FAQs
About the Higher Buildings Policy Review
Vancouver is a growing city shaped by its skyline, its neighbourhoods, and its beautiful natural setting. How, and where, we allow taller buildings raises important questions about housing, economic development, livability, views, and the character of downtown. Taller buildings are one tool to address the needs of our city – but how and where they are built matters.
The Higher Building Policy review seeks to align building heights downtown with emerging city priorities and considers whether, where, and what these tall buildings can deliver for the broader public. At its core, this review is an opportunity to thoughtfully shape Vancouver’s skyline, supporting architectural excellence while balancing livability, sustainability, and the protection of public views and connections to the city’s natural setting.
Originally established in 1997, only minor changes have been made to the upper limits of the Higher Buildings Policy over the past three decades.
The purpose of the review is to consider how the policy can reflect new opportunities and city priorities that have emerged since it was last reviewed and updated in 2011.
Yes, Phase 1 engagement has recently concluded, and staff are currently reviewing the feedback received. An engagement summary is expected to be shared publicly in the coming months.
That input will help inform policy options for Phase 2, which are anticipated to be brought forward out to the public in early 2027, with a second phase of engagement on the draft policy directions.
What is the Higher Buildings Policy Review?
Why is the City reviewing higher building policies now?
What will Phase 1 engagement input be used for?
Community input during Phase 1 will help shape potential updates to the Higher Buildings Policy including where taller buildings may be considered and how they should be designed. Input will also help identify community priorities for potential public benefits in downtown. This feedback will inform future policy options and recommendations that will be presented to Council for consideration in 2027.
When will the public see draft policy directions? Will there be more opportunities to provide feedback?
About the Tall Vancouver Ideas Competition
The Vancouver Tall Challenge, organized by Buildner in collaboration with the City of Vancouver and the University of British Columbia’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), invites architects, designers, urbanists, and multidisciplinary teams from around the world to explore the future of tall buildings in Vancouver.
The competition explores how taller buildings could contribute to Vancouver through design excellence and vibrant public spaces, while considering what a uniquely Vancouver approach to building higher might look like.
The competition runs until November 30, 2026.
The Higher Buildings Policy Review is exploring how height can support a vibrant, livable, and sustainable city, while respecting the qualities that make Vancouver unique. The Vancouver Tall Challenge is part of that broader conversation. It invites architects, designers, and urban thinkers to explore innovative ideas for tall buildings that respond to Vancouver’s values, identity, and urban character.
While the competition will not determine the policy, the ideas and insights generated may help inform future discussions about design excellence, and Vancouver’s approach to approach to height and growth.
Findings from the competition may also contribute to future public engagement and policy development as the Higher Buildings Policy Review progresses.
To register, access the competition brief, review the jury, and submit your entry, please visit: https://architecturecompetitions.com/vancouvertallchallenge/
For those who would like to share an idea without submitting a formal competition entry, concepts may also be sent to higherbuildings@vancouver.ca for review by City staff.
What is the Ideas Competition about?
How does the competition relate to the Higher Buildings Policy Review?
How can people participate or share ideas?
About the Bay Parkade Rezoning Application
The subject site, bounded by Georgia, Dunsmuir, Seymour, and Richards Streets, is located outside the current Higher Buildings Policy area. By comparison, sites immediately across the street are within the policy area, where buildings up to 600ft (183 m) may be considered.
The proposed rezoning includes three towers with heights of approximately 783’ (238.59 m), 889’ (270.97 m) and 1,034’ (314.89 m)) which exceed the heights contemplated under the current Higher Buildings policy.
While the project is not located within the geography covered by the Higher Buildings Policy and does not conform to its height limits, staff considered the policy’s objectives, evaluation criteria, and urban design principles as part of the assessment of the application. The policy therefore served as an important reference point in evaluating the proposal, alongside other applicable policies, technical considerations, and site-specific circumstances.
In May 2023 Vancouver Council directed staff to discontinue the separate Policy Enquiry Process and instead allow policy non-compliant applications to proceed through a rezoning process, where they could be fully evaluated on their individual merits and brought forward to Council for consideration. This direction recognized that some proposals may offer significant public benefits or advance Council objectives even where they do not align with existing policy.
The Bay Parkade rezoning application was received in June 2025 and has been proceeding as a site-specific rezoning application through the City’s standard review process while the Higher Buildings Policy Review is underway. Applications such as the Bay Parkade proposal, and other projects seeking exceptions to the current heigh limits or geographic scope of the Higher Buildings Policy, have highlighted the need to revise the policy framework. These applications have informed the City’s decision to undertake the Higher Buildings Policy Review in Spring 2026.
Ultimately, Council will consider the Bay Parkade application on its own merits, informed by staff analysis, public feedback on the application, applicable Council policies, and the broader policy context.
No. Public input from the Higher Buildings Policy Review is still being analyzed and was not used to assess this rezoning application. The application was evaluated through the rezoning process based on its site-specific context, applicable policies, urban design considerations, technical review, public benefits, and feedback received through the application’s public consultation process and review by the Urban Design Panel.
The Higher Buildings Policy Review and the Bay Parkade rezoning application have proceeded on separate but parallel timeline. Input received through the policy review will inform the broader policy update and future recommendations to Council, rather than the assessment of this specific application.
If you would like Council to consider your comments on the Bay Parkade rezoning application, you can share your views directly through the Public Hearing process, including by submitting written comments or signing up to speak at the Public Hearing.
Comments specific to the Bay Parkade proposal should be submitted through the rezoning application’s Public Hearing process so they can be considered by Council when it reviews the application.
Information about the Public Hearing, including the agenda, staff report, opportunities to submit written comments to Council, and instructions for registering to speak, will be posted on the City’s Council Meetings and Public Hearings webpage: https://app.vancouver.ca/CouncilMeetingPublic/. Residents are encouraged to visit this webpage for the most up-to-date information on how to participate in the Public Hearing process
How does the Bay Parkade rezoning relate to the Higher Buildings Policy Review?
Why is the Bay Parkade application being considered before the review is complete?
Will public feedback from the HBPR be considered in the Bay Parkade rezoning?
Can Council defer a decision until after the HBPR is complete?
Yes, Council can decide to refer the project back to staff as an option other than outright refusal of the application.
How can I speak to Council about the Bay Parkade rezoning?