The City of Fort St. John is updating the Development Approval Procedures and Delegation Bylaw to speed up development approval processes!

This bylaw governs the process for approving amendments to the zoning bylaw and official community plan, and the approval process for development permits, development variance permits and temporary use permits. This new bylaw has been updated to speed up approval processes for these applications by:

• Easier to understand formatting, with new sections for each specific application type.
• Introduces more powers for the Director to approve variance permits.
• Clarified policies, including the notification process, the calculations for securities, and the processes for when qualified professionals' reports are required.

Residents, property owners, and developers are invited to participate in an Open House later this week to provide input that will help refine the bylaw before it proceeds to Council for consideration.

Open House Details

Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026

Time: 5 – 7 pm

Location: Kids Arena Fieldhouse

Format: Drop‑in style, with staff available to answer questions and discuss proposed bylaw changes.

Participants will be able to:

• Review the proposed Development Approvals Procedures and Delegation Bylaw.
• Speak directly with Planning and Development staff.
• Ask questions about how the changes may affect development applications.

This bylaw will help shape how development applications move through the City’s process. Community feedback ensures the updated procedures balance regulatory requirements with a smooth, customer‑focused experience.

Learn more by visiting the Let’s Talk Development Approvals webpage.