Business Improvement Areas (BIAs)

On March 12, 2019, Mayor Kennedy Stewart proclaimed the week of April 1 to 7, 2019 as Business Improvement Associations week in the city of Vancouver.

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

Our 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.

BIZMAP Market Area Profiles

Find clear and relatable market area data to help your business and community grow.

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 one percent of the total taxable value, their share will be one percent 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.