Business Improvement Areas (BIAs)

Mayor Ken Sim proclaimed the week of April 8 to 14, 2024, as Vancouver Business Improvement Areas Week.

Illustration of businesses - 33 years of vibrant neighbourhoods Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) are specially funded business districts.

The districts are managed by non-profit groups of property owners and business tenants whose goal is to promote and improve their business district. Vancouver has 22 BIAs.

BIAs are active in their communities, promoting:

Business
Tourism
Safety
Street beautification

Vancouver BIA partnership

The BIA partnership is the collective representing all of Vancouver's BIAs.

Resources:

City role

We help local business groups to form BIAs. Once a BIA is formed, it is managed by a volunteer board elected by property owners and tenants within its boundary.

We are involved with the annual funding process, monitor BIA budgets, and act as a liaison between the BIA and City departments.

Important information for business tenants

Commercial properties located in BIAs (Business Improvement Areas) pay a dedicated property tax levy that is then paid to the local Business Improvement Association to fund business promotion, beautification, safety, and other programs contributing to the success of commercial districts and their businesses.

Landlords typically pass on the cost of the BIA levy to their business tenants. If your business is located in a BIA, you may be a member of the BIA and contributing to its funding as part of your lease payments.

View a map of all 22 BIAs to see if your business is located in a BIA
Connect with your local BIA representative and learn more about your BIA, your estimated annual financial contribution, and how to be involved in your BIA

Funding

Funding for BIAs comes from a special property tax. Each commercial property within the boundary is taxed in proportion to its total taxable value. This means that if a property owner owns 1% of the total taxable value, their share will be 1% of the BIA budget. In most lease agreements, property owners pass this cost on to the business tenants.

BIA funds are used to hire staff and run BIA activities.