At the February 18, 2026, Regular Meeting of Council, Town Council adopted a new Official Community Plan (OCP) following nearly a year and a half of public engagement. The OCP will guide how Comox grows and develops over the next 20 years.
The OCP is shaped by a guiding vision that frames growth and development in Comox:
“The heart of Comox is the downtown – a compact, pedestrian-friendly area with a lively mix of housing, services, and amenities. New development diversifies housing and employment options throughout Comox and is accompanied by concerted efforts to minimize environmental impacts.”
Read the Official Community Plan: Click here (comox.ca/ocp) to view the final document.
The OCP guides municipal land use, housing, and infrastructure planning, recognizing that more ground-oriented multi-unit housing will be needed to accommodate families as Comox grows. The 2024 Housing Needs Report identifies a need for 1,037 housing units between 2021 and 2026, and 3,358 units between 2021 and 2041.
“I would like to thank the community for their active participation in developing this document and sharing their feedback,” said Comox Mayor Nicole Minions. “The deliberations and conversations raised thoughtful and respectful debate. It’s understood that no plan can represent every viewpoint or scenario. The plan is a living document, with changing needs of the community being considered between now and the 5-year mandatory review”.
In British Columbia, municipalities are required to adopt an OCP and update it at least every five years under provincial legislation (Bill 44). While an OCP does not commit a municipality to proceed with any specific project identified in the plan, all bylaws enacted and works undertaken by the local government must be consistent with it.
Alongside the new OCP, the Town also completed a comprehensive update to its Zoning Bylaw to support provincial housing requirements. The new bylaw has been modernized and reformatted for ease of use and includes pre-zoned areas to help meet the Town’s housing targets.
For the updated Zoning Bylaw, visit comox.ca/zoningbylaw.
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Media Contact:
Nicole Minions, Comox Mayor
nminions@comox.ca
250-339-2202