Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Do I need GIS skills to buy a house?

• No. For a standard townhome or detached home in an established neighbourhood, GIS is rarely critical.
• It matters most when you're buying land, acreage, anything near water, anything in a flood zone, or anything you plan to build on, subdivide, or significantly modify.
• For everything else, a quick check at the planning counter usually covers what you need.

What's the difference between zoning and OCP?

• Zoning is the current rule — what you're allowed to build on the property today.
• OCP (Official Community Plan) is what the city wants the area to become over the next 10-30 years.
• A property zoned single-family with an OCP designation for medium-density residential is a redevelopment opportunity. The current zoning says one thing; the long-term plan says another.
• For investors and developers, the OCP often matters more than the zoning.

How do I find out if a property is in a flood plain?

• Most municipal GIS maps have a flood plain layer you can toggle on.
• Chilliwack MapOnline, Abbotsford CityMap, and Delta's map are the most relevant in this region.
• BC iMap also has provincial flood data.
• If a property is in a flood plain, it doesn't mean you can't buy it — but insurance, lending, and rebuilding rules change. Worth knowing before you write.

Can GIS tell me about easements and rights-of-way?

• Sometimes yes, sometimes no. GIS layers often show registered easements and obvious utility right-of-ways, but not every encumbrance shows up on the map.
• For a complete picture, pull the title search. The title is the source of truth.
• Use GIS as a first look, then confirm with title before relying on what you see.