Updating Langford's Environmental Development Permit Area

What’s Happening?
The City of Langford is updating its Environmental Development Permit Areas (EDPA) guidelines and maps.

What is an Environmental Development Permit Area?
An Environmental Development Permit Area (EDPA) is a tool used by cities across the province to guide how land is developed near important natural areas and features.

Natural areas are larger spaces like forests, lakes, wetlands, or wildlife corridors that support a variety of plants and animals and help nature do its work—like pollinating flowers, breaking down nutrients in the soil, or storing carbon in trees.

Natural features are the specific parts of these areas, like a stream, a large old tree, or a rocky slope.

EDPA maps identify land where those areas and features are located, and the guidelines shape how and where new development, construction, and land alterations can happen within the identified lands while protecting, integrating, and mitigating impacts to natural areas and features.

Why are we doing this now?
Langford created its first Environmental Development Permit Area in 1998. Many of the maps haven’t been updated since this time, and the guidelines were last updated in 2013.

Since then, the community has grown, along with our understanding of the environment and the important role that natural areas and features play in supporting wildlife habitat, preserving biodiversity, and protecting threatened or endangered species. These areas also significantly contribute to the health and well-being of our residents, offer opportunities for recreation, create a sense of place and community identity, and help mitigate the impacts of climate change.

It’s time to update the EDPA maps and guidelines to ensure they include the current locations of our important natural areas and are reflective of current science, technology, and best practices for natural areas management. Langford’s natural areas are an important part of what makes it a great place to live, work, and play.

How can you get involved?
We want to hear from the community to help shape the updated EDPA.

There will be several opportunities to participate over the coming months, including:

Phase 1 Public Engagement (launching June 18)
Use the StoryMap tool to learn from, and engage with the interactive map to identify places you value, places where you’d like to see more protection, and places where development has integrated nature in a positive way.

Complete the Survey to share your ideas about the types of natural areas or features that should be prioritized for protection, how well Langford is doing at achieving important community development goals while protecting the environment, and what is working or not working with the current approach.

The survey closes on July 7th, 2025 at end of day.

Share your ideas or suggestions: email Planning@Langford.ca