Regulation Redesign: Updated Zoning and Development By-law

Register to attend an orientation session on the updated Zoning and Development By-law. At the session, we will provide a review of the new features and organization of the updated by-law and let you know about resources available to support the transition from the current version of the by-law to the updated by-law.

Online

• Tuesday, November 1, 2022, 11:00am - 12:00pm (English) complete
• Thursday, November 3, 2022, 9:30am - 10:20am (English with Mandarin interpretation) complete

In-person

• Thursday, November 17, 2022, 6:00pm - 7:00pm at the Ross Street Gurdwara (English) complete

Remote office Hours

Need to talk to us? Our remote office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, November 15 to 30, 2022, 9:00am - 12:00pm and 1:00pm - 5:00pm complete

At a public hearing on July 5, Council approved changes that will make it easier to find and use information contained within the Zoning and Development By-law. Scheduled for release in mid-November, the updated by-law contains tables, diagrams, re-organized sections, hyperlinks, and accessibility features replacing the existing text-based format. The simplified and more consistent regulations will be easier to understand and apply, which will help to streamline permit review.

We will be hosting by-law orientation sessions in the fall. Check this site for updates and to sign-up to attend a session.

Public hearing documents:

• Summary and recommendation
• Council referral report
• Memorandum
• Council approved amending by-law

On July 5, 2022, at a Public Hearing, we will present proposed amendments to the administrative sections, general regulation sections and district schedules of the Zoning and Development By-law to improve document navigation and accessibility, and to clarify land use regulations. Council will be considering proposed amendments to the By-law to update and reformat the document, to apply new terms, simplify wording, and to consolidate and improve the consistency of regulations.

For more information on ways to participate, how to speak on the matter before Council or to send in comments, visit the City Council meetings and decisions page.

The project referral report on the Draft Updated Zoning and Development By-law is now posted on the City's website and will go before Council on Tuesday, June 7, 2022.

If the report is referred to Public Hearing, further information on the date, time, and how to sign up to speak or share your comments will be provided.

To view the agenda, read the report, and watch/ listen to the meeting click here.

On June 7, 2022 we will report to Council with proposed amendments to the Zoning and Development By-law to improve navigation and accessibility, and to clarify and consolidate land use regulations for referral to a future Public Hearing. The proposed amendments include a user-friendly format and clearer regulations.

We will post the Council report when it becomes available to the public. Visit covapp.vancouver.ca/councilMeetingPublic for Council meeting agendas and to watch/ listen to a meeting.

From April 22 to May 6, 2022, we presented the draft updated Zoning and Development By-law for public review and input. The proposed improvements to the By-law would apply to the administrative sections, general regulations sections and general district schedules. The improvements include user-friendly format, organization and wording to make regulations clearer and easier to find. Our work to clarify the By-law will not affect what you can build or renovate.

New formatting features include:

• Enhanced document navigation and accessibility
• Clear rules with explanatory diagrams
• Consolidated rules
• Document standards

Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. Your feedback, combined with other input, will be made public and included in the engagement summary report to Council in June 2022. Please monitor this page and the Regulation Redesign project page for updates.

• View the draft By-law presented for public engagement
• Read the Reference Guide and Amendment Summary
• View the video presentation (16 mins) or presentation slides

The proposed draft administrative sections, general regulations sections and district schedules of the Zoning and Development By-law are available for review. Please click on the link to view the new format of each draft document. Note: hyperlinks within the draft documents link to a current version of the Zoning and Development By-law. The contents of the documents are being finalized and may change based on feedback received.

Administrative sections and general sections

1. Administration
2. Definitions
3. Authorities
4. Development permits
5. By-law relaxations and powers of discretion
6. Amendments to the by-law
7. General prohibitions
8. Building lines
9. Zoning districts
10. General regulations
11. Use-specific regulations
12. Enforcement
13. Penalties
14. Repeal of previous by-laws
15. Effective date of by-law

Zoning district schedules

Agricultural district

• RA-1

Commercial districts

• C-1
• C-2
• C-2B
• C-2C
• C-2C1
• C-3A
• C-5, C-5A and C-6
• C-7 and C-8
• FC-1
• FC-2

Historic area districts

• HA-1 and HA-1A
• HA-2
• HA-3

Industrial districts

• I-1
• I-1A
• I-1B
• I-1C
• I-2
• I-3
• I-4
• IC-1 and IC-2
• IC-3
• M-1
• M-1A
• M-1B
• M-2
• MC-1 and MC-2

Rental districts

• RR-1
• RR-2A, RR-2B and RR-2C
• RR-3A and RR-3B

Residential districts

• RS-1
• RS-1A
• RS-1B
• RS-2
• RS-3 and RS-3A
• RS-5
• RS-6
• RS-7
• RT-1
• RT-2
• RT-3
• RT-4, RT-4A, RT-4N and RT-4AN
• RT-5 and RT-5N
• RT-6
• RT-7
• RT-8
• RT-9
• RT-10 and RT-10N
• RT-11 and RT-11N
• RM-1 and RM-1N
• RM-2
• RM-3
• RM-3A
• RM-4 and RM-4N
• RM-5, RM-5A, RM-5B, RM-5C and RM-5D
• RM-6
• RM-7, RM-7N and RM-7AN
• RM-8, RM-8N, RM-8A and RM-8AN
• RM-9A and RM-9AN
• RM-9, RM-9N and RM-9BN
• RM-10 and RM-10N
• RM-11 and RM-11N
• RM-12N
• FM-1

We are excited to present a new digital zoning map to help you find zoning information faster. The Digital Zoning Map is a simpler way to visualize and access zoning information. The map is a consolidated convenience version of the Zoning District Plan, which is part of the Zoning and Development By-law.

Explore the Digital Zoning Map! Complete the survey within the Digital Zoning Map to share your thoughts.

We will be presenting a draft updated Zoning and Development By-law, with proposed reformatted administrative sections, general regulations sections and district schedules for a user-friendly

By-law. The changes involve improvements to the format, organization, and wording to make the regulations clearer and easier to administer. Modifications to the By-law for clarity do not affect what you can build or renovate on your property.

Mark your calendars and please check back April 22 for new materials and ways you can engage.

Information session - April 27, 2020 I 10:00am - 11:00am (Complete)

Join us online to learn about the proposed improvements to make the City of Vancouver's Zoning and Development By-law more clear and more accessible.

Register now to attend

• Missed the session? Watch the video presentation or view the slides. The video contains the same content as presented in the information session.

We presented a proposed new district schedule format (using RM district schedules as examples), updated wording and new defined terms, and asked for public feedback on removing outdated regulations from June 15 to July 13, 2021. Read the engagement summary for results of the consultation. This summary includes information on the project process to date and a summary of what we heard.

Our next steps are to review and refine the proposed format and wording based on what we heard. In 2022, we will present a draft reformatted Zoning and Development By-law for Council's consideration at Public Hearing.

To receive updates, please sign-up to our mailing list on the side panel. Visit the project webpage at vancouver.ca/RegRedesign for opportunities to engage and to stay up-to-date on the project.