PRRD updates Board of Variance bylaw 

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) has increased the application fee for its Board of Variance process. 

The PRRD began the process of putting together a Board of Variance at their latest meeting on February 2nd, which included an update that increased the application fee from $90 to $500. 

The board allows residents who feel complying with a zoning bylaw “would cause them hardship” an opportunity to apply for a “variance” to a bylaw. A variance is an adjustment of the bylaw. 

The previous application fee for the board had not been updated since 1994, and PRRD staff indicated in their report that Board of Variance application fees from across the province were between $170 and $700. 

This increase was done to stay in line with other boards across the province and to pay staff for the time needed to review and process applications. 

According to the BC Government website, a Board of Variance must be established once a local government adopts a zoning bylaw. 

The PRRD will now begin the process of advertising for and finding board members. 

The full report on the Board of Variance bylaw from the PRRD can be read below: