Shaping Oliver’s Future - Together
What is an Official Community Plan (OCP)?
The Official Community Plan is the Town of Oliver’s long-term guiding policy document, required by BC’s Local Government Act. It lays out a long-term vision for land use, transportation, housing, the environment, services, parks, heritage, and more. Once Council adopts it, all bylaws and municipal decisions must align with the OCP.
Why are we updating the OCP?
The current OCP was adopted in 2017, so now is the time to update it to reflect new legislation and community priorities. In 2023, the Provincial Government enacted new legislation that requires all BC municipalities to ensure their OCPs and zoning bylaws allow sufficient housing capacity—as identified through a Housing Needs Report—and align with updated requirements by December 31, 2025.
Updating now also allows us to refresh our policies to reflect changes in community values, demographics, economic and environmental context, and ensure alignment with other Town strategies (e.g., Housing Needs, Energy & Emissions, Park Land, Social Development).
What does the update include?
Phase 1 focuses on meeting new provincial requirements under recent legislation, including ensuring the OCP includes enough housing capacity for the next 20 years and that the OCP and zoning are aligned to support that growth. It covers technical analysis, updated housing data, and foundational policy updates—and must be completed by December 31, 2025.
Phase 2 builds on Phase 1 with a more comprehensive refresh of the OCP. It will explore broader community priorities—such as climate resilience, transportation, and public spaces—in greater depth. Phase 2 extends into 2026.
How to Participate
Take the Phase 1 Survey: Thank you for your participation, this survey is now closed, the results are posted below.
Join our Email List: If you would like updates emailed to you directly, please email us at planning@oliver.ca to be added to our communication list.
Contact Us: planning@oliver.ca or 250-485-6200
Planning Department staff are available to answer questions about the process, timelines, and how feedback will be integrated into the OCP.
Opportunities for Input
Documents Library
Oliver OCP Engagement Strategy - This report outlines the path forward for the OCP update in further detail.
2024 Housing Needs Report - This report outlines the 5 year and 20 year anticipated housing requirements, as well as specific requirements for housing.
Bill 44 Housing Statutes Fact Sheet - Confused about the legislation the Province has mandated for the municipalities zoning bylaws? Here is a breakdown of the changes and how they affect our municipality.
Oliver OCP Phase 1 Proposed Amendments - This is the list of potential changes to the Official Community Plan for Phase 1.
Oliver OCP Phase 1 Status Update - A summary of the Open House, Housing Capacity Analysis and Next Steps
OCP Survey Results The results are in! Have a look to see how the Residents of Oliver responded to our Survey