Planning Documents & Bylaws

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): 

1. 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. 
2. 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. 
3. Support a diverse economy that provides a wide range of jobs and services to supplement the mining industry. 
4. Protect, manage and enhance rural, agricultural and forestry lands, balancing competing interests. 
5. Encourage, promote, and celebrate local heritage, culture, and arts. 
6. 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. 
7. Support a healthy, safe and engaged community through social development, community services and civic engagement. 
8. Provide and manage infrastructure and services, including potable water, sewage, stormwater and roads in a cost effective and sustainable manner. 
9. Provide a safe and efficient multi-modal transportation system that balances vehicular traffic with active transportation. 
10. 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. 
11. Promote environmental conservation best practices. 
12. Protect sand and gravel resource extraction areas in the community. 
13. 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

Learn about the Zoning Bylaw

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 on Age Friendly 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 

In 2021, the District of Sparwood completed its Housing Needs Report in response to provincial legislation introduced in April 2019. This legislation requires all local governments to gather data and analyze trends to assess current and future housing needs. The reports must follow provincial guidelines and include historical data, current conditions, and projections across approximately 50 housing, economic, and demographic indicators.

The Housing Needs Report provides a detailed overview of Sparwood’s current and anticipated housing needs. It serves as a resource for decision-makers, District staff, residents, service providers, businesses, and developers to better understand local housing challenges and identify gaps in supply. The report also fulfills provincial legislative requirements and must be updated every five years.

In late 2023, the Province of British Columbia introduced significant changes to the Local Government Act to address the housing crisis and expand housing options.

Under Bill 44: Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act, local governments are now required to update their housing needs reports using a standardized 20-year framework to improve planning and address housing demands more effectively. As part of this update, the 2024 Interim Housing Needs Report has been appended to the 2021 Housing Needs Report. This interim report includes the following key updates:

• Housing Projections:
  • The total number of housing units required to meet anticipated needs over the next 5 years and 20 years, calculated using the new provincial methodology.
  • The updated 5-year housing projection (239 units) is significantly higher than the 2021 projection (88 units), reflecting the shift in calculation methods.
• Actions Taken Since 2021:
  • Proactive bylaw amendments for developments such as Timbers and Westwood.
  • Policy and process improvements, including the implementation of Cloudpermit and delegated minor variance approvals, to increase efficiency.
  • Permissive tax exemptions for affordable and seniors’ housing projects.
• Transportation Considerations:
  • A statement is included in the update identifying the importance of locating housing in areas that are serviced for walking, cycling, transit and means other than personal automobiles to move people through the community.

Looking ahead, the District is required to update its Official Community Plan (OCP) and Zoning Bylaw by the end of 2025 to accommodate the projected housing needs.

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.