- Policies & Guidelines
- Official Community Plan
- Zoning Bylaw
- Age Friendly Communities
- Housing Needs Assessment
- Sign Permits & Sign Bylaw
Policies & Guidelines
The District of Sparwood provides regulations and services related to building, land use and development for property owners, developers, commercial tenants, contractors and realtors.
Social planning undertakings are guided by a number of Council adopted bylaws, policies, plans, strategies and guidelines, which focus on improving well-being and quality of life in Sparwood, such as:
- Official Community Plan (Link to the below section Official Community Plan)
- Zoning Bylaw
- Age-Friendly Community Plan
- Sign Permit and Bylaw (Link to section below)
- Community Energy and Emissions Plan
- Community Energy Association Building Energy Assessments
- Community Sustainability Plan
- Development Application Procedure Bylaw
- Elk Valley Regional Economic Opportunity Analysis & Growth Sector Identification
- Livability Report & Annual Report Card
- Highway 3 Corridor Economic Impact Study
- Industrial Land Demand Study
- Mobile Home Parks Bylaw
- Subdivision Servicing Bylaw
- Sparwood Housing Needs Report (2021)
- Off-Street Parking and Loading Bylaw
Official Community Plan
The Official Community Plan (link to actual file) is a comprehensive plan that guides the overall future of the District and provides a broad framework for managing future change.
Sparwood is a community in southeastern British Columbia with a rich mining and forestry heritage that has formed its unique identity and aesthetic. The rural nature of the area is complemented by its friendly, welcoming residents and mountain setting.
Our Vision
In 2035, Sparwood will be a caring, neighbourly and sustainable community with pride in our natural environment. A unique and vibrant downtown will be the social, cultural and economic heart of our community, with opportunities to live, work, learn, shop, and play in close proximity. A diverse economy will provide a range of jobs and services to supplement the mining industry, which will continue to be our economic lifeblood. A diversity of housing options will allow residents with a range of ages, income levels and lifestyles to live comfortably in Sparwood through all stages of their lives. A world-class multi-purpose network of trails, parks, and recreational areas will support an active, healthy, and highly livable community.
Our Goals
To achieve this vision, Sparwood has set the following goals to guide implementation of this Official Community Plan (OCP):
- Promote compact development and mixed use as the means to achieve a walkable community that provides efficient and sustainable infrastructure, minimizing negative impacts on the environment.
- Enhance the downtown by promoting high quality design and construction that reinforces Sparwood’s unique sense of place and become the social, cultural, and economic centre of the community with opportunities to live, work, learn, shop, and play.
- Support a diverse economy that provides a wide range of jobs and services to supplement the mining industry.
- Protect, manage and enhance rural, agricultural and forestry lands, balancing competing interests.
- Encourage, promote, and celebrate local heritage, culture, and arts.
- Encourage the provision of diverse housing options that allow residents with a range of ages, income levels, and lifestyles to live comfortably in the community through all stages of their lives.
- Support a healthy, safe and engaged community through social development, community services and civic engagement.
- Provide and manage infrastructure and services, including potable water, sewage, stormwater and roads in a cost effective and sustainable manner.
- Provide a safe and efficient multi-modal transportation system that balances vehicular traffic with active transportation.
- Encourage an active and healthy community through the development, maintenance, and enhancement of high-quality parks, passive and active recreational facilities and programs, and active transportation infrastructure.
- Promote environmental conservation best practices.
- Protect sand and gravel resource extraction areas in the community.
- Provide flexibility in land use to promote business development and diversification.
Amending the Official Community Plan
Some projects require a change to the applicable land use regulations in the OCP or Zoning Bylaw. If your project requires an amendment to the OCP or Zoning Bylaw, please review the Development Application Procedures Bylaw, and then contact the District’s Planning Department at 250-425-6271 or sparwood@sparwood.ca to discuss your project. You can also download the appropriate application form.
Zoning Bylaw
Age Friendly Communities
An age-friendly community is one that supports and enables older people to “age actively” – that is, to live in security, enjoy good health and continue to participate fully in society (World Health Organization). An age-friendly community not only improves the quality of life for seniors, it also creates a more inclusive, safe and accessible community for everyone, including people with disabilities and families with young children.
We want to make sure that Sparwood is a community where older people can age actively, live in security, enjoy good health and participate fully in society. An Age-Friendly Community Plan will help ensure that Sparwood remains an attractive place to live with features that not only benefit seniors, but also support the health, safety, and enjoyment of residents of all ages.
Our Age-friendly Community Plan will address these age-friendly focus areas developed by the World Health Organization:
- Outdoor spaces and buildings
- Transportation and mobility
- Housing
- Respect and social inclusion
- Civic participation and employment (including volunteering)
- Social participation (recreation and other leisure, social, cultural and spiritual activities)
- Communication and information
- Community support and health services
Why do we need an age-friendly plan?
BC’s population is aging. In 2009, just under 15% of BC’s population was 65 or older and by 2036 this proportion is projected to be nearly 24%. Although Sparwood currently has a younger than average population compared to the province as a whole, trends show that Sparwood’s share of older adults and seniors is increasing. Further, as much as 50% of the local workforce is eligible to retire in 10 years.
So, the District is using grant funding from the Government of British Columbia and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities to create a plan to make Sparwood more age-friendly with the aim of retaining retiring workers and existing seniors, and attracting new residents who want to stay long-term and age in place.
More information about age-friendly cites and communities
Use these links to age-friendly guides and resources to learn more about age-friendliness:
- Age-friendly Rural and Remote Communities: A Guide
- Age-Friendly Communities in Canada: Community Implementation Guide
- World Health Organization: Global Age-friendly Cities: A Guide
Housing Needs Assessment
In 2021, the District of Sparwood completed a Housing Needs Report. In April 2019, provincial legislative requirements took effect that require all local governments to collect data and analyze trends to assess current and anticipated housing needs. These housing needs reports are to follow provincial reporting guidelines and include historical data, current data, and/or projections on approximately 50 distinct kinds of data related to housing and local economic and demographics conditions.
This Housing Needs Report describes current and future housing needs for Sparwood. It is meant to provide decision makers, District staff, community members, service providers, businesses, and housing
developers the information necessary to better understand their current and future housing needs, and to help identify existing and projected gaps in housing supply. The report is intended to meet the provincial
legislative requirements for housing needs reports and is to be updated every five years.
Sign Permits and Sign Bylaw
The Sign Bylaw ensures that signs are not a safety hazard and assists the District in maintaining a clean and positive image for Sparwood.
The District of Sparwood’s Sign Bylaw provides regulations on signage within Sparwood. Allowable sign options in the District are:
- awning signs;
- fascia signs;
- free-standing signs;
- hanging signs;
- projecting signs;
- sandwich board signs;
- window signs; and
- other signs as listed under Section 2.2: Permitted Signs of the Sign Bylaw.
Signage within the District requires a Sign Permit in accordance with the Sign Bylaw.
Application Process
Please complete an application form and return it to the Planning Department with the application submission package:
- Completed application form;
- Application fee ($25 or $10 for an amendment to an existing permit);
- Photo of the existing building where sign will be mounted;
- Colour design drawings of sign proposal(s); and
- Colour samples for proposed sign(s).
The application package will be reviewed by the Planning Department, and a permit may be issued.