Land Use Contracts

In May 2014, the Province made changes to the Local Government Act (a provincial law that governs local governments) that directs municipalities to enact zoning regulations for all properties regulated by Land Use Contracts prior to June 30, 2022. This change also directs all Land Use Contracts to terminate on June 30, 2024. 

Because of the changes to the Local Government Act, the City of Maple Ridge is undertaking the rezoning of properties and termination of the Land Use Contracts accordingly. It is the aim of this termination process that the new zoning put in place will mirror, as closely as possible, what has been permitted on a property through the Land Use Contract. The attempt is that the current use and the building(s) on the property will not be affected in any way by this change.

What is a Land Use Contract?

A Land Use Contract is an agreement between a property owner and a municipality that states the permitted use(s) and development regulations for the property. The regulations in a Land Use Contract are similar to those found within a zoning bylaw, except that the Land Use Contract may contain other items typically not found within a zoning bylaw, such as engineering servicing standards and development design guidelines.


How is the City selecting my property's zone?

Staff will review the use(s) and regulations (such as building setbacks, height, and lot coverage) permitted in the Land Use Contract and attempt to align these with a current zone. The proposed zone must be consistent with the land use designation for your property, which is identified in the City of Maple Ridge Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw.

Where Can I Find More Information?

The Province of British Columbia Website on Land Use Contracts

Frequently Asked Questions about Land Use Contracts
A compilation of frequently asked questions and answers regarding the termination process of Land Use Contracts is available here (PDF).

Staff Reports 

  • On October 13, 2020, staff presented the approach for terminating land use contracts to Council as well as some background information on Land Use Contracts. The report is available here.

  • On April 27, 2021, all the Rezoning Bylaws received third and final reading. The minutes from the April 27, 2021 Council meeting can be found here. 

  • On July 27, 2021, the second bundle of Rezoning Bylaws for properties with a Land Use Contract received third and final reading. The adopted bylaws from the July 27 Council meeting can be found here.

If you have any questions, staff are available by phone and email to answer your questions, as well to meet in-person at City Hall by appointment only.
Staff contact: Krista Gowan, email here
Phone: 604-467-7402