Development Potential Relief Program (DPRP)

2025 DPRP pilot declarations forms were sent to property owners in January 2025

The deadline to submit declarations has now passed.

The Development Potential Relief Program (DPRP) pilot provides tax relief for eligible Light Industry (Class 5) and Business and Other (Class 6) properties.

Supported by provincial legislation, the program aims to help independent businesses and community partners who are paying disproportionately high taxes because of development potential.

The DPRP pilot was first implemented for the 2023 tax year and continued for the 2024 and 2025 tax years. The 2025 Development Potential Tax Relief By-law (412 KB) identifies properties that received tax relief under the DPRP pilot in 2025.

Properties not eligible for the program

A property is NOT eligible if the primary use (for example 50% or more of the property) is for 1 or more of these ineligible use categories.

Categories

Ineligible use	Exceptions
Big box stores	-
Billboards or signs	-
Development presentation centres or temporary sales offices	-
Financial services, including banks, credit unions, investment advisors, insurance, and trust companies	-
Gasoline stations	-
Hotels	-
International or national chains	-
Neighbourhood or regional shopping centres	-
Pparking including parking garages and surface parking	-
Properties owned or operated by any level of government or its agent	-
Redevelopment sites where a rezoning has been approved in principle following a public hearing	-
Manufacturing, production, wholesale, utility, communication, and logistics Office including general office, health care office, health enhancement centre, and laboratory Storage or warehouse	Floor area occupied by eligible arts and culture organizations* or eligible non-profit organizations**
Vehicle dealer, auto service, or carwash	Floor area occupied by independent auto service

Explanatory note

* Eligible arts and culture organization means Vancouver-based artists, arts collectives, or community cultural organizations involved in the production, creation, rehearsal, or presentation of arts and culture such as visual, performing, media, literary, craft, or interdisciplinary arts.

** Eligible non-profit organization means registered Vancouver-based non-profit societies, charitable organizations, or co-operatives in good standing with BC Registry Services or the Canadian Revenue Agency involved in the provision of information, referral or advocacy services, drop-in or activity space, or food, clothing, or other aid for social purposes.

Program details

How the program works

For eligible properties in 2025, a portion of the land value, ranging from 20% to 55% by neighbourhood and zoning district up to a maximum limit of $6.5 million, was taxed at the DPRP rate that was 50% lower than our blended general purpose tax rate for Light Industry (Class 5) and Business (Class 6) properties.

An eligible property can only benefit from either DPRP or the targeted 5-year land assessment averaging program, not both.

Under current provincial legislation, the DPRP does not apply to the Provincial School Tax and taxes levied by other taxing authorities such as TransLink and Metro Vancouver. 
Documents
- Council report (March 12, 2025) (1.6 MB)
- Pilot Development Potential Relief Program (DPRP pilot) (293 KB)