DPA 7 Galiano Island Fact Sheet

Extracted text (beginning)

Galiano Island Local Trust Committee, 2014 
 
FACT SHEET 
STEEP SLOPE HAZARD DEVELOPMENT 
PERMIT AREA 7 
 
What is the Steep Slope Hazard Development Permit Area (DPA 7)? 
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. Depending on the particular 
Development Permit Area and its exemptions, the requirement to obtain a Development Permit may be 
triggered by any building construction, demolition, land alteration, or subdivision of land that occurs in the DPA. 
The Steep Slope Hazard DPA was adopted by the Galiano Island Local Trust Committee (LTC) in order to prevent 
development from being impacted in areas that are potentially hazardous due to a combination of steep slope 
and geological conditions. The general intent of the DPA is to ensure that land alteration activities (including tree 
removal) do not expose persons or property to an unacceptable probability of slope instability or other 
geological failure, where “unacceptable” is defined as a probability in excess of 10% in 50 years. 
How do I know whether my land is affected 
by the DPA?  
The Steep Slope Hazard Development Permit 
Area includes lands of Moderate Hazard Slope 
(22.5 - 45 degrees) and High Hazard Slope (>45 
degrees), as represented in Schedule I of the 
Official Community Plan. Approximately 785 
hectares of land on Galiano Island are designated 
within the Steep Slope Hazard DPA, accounting 
for about 13.1% of the total land area.  
Together with the recommendations of a 
geotechnical consulting firm, the DPA boundaries 
are based on a digital elevation model which is 
stored and maintained in a geographic 
information system at the offices of the Islands 
Trust. 

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 land alteration activities, including tree cutting or removal, filling or 
excavation, and constructing services or infrastructure.  
Where a building permit has been issued, the construction or 
alteration of structures within the DPA does not require a 
development permit, and neither does subdivision that 
does not require land alteration. Many activities within 
the Moderate Hazard Slope classification are exempt; 
others are listed in the OCP. A development permit is 
not required 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

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