PRRD delays reading related to zoning bylaw

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) has delayed the second reading regarding a new zoning bylaw. 

According to a Facebook post on May 15th, the PRRD Board of Directors has delayed the second reading for a new Regional Zoning Bylaw. 

On March 19th, the PRRD reviewed a staff presentation regarding ongoing work on the bylaw. 

According to the post, the board has requested reports on the following topics to help understand the impact of the new bylaw:

• Which parcels are changing zones
• The difference between old zones and proposed new zones
• Regulatory changes
• Whether study area zones can be created

The PRRD said staff are working to compile details for these requests, which involve data for over 21,000 properties. It said the board will meet again in summer 2026 to review new information from staff and to decide on the next steps. 

According to the PRRD website, the new bylaw will replace the current five, some dating back to 1976. 

The bylaws dictate rules for property use, including the number of allowed homes, building setbacks, the maximum size of accessory buildings, and regulations for home businesses. 

The PRRD said the new bylaw aims to improve accessibility by combining multiple bylaws into one, updating regulations by incorporating community feedback on building accessory sizes, rules for home-based businesses, and secondary and detached suites. 

It also said it aims to streamline processes supporting local residents, agriculture and industries while replacing outdated regulations. 

More information on the regional board’s decision for more information can be found online. 

All updates and requested documents can be found on the official project page on the PRRD website.