Apply to rezone your property

Steps to make a rezoning enquiry and application

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  Step 1: Find your property's zoning district

  Vancouver is divided into zoning districts. Our Zoning and Development By-law sets out the rules for development in each zoning district.

  Find the zoning district

   Questions about redeveloping under existing zoning? Contact the Building and Development Centre

  •  If the zoning district allows for your proposed development, apply for a development permit – not a rezoning.
  •  If the zoning district doesn't permit your proposal, go to step 2.
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  Step 2: Find out if policy supports your proposal

  You can apply to rezone a site if a Council-approved rezoning policy supports your proposal.

  In some areas of the city, there are policies that allow for rezoning to an existing zoning district. How to apply for a zoning district change on eligible sites

   Need help? Email rezoning@vancouver.ca to find out if a rezoning policy supports your proposal and include:

  • The property address
  • The current zone
  • A detailed description of your proposal

  •  If rezoning policy supports your proposal, go to step 3.
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  Step 3: Make a formal rezoning enquiry (optional)

  Get early advice on your proposal and get drawings reviewed before making a rezoning application.

  A. Submit application form

  Review and complete the rezoning advice (enquiry) application form PDF file (265 KB). It explains the required documents, how to apply, and how to pay the fee.

  Note A rezoning planner will be assigned to manage your file and distribute it for staff review and comments.

  B. Receive a letter of response

  In our letter of response (LOR), we'll let you know if:

  • There is support for your rezoning proposal
  • Provide specific advice on policy and design

  If there is support for your proposal, your rezoning planner will advise on next steps and further work before you make a rezoning application.

  •  To prepare your rezoning application, go to step 4.
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  Step 4: Prepare your application

  Refine your proposal based on policy and staff advice and prepare the application materials. 

  A. Review the Rezoning Application Guide and Form

  • CD-1 Rezoning Application Guide PDF file (258 KB)
  • CD-1 Rezoning Application Form PDF file (358 KB)

   Review the criteria and determine the submission items that apply to your proposal.

  B. Review what you need to do before applying

  • Determine whether pre-application consultation is needed.
  • Seek guidance about meeting and sharing information with any existing tenants on site.
  • Contact rezoning@vancouver.ca or your rezoning planner from the enquiry stage with any questions.

  •  To apply for rezoning to CD-1, go to step 5.
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  Step 5: Apply for rezoning

  Prepare all the required documents, email a complete application package, and pay the fee to begin the rezoning review process. 

  A. Gather documents

  Prepare a complete application package with appropriate document naming.

  To calculate the expected fee ahead of time, refer to fee schedule PDF file (903 KB) in the Zoning and Development Fee By-law, Schedule 2 - Zoning By-law Amendments.

  B. Email a complete application package

  Email a download link to rezoningapplications@vancouver.ca.

  A rezoning planner will be assigned to manage your application and be your primary contact. 

  C. Pay application fee

  Rezoning staff will issue a payment notice after reviewing application submission package and confirming completeness.

  Completion of payment will signal the start of the rezoning process. Rezoning staff will then distribute your application for staff review.

  Rezoning applications take about one year to process (from fee payment to public hearing). The duration may vary based on:

  • The complexity of your proposal
  • The issues raised during our review of your application
  • Further study and the information that is needed
  • Application revisions

  •  To find out what happens in the review process, go to step 6.
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  Step 6: Application review

  We ask for public feedback, review your application, and send you draft rezoning conditions to review.

  A: We ask for public feedback

  We notify the public about rezoning applications to get their feedback by:

  • Preparing the site sign information for you to install on the property
  • Creating a project webpage on the Shape Your City rezoning and development website
  • Mailing notification postcards to surrounding properties

  Some larger and more complex applications may require additional public consultation. Your application may also be reviewed at an advisory committee meeting, such as the Urban Design Panel. You may need to provide additional materials and participate in these events

  B: We complete an in-depth review

  We evaluate your application based on:

  • Council-approved plans, policies, and guidelines
  • Input from the public, advisory committees, and other City departments

  We complete a technical review to verify your project's statistics. Our review informs the new zoning regulations, such as density (floor space ratio or FSR) and height.

   Your application may take longer to review and process if we:

  • Need you to provide more information
  • Raise an issue with your application and you need to revise it or reapply

  C: We send you rezoning conditions

  Towards the end of the application review process, your rezoning planner will send documents to you for review before proceeding to public hearing. This includes legal conditions and design requirements for approving your application, such as:

  • Site consolidation
  • Scope of service infrastructure required and associated costs
  • Provision of community amenity (CAC or in-kind amenities)
  • Dedication of land for transportation purposes
  • Building form and design modifications needed before you apply for your development permit (applies to CD-1 rezonings)

  Review the conditions carefully and agree to them in principle before proceeding to public hearing. Approval of a rezoning at public hearing legally obligates the developer to meet the rezoning conditions before enacting the by-law and developing under the new zone.

  •  Go to step 7 to hear if your application has been referred to a public hearing.
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  Step 7: Referral to public hearing

  We finalize the referral report and make a recommendation for referral. City Council decides whether to refer the rezoning application to a public hearing.

  A: We make a recommendation for referral

  We write a report for City Council that:

  • Analyzes your application
  • Summarizes the feedback we received
  • Recommends to refer your application to a public hearing and whether to approve or refuse your application
  • Has the legal conditions and design requirements for approving your application as and appendix attached
  • Has the CD-1 by-law associated with the new proposed CD-zone for approval attached

  B. City Council decides on whether to refer the report to a public hearing

  At this meeting:

  • City Council may ask us questions about the application and public engagement process to inform their decision.
  • You can let Council know why they should still consider your application if we recommend that they refuse it.
  • Council decides to either refer your application to a future public hearing or refuse it.

  •  To hear the decision on your application at a public hearing, go to step 8.
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  Step 8: City Council decides on your application at a public hearing

  City Council must hold public hearings to consider and decide on rezoning applications (for zoning by-law changes) and heritage designations, according to the Vancouver Charter.

  To prepare for the public hearing, we:

  • Contact you to review the required materials and preparations necessary for your rezoning application to be heard at the public hearing
  • Update the site sign information for you to install on the property
  • Update a project webpage on the Shape Your City rezoning and development website
  • Mail notification postcards to surrounding properties
  • Advertise in newspapers

  At the public hearing:

  • Our meeting coordinators summarize the agenda item and correspondence they received about your rezoning application.
  • We present the application to City Council with a recommendation to either approve or refuse your application.
  • You may also present to Council and respond to questions from Council members.
  • Members of the public who register to speak present to Council.
  • Council discusses your application.
  • The mayor calls for a vote on the motion to approve, amend, or refuse your rezoning application after Council members have spoken.

  Learn more about public hearings

  •  If City Council approves your rezoning application in principle, go to step 9.
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  Step 9: Meet the conditions of approval

  Meet the conditions of approval for your rezoning application before Council enacts the zoning by-law.

  A: Apply for a development permit

  Start the development permit process after Council approves your rezoning application in principle at a public hearing. The development permit application needs to meet the conditions of approval of the form of development that's identified in the Council report (Appendix B, Part 1).

  Apply for a development permit

  Your development permit can only be issued after you meet all conditions of approval and Council enacts the zoning by-law.

  B: Zoning by-law enactment

  For enactment, you need to meet the conditions of by-law enactment identified in the Council report (Appendix B, Part 2), which may include payment of a community amenity contribution. When you're ready for enactment, we'll liaise with our meeting coordinators to add the new zoning by-law to a Council meeting agenda for Council to vote on. You can confirm enactment by reviewing Council meetings.