The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) Board met on May 27, 2026, to consider recommendations regarding various electoral area planning matters including Temporary Use Permits and the Official Community Plan.

Regarding Temporary Use Permits, the Board (electoral area directors), voted to:

• Advance a Temporary Use Permit bylaw, specifically for commercial and industrial uses, to the CVRD Board for consideration of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd reading on June 24, 2026. The Board’s intention with commercial and industrial uses is to create a flexible, responsive way to support regional economic prosperity.
• Hold a public information meeting on commercial and industrial temporary use permits before the June 24, 2026, CVRD Board meeting.
• Direct staff to provide a report on a potential streamlined Temporary Use Permit for short-term rentals, including options for associated fees. The Board values short-term rentals and how they support our local tourism industry. Short-term rental enforcement is currently on a complaint-basis.
• Direct staff to provide a report on potential ways to engage the community related to possible Temporary Use Permit uses, including seasonal accommodation, short-term rentals, temporary worker housing, markets, and festivals.

Regarding the Official Community Plan, the Board voted to:

• Start the process for “CVRD Bylaw No. 4373 – Cowichan Valley Regional District Official Community Plan for the Electoral Areas Bylaw, 2024”, to be repealed.
• Start the process to adopt a Harmonized Official Community Plan (OCP), based on the former OCP (Harmonized OCP Bylaw No. 4270).

The Electoral Area Service Committee will consider a report from staff on process, budget and timeline considerations, and direction must be confirmed by the Board, before the process of repealing the OCP can begin.

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