Welcome to the Planning and Development Department. Our Department is comprised of Planning and Lands and Building Services. Our services range from land administration to development permits and building permits.
Our current initiatives are presented below.
2022 Building By-law
On May 30, 2022, Yellowknife City Council formally adopted the new Building By-law, through approval of By-law No. 5058, in a unanimous vote. The City has brought forward the new Building By-law that adopts the National Building Codes rather than rewriting requirements within the By-law. The By-law is clear, easy-to-follow and will remain up to date. As National Building Codes are updated, the changes will automatically flow through to the City’s Building By-law.
For more information on the new Building By-law, visit www.yellowknife.ca/BuildingBylaw.
2020 Community Plan
On July 27, 2020, Yellowknife City Council formally adopted the new Community Plan, through approval of By-law No. 5007, in a unanimous vote.
A Community Plan is a road map for how land will be used and planned for. The purpose of the Community Plan is to provide a policy framework that sets out a vision for the future growth and development of Yellowknife during the next 20 years. The development and drafting of the new Community Plan was a 2-year project, which started in May of 2018. In July of 2020, the new Community Plan was adopted by Council.
Community Plan Background Report.
Zoning By-law Review
In order to meaningfully implement the 2020 Community Plan, ensure consistency, and better address the needs of Yellowknife residents, the Zoning By-law must be updated. Changes to the Zoning By-law to align it with the 2020 Community Plan are mandated by the Community Planning and Development Act. The City is repealing and replacing the Zoning By-law to ensure that it aligns with the new 2020 Community Plan.
The review is also available on the City’s social media platforms.
School Draw Parking and Gateway Node
In its 2017 Budget, Council approved the grading, paving, and rearrangement of the School Draw Parking and Old Town Gateway Node. The City conducted public consultations for the School Draw Parking and Old Town Gateway Node. This site plays several key roles in the experience and operation of the City. As the entrance to Old Town, it is the first impression visitors get of the area. This lot also has significant impact on the daily experiences of Yellowknifers as they travel between Old Town and Downtown by foot, bicycle, transit, or personal vehicle. During the summer months, it is a popular location for parking boat trailers and vehicles used by boaters. Year round, it serves as a critical lift station for trucked sewage properties as well as a sorting area for recyclable drop-off and collection.
Results from the 2017 public consultations.
Planning and Development Operational Review
In 2017, Council completed an Operational Review of the Planning & Development Department.
In response to the Operational Review, Administration prepared an Implementation Plan.
Downtown Revitalization
Theia Partners was retained in 2018 to conduct an exploratory site visit and to meet with some key local people on opportunities from a revitalization perspective. Theia Partners is an urban development company that focuses on community development/redevelopment and have led revitalization projects in a number of cities across the country. Based on this initial visit, the consulting team provided Administration with a proposal to undertake the additional work that could help frame the revitalization work with the context of Council’s Goals and Objectives.
On July 9, 2018 Theia Partners made a presentation and provided a "Creating Vibrancy in Downtown Yellowknife: 50/50 Site and Beyond" Report at the Municipal Services Committee Meeting. In May 2019 Council approved the Implementation Plan consistent with Council's newly adopted Strategic Plan.
We Would Like to Hear From You
Thank you for taking the time to visit our website and learn more about our current initiatives. Please get in touch with us to learn more about the Department. We welcome feedback and suggestions.
To contact the Director of Planning and Development, please submit your inquiry to our Feedback form.