Development Permit Board

Overview

Development permit applications that have significant importance because of scale, complexity, or public interest are typically referred to the Development Permit Board which reviews, makes recommendations and approves major developments.

All other development permit applications are reviewed by the Director of Planning or their delegates. The board is limited in its authority by the Official Development Plan (ODP) provisions enacted by Council and the existing Zoning and Development By-law, which outlines acceptable uses and building forms for the site.

The board cannot deny a development permit if it meets the zoning and ODP and guidelines, or approve a development if it does not fall within the zoning or ODP.

The board is composed of four senior staff members, including the chairperson and an advisory panel. Attendance at Development Permit Board meetings includes City staff, applicants and their representatives, and members of the public.

Online meetings

July 14, 2023: Meetings may be convened by electronic means as authorized by Section 14.14 of the Procedure By-law. Advisory bodies may elect to conduct their meetings in person, by electronic means, or as a hybrid of the 2.

For scheduled in-person meetings, continue to respect the personal space of others.  

If you intend to register as a public speaker, review instructions on how to provide comments at an upcoming board meeting in the 'Speaker procedure' tab below.

Review the meeting procedures that were adopted on August 8, 2023 (1 MB)

Virtual meetings use Microsoft Teams. No software download is required. In the event of a virtual meeting, use the link below to view the meeting live through your web browser.

Next virtual meeting:

Date: May 20, 2025 at 3pm 

Items to be heard: 

Joining through Teams webinar

Join the meeting online

Join by phone (audio only)
  • Phone: +1 604-665-6000
  • Enter the conference ID when prompted: 731348634#

By attending this meeting you are aware that personal information, such as video recording and transcription, may be collected and disclosed through the Teams Meetings platform used by the City of Vancouver for managing meetings under the authority of s.26(c) of FIPPA. Questions can be emailed to the Director, ATIP at privacy@vancouver.ca or through 311. Privacy and security (158 KB)

Following the meeting, minutes are posted online under the 'Meetings' tab.

Overview

All Development Permit Board meetings are open to the public. Applicants or their representatives are present to discuss the application. Neighbours and others interested in the development may also attend and make presentations. Written submissions are also considered. Learn more about the new virtual Development Permit Board under the 'Meetings' tab.

All development applications considered by the Development Permit Board are first reviewed by the Development Permit Staff Committee, an inter-departmental City staff committee.

Reports

Reports of the Development Permit Staff Committee provide the basis for discussion at Development Permit Board meetings and include a recommendation from the staff committee.

You can access the committee's reports for each development:

  • Online in the Meetings tab on the Thursday before the meeting
  • By contacting dpb@vanouver.ca

The process

  1. The board receives a presentation from a representative of the Development Permit Staff Committee (usually the development planner who is the staff person principally responsible for reviewing the application)
  2. The development planner outlines the key issues and recommendations of the Development Permit Staff Committee report
  3. Board and advisory panel members review the posted drawings and model of the proposed development
  4. The Board hears from the applicant, who is asked to respond specifically to the issues raised by the staff committee, and to state whether or not the recommendations contained in the staff committee report can be met
  5. Interested members of the public are invited to address the board
  6. A discussion takes place among members of the board and the advisory panel. Throughout the discussion, questions of all participants are dealt with through the board chair
  7. The board chair polls the advisory panel members for their advice
  8. The three board members debate the recommendation and a motion is made and voted on, the decision of the board is then announced. The chair is restricted in presenting any motions and only votes if two members are unable to reach an agreement.

Overview

The Board consists of four senior staff members, the Director of Development Services, who is Chair, the General Manager of Engineering Services, the Deputy City Manager and Director of Planning.  The Chair does not vote except when Board members present at a meeting are equal for and against a question, in which case the Chair shall have the right to exercise the casting vote.

Each Board member, except for the Director of Development Services, has an alternate or alternates.  If the Director of Development Services is unable to attend a Board meeting, she may appoint a Board member or any alternate of any Board member to act as Chair at that meeting on behalf, and in place, of the Director of Development Services.

Board members

Position Alternate(s)
Michelle Au, Chair
Director – Permitting Services

 

Matt Shillito
Director of Special Projects, Planning, Urban Design, and Sustainability

 Jason Olinek
Director, Development Planning
Lon LaClaire
General Manager, Engineering Services		 Steve Brown
Director, Engineering Projects and Development Services
Corrie Okell
General Manager, Development, Buildings, and Licensing		 Mandy So
Assistant Director, Development Services

Reports will be available for viewing 5 days before the meeting. Hard copies of the report can also be obtained by contacting the Development Permit Board Assistant and will be available at the meeting.

The meetings are open to the public. If you wish to speak to an item, refer to the 'Speaker procedures' tab for details.

How to prepare to speak at a meeting

  • Complete this form to request to speak at the meeting on May 20, 2025. 
  • Only those who have signed up are allowed to speak about this item.
  • Speaker list will close at the start of the meeting.
  • All persons who sign up may speak for up to 3 minutes.
  • Speakers representing a group of 5 or more people may speak for up to 5 minutes if all members of the group are present.
  • Any member of the Development Permit (DP) Board may but is not required to, ask any question of any speaker that is related to the application before the DP Board.
  • The chair will call speakers in the order of the list. If the person is not present to speak when first called but shows up before the list is finished, they can still speak once the chair has gone through the complete list and calls them for a second time. 
  • No person attending the meeting may disrupt the business of the DP Board.
  • The DP Board may warn a speaker if they're causing disruptions and can take appropriate steps to ensure a respectful atmosphere. 

Learn more about DP Board's meeting procedure rules (99 KB)

Learn about the Development Permit Board Advisory Panel

Learn about the Advisory Panel's role, members, meetings, and more.

Read more

Contact the Development Permit Board

General inquiries

Email: dpb@vancouver.ca