidelines ensure that commercial and industrial development is 
sensitive to its natural and built surroundings, modest in scale and design, safe and well-landscaped, and 
provides a net social benefit for islanders. 
How do I know whether 
my land is affected by the 
DPA? 
Only around 21 hectares of land 
on Galiano Island are designated 
within the Commercial and Industrial 
Form and Character DPA, accounting 
for about 0.34% of the total land area. 
The DPA applies to any lands that are 
zoned for commercial or industrial 
activities, including retail, restaurant, visitor 
accommodations and resorts, light and forest 
industrial, and marine commercial zones. A 
complete list of affected zones may be found in 
the OCP.  
Extent of DPA 6 

Galiano Island Local Trust Committee, 2014 
 
When do I need a development permit? 
Any landowner who has property that is located within the DPA may be required to obtain a development 
permit from the Local Trust Committee before undertaking any construction, demolition or alteration of 
structures in the DPA. 
Neither subdivision of land nor the 
regular maintenance of existing buildings 
and landscaping require a development 
permit; other exemptions are listed in the 
OCP. In addition to exempted activities, a 
development permit is not required for 
buildings or development located within a 
DPA that were present prior to approval 
of the bylaw, or for development outside 
the boundaries of a DPA. 
How do I obtain a development 
permit?  
Islands Trust planning staff can give you 
advice on the application process and 
options for developing your property. If 
you do need to apply for a permit, you 
will be required to complete an application and submit the 

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