City of Mission Forest Ecosystems Development Permit
The Forest Ecosystems Development Permit is intended to reduce the loss and degradation of forest habitat in the City of Mission.
Key Takeaways:
A Forest Ecosystems Development Permit is required for large scale land disturbance in the designated Development Permit Area. Land disturbance exceeding 200 square metres in the urban area and 500 square metres in the rural area is classified as a large-scale disturbance and requires a Development Permit.
When do you Need a Forest Ecosystems Development Permit?
A Forest Ecosystems Development Permit is required for development within the development permit area shown on the map below. Development includes:
- Subdivision
- Land alteration
- Construction of, addition to, or alteration of a building or structure
The following actions are exempt from the Forest Ecosystems Development Permit:
- Land disturbance totalling 200 m2 or less per year within the Urban Growth Boundary (see Map 1)
- Land disturbance totalling 500 m2 or less per year outside the Urban Growth Boundary (see Map 1)
- Routine maintenance of existing human disturbance
- Removal of noxious weeds or invasive species, provided that any disturbed areas are replanted with native vegetation
- Activities listed as exempt in Appendix D of the Official Community Plan
Whether or not a forest ecosystems development permit is required, all proposed land disturbance should avoid impacts to breeding birds, which are protected by provincial and federal regulations. Consult our page on breeding bird regulations for more information.
Forest Ecosystems Development Permit Application Requirements
To obtain a permit, a qualified environmental professional (QEP) must complete a preliminary site survey. The site survey should:
- review available literature and inventory information
- consist of a site inspection to catalogue and describe all environmentally valuable resources
- ground truth and identify features subject to the Water Sustainability Act, the Riparian Areas Protection Regulation, and the City of Mission Riparian Areas Development Permit
- provide recommended mitigation measures, which will become conditions of the approved permit
Additionally, development within the Forest Ecosystems Development Permit area must follow the guidelines in Appendix D of the Official Community Plan. This includes requirements for site design, habitat restoration, environmental protection and monitoring, and erosion and sediment control.
Disclaimer: Environmental regulations change frequently. Our goal is to keep the content of this page up-to-date and accurate. If you notice inaccurate information, please contact us so we can make corrections.
Last Updated in July 2025
