{"title":"Smithers zoning: find your zone and what it allows","question":"How do I find out how my property is zoned and what I can build on it?","slug":"zoning-lookup","place":{"path":"ca/bc/smithers","name":"Smithers","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Town of Smithers","url":"https://www.smithers.ca"},"short_answer":"In Smithers, find your zoning on the Zoning Map (Schedule A to Zoning Bylaw No. 1987) on the Town's OCP and Zoning page, or on the shared web map by address or PID. You can also call Development Services at 250-847-1600.","aliases":["zoning map smithers","what is my zoning smithers","zoning bylaw smithers","property zoning lookup smithers"],"cost":"Looking up zoning is free. A Land Use Information (Comfort) Letter costs $55 for single-family residential or $80 for other property.","how_long":"The Town does not state a time for answering zoning questions.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"OCP and Zoning, Town of Smithers","value":"https://www.smithers.ca/business-building/building-development/ocp-zoning"},{"type":"online","label":"Engineering and Mapping (web map)","value":"https://www.smithers.ca/business-building/building-development/engineering-mapping"},{"type":"phone","label":"Development Services","value":"250-847-1600","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."},{"type":"email","label":"Development Services (mapping questions)","value":"devserv@smithers.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1987","url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Smithers building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/building-permit/"},{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"Smithers fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/fence-rules/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Smithers permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"Smithers secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/secondary-suite/"},{"slug":"home-based-business","title":"Smithers home-based business rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/home-based-business/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/telkwa","name":"Telkwa","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/zoning-lookup/"},{"place":"ca/bc/houston","name":"Houston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/zoning-lookup/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-hazelton","name":"New Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/zoning-lookup/"},{"place":"ca/bc/hazelton","name":"Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/zoning-lookup/"},{"place":"ca/bc/granisle","name":"Granisle","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/zoning-lookup/"},{"place":"ca/bc/terrace","name":"Terrace","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/zoning-lookup/"}],"topic":{"title":"Zoning maps in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/zoning-lookup/"},"facts":{"how_to_find":{"label":"How to find your zone","value":"Use the Zoning Map (Schedule A to Bylaw 1987) on the Town's OCP & Zoning page, or the shared web map, which lets you search by address or PID and view zoning boundaries. You can also ask Development Services.","short":"Zoning Map (Schedule A); shared web map","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/business-building/building-development/ocp-zoning","title":"OCP and Zoning, Town of Smithers","section":"OCP & Zoning page","quotes":["Zoning Map (Schedule \"A\" to Bylaw No. 1987)"]},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/business-building/building-development/engineering-mapping","title":"Engineering and Mapping, Town of Smithers","section":"Mapping","quotes":["Search properties by address or PID","View zoning and other boundaries"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"zoning_bylaw":{"label":"Zoning bylaw","value":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, adopted June 17, 2025, plus four amendments: No. 25-01 (Bylaw 1991, adopted Aug. 12, 2025), 25-02 (Bylaw 2001, Jan. 13, 2026), 26-01 (Bylaw 2006, June 9, 2026) and 26-02 (Bylaw 2015, Oct. 13, 2026).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, Town of Smithers","section":"Citation page","quotes":["ADOPTED THIS 17TH DAY OF JUNE 2025."]},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/268986/","title":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/268986/","section":"s. 1.1, adoption","quotes":["ADOPTED ON THIS 12TH DAY OF AUGUST 2025."]},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/277192/","title":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/277192/","section":"adoption","quotes":["ADOPTED THIS 13rH DAY OF JANUARY 2026."]},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/287201/","title":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/287201/","section":"adoption","quotes":["ADOPTED THIS 9TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026."]},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/297266/","title":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/297266/","section":"adoption","quotes":["ADOPTED THIS 13TH DAY OF OCTOBER 2026."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"what_zone_controls":{"label":"What the zone controls","value":"Each zone lists permitted uses and regulations such as parcel size and coverage, setbacks, building height and density. Anything not specifically permitted is prohibited. Example: LDR-1 has a 460 m² minimum parcel, 50% maximum coverage and 9 m building height.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, Town of Smithers","section":"s. 1.5.3; Table 4.1 (LDR-1)","quotes":["All uses, buildings and structures not specifically permitted are prohibited.","460 m2 minimum","50% maximum for all buildings and","Building Height 9 metres"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"contact":{"label":"Contact","value":"Town of Smithers Development Services Department: 250-847-1600, 1027 Aldous Street, Monday to Friday (except holidays) 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mapping questions: devserv@smithers.ca.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/GUIDE%20-%20Development%20Services%20Fees.pdf","title":"Application, Permit and Licence Fees guide (PDF), Town of Smithers","section":"Contact block, p. 3","quotes":["Town of Smithers Development Services Department","Telephone: (250) 847-1600 Fax: (250) 847-1601","8:30 am to 4:30 pm"]},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/business-building/building-development/engineering-mapping","title":"Engineering and Mapping, Town of Smithers","section":"Mapping","quotes":["please contact the Development Services Department at devserv@smithers.ca."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Town of Smithers Zoning Bylaw No. 1987","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, Town of Smithers","section":"Title","quotes":["TOWN OF SMITHERS ZONING BYLAW NO. 1987"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"zoning":{"bylaw":{"title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1987 (adopted June 17, 2025)","url":"https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/Town%20of%20Smithers%20Zoning%20Bylaw%20No.%201987_Deepa%20Chandran.pdf","accessed":"2026-11-07","note":"The Town posts the bylaw as adopted on 17 June 2025; no later amendments are folded into this PDF. Schedule A (the zoning map) is a separate PDF."},"zones":25,"zone_pages":24,"index_url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/zoning/index.json","lookup_url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/zoning/lookup","map":{"has_map":true,"has_addresses":true,"zones_geojson":"/data/ca/bc/smithers/zones.geojson","addresses_json":"/data/ca/bc/smithers/addresses.json","source_url":"https://geo.rdffg.bc.ca/arcgis/rest/services/GEO/combined_land_use2/MapServer/13","viewer":{"title":"PropertyMap (joint Town of Smithers, RDFFG and RDBN web map)","url":"http://propertymap.ca/"},"caveat":null,"accessed":"2026-11-07"}},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Zoning Bylaw No. 1987](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/) was adopted June 17, 2025. It has been amended four times: by Bylaw 1991 (August 12, 2025), Bylaw 2001 (January 13, 2026), Bylaw 2006 (June 9, 2026) and Bylaw 2015 (October 13, 2026). The Town lists these as separate documents, and we found no combined copy.\n\nEach zone lists permitted uses and rules such as parcel size, coverage, setbacks, building height and density. Anything not specifically permitted is prohibited. For example, LDR-1 has a 460 m² minimum parcel, 50% maximum coverage and 9 m building height. General rules in Division 2 (home occupations, short-term rentals, suites, fences, parking, accessory buildings) apply across zones.\n\nYour property may also lie in an Environmental or Form and Character development permit area under the Official Community Plan.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Open the Zoning Map (Schedule A to Bylaw 1987) on the Town's OCP and Zoning page, or use the web map linked from the Engineering and Mapping page, which searches by address or PID.\n2. Find your zone in the Zoning Bylaw and read its permitted uses and rules.\n3. Call Development Services at 250-847-1600 (1027 Aldous Street) to confirm, or email devserv@smithers.ca with mapping questions.\n4. For written confirmation, ask for a Land Use Information (Comfort) Letter: $55 for single-family residential, $80 for other property.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The web map is shared with the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako and the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, and is hosted off the Town's own domain.\n- Older Town guides may still cite Zoning Bylaw No. 1936 or 1403, which are out of date.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/business-building/building-development/ocp-zoning","title":"OCP and Zoning, Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/business-building/building-development/engineering-mapping","title":"Engineering and Mapping, Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/265053/","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1987, Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/GUIDE%20-%20Development%20Services%20Fees.pdf","title":"Application, Permit and Licence Fees guide (PDF), Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/268986/","title":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/268986/","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/277192/","title":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/277192/","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/287201/","title":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/287201/","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/297266/","title":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/297266/","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/zoning-lookup/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/zoning-lookup.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/zoning-lookup.json"}}