The Prince George Planning and Development Department is located on the first and second floors of City Hall and includes the following divisions:
- Development Services
- Real Estate Services
- Sustainable Community Development
- Economic Development
- Bylaw Services
The Department can assist with a range of issues by providing information on how to navigate local bylaws and regulations for matters like:
- Building a shed on a residential property.
- Clearing trees from a lot.
- Large-scale land-use changes to meet growing demands.
- Submitting complaints about unsightly yards.
Development Services
Development Services is located on the second floor and provides current planning, engineering, building inspection, business licensing, and administrative functions. The division also oversees land-use changes and development.
Administration and business licensing
Administration handles permits, licences and inquiries and processes applications related to building, plumbing, signs, demolition, street occupancy, and business licences.
Current planning
Current Planning processes development and land-use related applications, including:
- Zoning and Official Community Plan (OCP) Bylaw amendments
- Development Permits
- Development Variance Permits
- Liquor Licence resolutions
Planning staff also facilitate public consultation opportunities for land-use applications and provides advice on policies and bylaws.
Subdivision and infrastructure
The Subdivision and Infrastructure division administers subdivision applications and offers guidance throughout the approval and development process, including related servicing, access, offsite works, lot grading, and drainage. It is also responsible for soil removal and deposit permits, fill requests, civic addressing, as-constructed record drawings, and maintaining engineering reports and studies.
Other services provided include:
- Access permits
- Highway occupancy permits
- Work on highway and utility permits
- Civic addressing
- Lot servicing and grading records management
For more information:
Building inspections
The Building Inspection division is a regulatory body that ensures and improves public safety and compliance with the British Columbia Building and Plumbing Codes and several City bylaws. Staff work on all types of projects from major commercial developments to home renovations.
Comfort Letter Applications
Apply for a development services comfort letter online. Once submitted, a tracking number will be issued and application statuses may be viewed on the applicant's MyCity account.
Real Estate Services
Real Estate Services is located on the second floor of City Hall and is responsible for managing City-owned land. The division's functions include proving assistance with:
- Land sales and purchases
- Leases of City land and buildings (commercial and not-for-profit)
- Utility right-of-ways
- Road closures
Sustainable Community Development Services
The Sustainable Community Development Services is located on the second floor of City Hall and provides long-term land-use and transit planning services. The division's objective is to balance public interest captured within the myPG Sustainability Plan, Council priorities, the Official Community Plan (OCP), and the Prince George Future Transit Plan with private interests expressed by landowner's development proposals.
Long-Range Planning
The Long-Range Planning division develops long-term planning policies and bylaws related to land conservation, maintenance, conversion, development, and re-development, including:
- Land-use planning documents like the Official Community Plan.
- Neighbourhood and area plans.
- The myPG Sustainability Plan.
Staff also engage and meet with the local community and advises Council on land-use issues to ensure private development and City initiatives are consistent with the community's long-term vision for Prince George.
Transit Planning
Transit service in Prince George is provided through a shared service model with funding split between the City of Prince George and BC Transit. The Transit Planning division handles daily operational matters as well engages in future transit system planning through development proposals and system reviews.
Economic Development
The Prince George Economic Development division is located on the first floor of City Hall and works towards ensuring the continued strength of the local economy by:
- Helping retain and expand existing businesses.
- Attracting businesses to expand and diversify the economy.
- Advocating for increased workforce capacity.
- Marketing the City of Prince George to attract new businesses and residents.
For more information:
Bylaw Services
Prince George Bylaw Services is located on the first floor of City Hall and is responsible for Animal Control, Parking Control and general Bylaw Enforcement. Two of the division's major projects in 2015 and 2016 included removing derelict buildings in the downtown core and changes to downtown parking.