Staff Report: New Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 2233, 2025

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The purpose of this report is to present the proposed Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 2233 to the Committee. This proposed bylaw repeals and replaces the current Traffic Bylaw No. 33, 1995 and incorporates several other bylaws related to street use, traffic regulations, and public safety.

Key updates to Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 2233 include but are not limited to:

• Regulating modern transportation modes, such as micromobility devices;
• Updating street use, traffic, and parking regulations;
• Introducing new permit and licensing framework;
• Incorporating the Truck Route Bylaw No. 1477, 2013, and Sidewalk Use Bylaw No. 1917, 2020;
• Updating enforcement provisions for City Bylaw Officers; and
• Utilizing plain and inclusive language.

These changes are designed to support the City’s goals of sustainable development, livable neighbourhoods, and responsible construction practices by improving clarity, accountability, and enforcement capabilities.

Attached is the proposed Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 2233, and the companion Streets and Traffic Miscellaneous Amending Bylaw No. 2181 for the Committee’s consideration and recommendation to Council.

BACKGROUND

Traffic Bylaw No. 33 was passed in 1995 and has since been amended 24 times. This has resulted in outdated language and inconsistent formatting. Following a comprehensive review conducted by staff, it was concluded that the extent of required revisions to the bylaw warranted its repeal and replacement rather than further amendments, and incorporation of other bylaws that regulate streets and traffic.

Before drafting the new bylaw, staff reviewed the public engagement that was conducted in late 2024 under the Construction Impact Management Strategy. Feedback from this process highlighted community priorities, such as improving the management of street use and occupation during construction. These priorities helped to inform the draft bylaw, leading to the introduction of new permits and licences for street use.

The City formed a facilitated focus group with key industry partners to gather feedback on proposed bylaw changes that may impact construction activities. This engagement aligns with Council’s direction to ensure that bylaw amendments support growth and development while maintaining livability for neighbouring residents. In addition, the proposed bylaw has undergone a comprehensive internal review to ensure clarity, consistency, and enforceability.

COMMENTARY

Building on the recommendation from the Construction Impact Management Strategy to improve street use and occupation management, staff undertook a comprehensive review of Traffic Bylaw No. 33, engaging with departments responsible for administration and enforcement. To further inform this work, the City convened a facilitated focus group with key industry partners to gather feedback on the draft Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 2233.

There are several other bylaws that regulate streets and traffic, such as the Truck Route Bylaw and the Sidewalk Use Bylaw. At times, this has created interpretation and enforcement challenges. Also, the current Traffic Bylaw No. 33 does not include several types of permits and licences that the City issues to allow construction or various uses of streets. Having one comprehensive bylaw to regulate streets and traffic with these recommended additions will provide clarity as to when a permit or licence is required, the process for applying for a permit or licence, and associated fees.

Summary of Key Changes

Many of the provisions in the current Traffic Bylaw No. 33 remain included in the proposed Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 2233; however, the provisions are restructured and reworded to provide for plain and inclusive language, clarity, and standardized section numbering in accordance with best practices.

The following are significant changes from the current bylaw:

1. new permits and licences;
2. updated parking regulations;
3. regulations for micromobility devices;
4. enhanced enforcement provisions; and
5. consolidation of existing bylaws.

(1) New Permits and Licences

The existing Traffic Bylaw No. 33 lacks specificity regarding permit requirements, resulting in repeated questions regarding permit requirements and application forms. The proposed Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 2233 introduces a structured framework for regulating activities on city streets through a series of permits and licences.

Permits are authorized by the Director of Engineering and Public Works, or delegated to staff, to allow activities otherwise prohibited by the bylaw, and which do not require a licence agreement including:

• “Special Events Permit” – Issued to organizations or groups hosting events in public spaces, such as bike races, street festivals, and community gatherings.
• “Oversized Vehicle Permit” – For vehicles exceeding standard size or weight limits.
• “Restricted Route Permit” – For heavy trucks or vehicles carrying dangerous goods operating outside of designated routes. In order to reduce the volume of dangerous goods moving through school zones, not all truck routes are also dangerous goods routes.
• “Patio Permit” – To allow the use of a portion of the sidewalk, boulevard, or parking stalls for the expansion of an existing business.
• “Street Use Permit” – Applicable to activities less than seven days in duration which occur on streets, provided there is no excavation or construction involved. Examples include window washing or loading and unloading of materials and equipment at a site.
• “Street Construction Permit” – Required for any construction or excavation activities within the street.

Licences are authorized by the Director of Engineering and Public Works to allow activities otherwise prohibited by the bylaw, and generally require licence agreements with the City as they involve some encroachment onto City property:

• “Crane Swing Licence” – Required when a crane is erected and its swing radius extends over a street.
• “Shoring Works Licence” – Required when shoring is necessary for construction activities occurring beneath streets.
• “Street Occupancy Licence” – Required for occupying streets for construction activities that exceed seven days.

Mandatory street occupancy fees for extended streets use are intended to reduce disruptions to public infrastructure and incentivize minimizing traffic impacts. The fees are calculated per day, based on the square meter of street closure and align with best practice in surrounding municipalities.

(2) Updated Parking Regulations

The proposed Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 2233 modernizes the City’s parking regulations to better reflect transportation needs, development activity, and enforcement practices.

Key updates include revised rules for oversized and commercial vehicle parking, strengthened parking restrictions near intersections and crosswalks, and better tools for managing temporary no-parking zones during construction, special events, or emergencies. The rules for residential and limited-time parking areas have also been revised to streamline administration.

Overall, the updated parking regulations make expectations clearer for both the public and bylaw officials, support consistent and fair enforcement, and improve the City’s ability to manage parking and traffic.

(3) Regulating Micromobility Devices

Micromobility devices are becoming more prevalent on streets throughout the city, and earlier this year Evolve e-bikes and e-scooters officially launched in Langford. Regulating micromobility devices helps advance safety for users, pedestrians and vehicle traffic.

The proposed bylaw includes electric kick scooters, electric skateboards, hoverboards and segways in the definition of a micromobility device. The micromobility provisions were reviewed by the City’s legal counsel and align with the Provincial Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Project Regulations.

The proposed bylaw does not regulate mobility aid devices such as electric wheelchairs. Use of roller skates, in-line skates, push scooters and skateboards are also regulated differently than bikes and micromobility devices.

(4) Enhanced Enforcement Provisions

The companion Streets and Traffic Miscellaneous Amending Bylaw No. 2181 (Attachment 6) introduces updated ticket schedules for both Bylaw Offence Notices (BONs) and Municipal Ticket Information (MTIs) offences.

The updated BONs and MTIs compliment each other and provide flexibility in terms of the City’s enforcement capabilities, with BONs generally carrying lower fines for minor infractions and MTIs applied for more significant or repeat violations.

The proposed Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 2233 ties supporting documents, such as traffic management plans, parking plans, and route maps, to the conditions of a permit or licence approval. Any non-compliance with an approved plan is therefore considered a breach of the permit or licence, with clear enforcement authority to ticket for such.

In serious or repeated cases of non-compliance, the Director of Engineering and Public Works may refuse to issue further permits or licences and may cancel any existing ones held by the applicant. These changes encourage compliance with approved plans, enhance accountability among permit holders, and provide greater clarity for staff and the development community regarding expectations during construction and street use activities.

(5) Consolidating Existing Bylaws

The proposed bylaw incorporates two existing City bylaws, which will be repealed on adoption of Streets and Traffic Bylaw 2233, together with the repeal of one obsolete bylaw as follows:

• Sidewalk Use Bylaw No. 1917, 2020;
• Truck Route Bylaw No. 1477, 2013; and
• District of Langford Commercial Vehicle Licencing Bylaw No. 18, 1993.

Sidewalk use permits will be “patio permits” under the new bylaw. The Truck Route Bylaw is fully incorporated into the proposed bylaw and provides the Director of Engineering and Public Works with more flexibility to designate truck routes without requiring a bylaw amendment each time.

Consolidating these bylaws into one will make it easier for the public to understand the regulations and will assist in enforcement.

The District of Langford Commercial Vehicle Licencing Bylaw No. 18, 1993, was made obsolete by Traffic Bylaw No. 33 but it was never repealed.

Streets and Traffic Miscellaneous Amending Bylaw No. 2181

In addition to updating the fines mentioned above, the Streets and Traffic Miscellaneous Amending Bylaw No. 2181:

• introduces fines corresponding to new regulations, such as micromobility device regulations;
• updates other bylaws which reference Traffic Bylaw No. 33 to now reference the Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 2233; and
• corrects outdated references to the Municipal Act in the Ticket Information Authorization bylaw.

Construction Impact Management Facilitated Focus Group

The focus group held its first meeting on November 6, 2025. Following a staff presentation on the proposed Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 2233, focus group members provided feedback on a range of provisions within the proposed bylaw.

Key topics and areas discussed in the focus group include:

• how authority is delegated to City staff;
• flexibility in insurance and traffic control plan requirements for smaller projects and events;
• options for security deposits;
• guidelines around enforcing the proposed bylaw in a consistent and predictable manner;
• clarifying permit turnaround times and fee structures; and
• driveway requirements for larger developments.

Group consensus was that the rationale for change was well understood, and there was overall support for consolidating relevant bylaws together. Members emphasized the importance of maintaining Langford’s reputation for minimizing bureaucracy.

Based on the focus group feedback, staff amended the proposed bylaw to incorporate more flexible provisions for taking out commercial liability insurance for Special Events Permits and Street Use Permits and revised the draft to make it clear that any street use over seven days in duration may require a Street Occupancy Licence. Other procedural feedback from the focus group will be used by staff to inform the review and drafting of additional bylaws in the future.

In summary, these changes are designed to support the City’s goals of sustainable development, livable neighbourhoods, and responsible construction practices by improving clarity, accountability, and enforcement capabilities.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The proposed repeal and replacement may have several financial implications for the City:

• Updated application fees to offset costs in reviewing and approving permit and licence applications.
• Revised provisions around security deposits, commercial liability insurance, and bonding to protect the City from financial consequences in the event of infrastructure damage or unfinished projects.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

Pursuant to the Community Charter, Council may regulate in relation to highways which are vested in the municipality. To ensure the use of plain language, the proposed Streets and Traffic bylaw uses the term “street” when referring to a “highway” within the meaning of the Community Charter.

The Community Charter allows Council to delegate authority to staff. The proposed Streets and Traffic bylaw explicitly delegates the ability to enter into licence agreements to the Director of Engineering and Public Works, which will facilitate a more timely processing of licences.

The proposed Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 2233 was reviewed by the City’s legal counsel. Due to the regulation of dangerous goods routes, the bylaw will require approval from the Ministry of Transportation and Transit after third reading.

STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT

1f – Develop a Construction Impact Management Strategy and ‘Good Neighbour’ Policy

OPTIONS

Option 1

THAT the Community Advisory Committee recommend:

1. THAT Council consider giving first, second and third readings to City of Langford Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 2233, 2025; AND

2. THAT Council consider giving first, second and third readings to Streets and Traffic Miscellaneous Amending Bylaw No. 2181, 2025.

OR Option 2

THAT the Community Advisory Committee recommend that Council take no action with respect to the proposed City of Langford Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 2233, 2025, and Streets and Traffic Miscellaneous Amending Bylaw No. 2181, 2025, until such time as the following items are addressed and reviewed by the Community Advisory Committee: a. ________________;
b. ________________;
c. ____________.

SUBMITTED BY

Claire Robinson, Senior Engineering Technologist
Richard Wagner, Policy Analyst and Legislative Drafter
Riley Leach, Construction Impact Officer

Concurrence

Melisa Miles, Manager of Legislative Services
Lorne Fletcher, Manager of Community Safety and Municipal Enforcement
Donna Petrie, Senior Manager of Communications & Economic Development
Yari Nielsen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities
Leah Stohmann, RPP, MCIP, Director of Community Planning and Climate Change
Katelyn Balzer, P.Eng., Director of Engineering and Public Works
Marie Watmough, Director of Legislative & Protective Services
Braden Hutchins, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
Darren Kiedyk, Chief Administrative Officer

Attachments

• Attachment 1 – Traffic Bylaw No. 33, 1995
• Attachment 2 – Sidewalk Use Bylaw No. 1917, 2020
• Attachment 3 – District of Langford Commercial Vehicle Licencing Bylaw No. 18, 1993
• Attachment 4 – Truck Route Bylaw No. 1477, 2013
• Attachment 5 – Proposed Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 2233
• Attachment 6 – Proposed Streets and Traffic Miscellaneous Amending Bylaw No. 2181