OUR CITY 2041: New Westminster's Official Community Plan
.jpg)
The Official Community Plan (OCP) provides a long-term vision, goals, and policies for New Westminster. Together, these elements connect the community’s “big picture” aspiration with the tools needed to achieve it, including specific actions, development permit guidelines, and land use designations. This Plan is implemented by the City in various ways, including through policy initiatives, public programs, civic projects, and bylaws. The implementation also occurs privately through avenues such as development and citizen action groups.
Click here to view the Official Community Plan (Updated April 2023)*
|
*Please note the April 2023 OCP does not include changes adopted in since that time. An updated consolidated Official Community Plan is being prepared to reflect the amendments adopted on February 23, 2026. Further information about those changes can be found in the “Recent OCP Updates” section below. |
Additional Resources and Frequently Requested Materials
Consolidated for Convenience Only (April 2023)
The OCP and its schedules (including the Downtown and Queensborough Plans) available here are a consolidation of the original bylaw and the bylaws listed below. The amendment bylaws have been combined with the original bylaw for convenience only. This consolidation is not a legal document. Original bylaws may be obtained from the Legislative Services Department.
Recent Official Community Plan Updates
In February 2026, the City updated the OCP in response to several new housing initiatives and Provincial legislative changes. This included aligning the OCP with provincial housing legislation, enabling more townhouses, and encouraging more affordable housing. This work, completed through the “Our City, Our Homes” initiative, focused on enabling well-located homes that meet the diverse housing needs of our growing community.
An updated consolidated Official Community Plan is being prepared. The Bylaw amendments to the Official Community Plan (including the Downtown Community Plan and Development Permit Areas) adopted on February 23, 2026 can be found below:
-
Amendment Bylaw (Provincial Housing Legislation Integration) No. 8522, 2025
-
Amendment Bylaw (Townhouse Accelerator Initiative) No. 8547, 2025
For further context on these updates, including reports to Council and summaries of community engagement, visit the Provincial Housing Legislation Implementation page here.
Upcoming Official Community Plan Updates
The City will bring forward amendments to the OCP in Spring/Summer 2026 to implement changes relating to the Infill Housing Program, Transit Oriented Development Area Extensions and Regional Planning. These amendments will build on the changes made in February 2026 through the “Our City, Our Homes” initiative.