District Launches New Development Permit Area Viewer to Support OCP Implementation

The District of Sooke has launched a new Development Permit Area (DPA) Viewer, an online mapping resource designed to support early implementation of the District’s Official Community Plan (OCP), adopted by Council on December 8, 2025.

The DPA Viewer helps prospective applicants and development professionals screen which Development Permit Areas may apply to a property based on location. Users can view mapped areas and better understand what permits may be required before beginning an application. Project scope is also an important consideration, and applicable exemptions are outlined in the District’s OCP.

“This tool is about helping people orient themselves early in the development process,” said Chris Marshall, Director of Planning and Development. “With the introduction of updated and expanded Development Permit Areas through the newly adopted OCP, the DPA Viewer provides an early screening tool to help applicants understand what may apply to their site before moving into design, permitting, and next steps.”

The DPA Viewer is intended as a screening and planning aid, not a determination tool. Whether a Development Permit is ultimately required depends on site-specific conditions, the nature and scale of the proposed work, and applicable exemptions, which are reviewed through the planning process.

To support this early screening, the DPA Viewer Tool is complemented by a growing set of Information Bulletins and Professional Guidance Notes, which provide additional clarity on how DPAs, exemptions, and review processes are applied in practice.

Explore the DPA Viewer on the District website at: sooke.ca/ocp.

Information Bulletins and related resources are available on the District’s website at: sooke.ca/bulletins/planning

As always, should applicants have any questions about specific projects, District staff are available to support you through the application process. Contact Planning at planning@sooke.ca or call 250.642.1634.