Ladysmith is a Business Friendly Community

Ladysmith is located in a highly desirable location on southern Vancouver Island. Its mild climate and proximity to major urban centres and transportation networks makes it a natural choice for business seeking a high quality of life in a well-connected, strategic location. The Town recognizes that these characteristics must be augmented by forward-thinking policies, strategies and programs designed to ensure that the community is positioned as a destination of choice for business. In fact, in 2011 the Town won the 'Most Small Business Friendly Community Award' from the B.C. Small Business Roundtable.

Business & Development Incentives

DCC Downtown Waiver

The DCC Reduction for Downtown Specified Area Bylaw was adopted by Council on October 17, 2011.  This Bylaw provides an incentive to new development in the Downtown by waiving the Development Cost Charges for eligible development within the Downtown Specified Area.  This Bylaw applies to multi-family residential development and commercial development.

Downtown Initiatives

Revitalization Tax Exemption

Bylaw 1625 Revitalization Tax Exemption  was adopted by Council on October 15, 2007.  This Bylaw provides an incentive to existing commercial buildings in the Downtown Core and Downtown Mixed Use areas (as defined in the Official Community Plan) when the construction value of the project is at least $15,000.  The program supports the ongoing revitalization of the Downtown by tying the municipal portion of the property taxes to the assessed value established before the improvements took place.  The tax exemption is available for a maxiumum of 10 years.  For more details and to apply click here Revitalization Tax Exemption Package.

Bylaw 1807 Economic Revitalization was adopted by Council on September 17, 2012.  This Bylaw provides an incentive for the construction or alteration of buildings assessed by BC Assessment as Class 4 (Major Industry), Class 5 (Light Industry), or Class 6 (Commercial) which are located within the Revitalization Area defined in Bylaw 1807.  The construction value of the eligible project must be at least $200,000.  The building permit must have been issued after April 1, 2012.  The program supports economic revitalization by tying the municipal portion of the property taxes to the assessed value established before the improvements took place.  The tax exemption is available for a maximum of 5 years.

The focus of the Economic Revitalization program is:

  • To stimulate construction and alteration of buildings within Ladysmith; and
  • To encourage new business investment in commercial and industrial used lands and, in turn, encourage new employment; and
  • To promote a higher standard of urban design within business areas and employment areas in order to increase the attractiveness of these locations; and
  • To generally reinforce the Town's commitment to economic revitalization.

Economic Development Cowichan

The Town of Ladysmith is located in the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD). The CVRD provides economic development, tourism marketing, and film attraction services for Ladysmith. To learn more about Economic Development Cowichan go to: https://www.cvrd.bc.ca/259/Economic-Development

Ladsymith Economic Development Strategy

Film

Film Cowichan is an initiative of Economic Development Cowichan dedicated to attracting and supporting film industry activities in the region. For more information about Film Cowichan go to: http://www.ecdevcowichan.com/about/

Or contact the ‘Film Cowichan Coordinator’:
Laura Jennifer Leppard 
Phone: 250.732.1419
Toll Free: 1.866-746.2508
lauraleppard@gmail.com

The Town of Ladysmith requires a permit for anyone planning a film production on Town property, including streets, sidewalks and other public spaces. Filming locations must be approved in advance by the Town and the Filming Guidelines are attached to “Film Bylaw 2021, No. 2045”.

Required Forms for Filming in Ladysmith

For more information on filming in Ladysmith please contact info@ladysmith.ca.