The City of Surrey has an in-depth process for rezoning land. Rezoning applications are reviewed at several levels from rezoning planners, formal reports and public hearings. All rezoning applications are processed by the City’s Planning and Development Department.
Rezoning a property in Surrey involves multiple steps. We’ve listed the steps you need to take to get your project going, and explain how and when Simple Sign can help facilitate this process for you.
How to Apply for a Rezoning Permit in Surrey
Step 1: Pre-Application Review
The first step in acquiring a rezoning permit in Surrey is to review your proposed project’s adherence to all City plans, policies, and regulations that are applicable. These include official community plans, zoning by-laws, residential character studies, and engineering requirements. For zoning information, check out this map provided by the City in order to find your zoning district. Review the applicable zoning by-laws here.
Step 2: Submit Your Rezoning Permit Application
When filling out the application, ensure that all guidelines have been met in order to reduce processing time and improve your application’s chance of approval. Ensure to include all supporting documents.
The Rezoning Application form is available online here, and can be submitted to permitapplication@surrey.ca, or in person at Surrey City Hall.
Your application status can be reviewed online on the City’s website here.
Step 3: Initial Review of Your Rezoning Application
Your rezoning application will be assigned to a city planner for a comprehensive review on the requirements of rezoning. After this initial review, if there are any missing resources or information the planner will request for submission of these documents. Neighbouring businesses and landowners are informed about the proposed project for their comments and considerations on the proposed project.
Step 4: Requirement of Rezoning Application Signs
At this point, the City of Surrey will request for the applicant to install one or more rezoning application signs on their property that notifies other landowners and community members of your plans, and that an application has been submitted.
The City will send the applicant a letter to outline how many signs are required and also the exact text which should be included on the rezoning application sign(s). This process often means dealing with the hassles of approval, dealing with sign shops, and the annoyance of building frames to display your signs properly.
The team at Simple Sign can use this letter from the city planner to create the graphic design for the sign and install the rezoning application sign quickly and at a competitive price point.
Simple Sign is also able to proof any rezoning sign information to ensure it meets requirements and submit sign information directly to the City for approval.
We guarantee the installation of rezoning signs within 3 business days, removing the burden of handling signage design and installation from your busy schedule.
Step 5: Report to City Council
A report containing assessment, the recommendation of approval or denial, and required revisions to the rezoning application is made by the City’s Planning and Development Department and sent to the City Council for their consideration. The Council reviews the report at a meeting, which is open to public attendance and their concerns are factored into the decision-making process. At this point, the Council will announce if the project has any additional conditions that need to be met. The Council will also decide if the application is approved to proceed or deny it.
If your application is allowed to proceed, the necessary readings and public hearing will be scheduled.
The City of Surrey hosts up to three readings and a Public Hearing with the Council for consideration. Any comments raised from Council or the public must be addressed during these sessions. After the 3rd reading, you are required to complete all requirements outlined in the 3rd reading letter before receiving your permit.
Step 6: Issuance of Rezoning Permit and Development Application
After all readings and considerations are complete, the Council will sign off on the rezoning application provided that all requirements and conditions have been met and a city staff will notify you of the Council’s decision.
Following the approval of your rezoning application, you are eligible to apply for a development permit. Check out Simple Sign’s Guide on Applying for a Development Permit in Surrey to learn more about proceeding with your project.
When it’s time for the switch to a property development sign, removal service is always included in Simple Signs all-inclusive sign package for locally installed signs. Instead of your sign ending up in a landfill, we will recycle and reuse all sign materials.
