What is happening?
The Town of Golden is creating a new Official Community Plan (OCP) and updating the Zoning Bylaw.
What is an OCP?
An OCP is a provincially mandated regulatory document that provides policies on a broad range of topics, including housing, transportation, parks, infrastructure and climate change. OCPs designate land for specific purposes, such as commercial, residential, and parks, and establish general policies that guide land use and development. They are one of the most important planning documents for a community.
Why are we doing it?
Golden’s current OCP was adopted in 2008. Over the past 18 years, some amendments have been made, including short-term rental policies, additional development permit policies for the highway corridor, and a few site-specific land use changes (e.g., Kaur, Francophone School).
The OCP needs to be updated to better reflect current community issues and priorities. The Town is looking to update the OCP in a way that makes it accessible, practical, and that articulates the Town’s next period of growth and development.
What is the timeline?
We will be kicking off public engagement in early 2026. The first round of activities is planned for February, featuring both online and in-person events. Stay tuned for more information!
After the OCP is updated, we will also be updating our Zoning Bylaw in 2027.
OCP Timeline:
- Phase 1 - Fall-Winter 2025: Project Kick-off & Technical Review
- Phase 2 - Spring 2026: Gathering Ideas
- Phase 3 - Summer 2026: Draft and Final OCP
- Phase 4 - Fall 2026 - Summer 2027: Zoning Bylaw Review
We want to hear from you!
Get engage with the process through online and in-person engagement opportunities and provide your input to help shape Golden’s future in a way that reflects our community's shared values and aspirations.
Zoning Bylaw
The Town’s Zoning Bylaw is a key document that implements Golden’s OCP by regulating land use and density. Every property in Golden has a legal zoning classification specifying the types of uses or activities that can take place on that property, restrictions on site coverage, height of buildings, minimum distances separating buildings and property lines, the amount of off-street parking required, and in some zones, floor area, as well as other requirements.