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

  Review and follow the applicable rezoning policy as you prepare your rezoning proposal.

  Visit the zoning and land use document library to locate the rezoning policy, area plan, or official development plan applicable to your project.

  If policy supports rezoning to an existing district schedule (not a CD-1), review apply for a zoning district change application instead.

  Need help? Email [email protected] 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 (225 KB). It explains the required documents, how to apply, and how to pay the fee. 

  Information icon Starting September 2, 2025, rezoning enquiry and application fees can no longer be paid by credit card.

  A rezoning enquiry is required for proposals not consistent with an ODP or where it represents a significant departure from Council policy (Development Approval Procedure By-law PDF file (120 KB) section 2.2).

  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 (260 KB)
  • CD-1 Rezoning Application Form PDF file (533 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 [email protected] 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.

  Information icon Starting September 2, 2025, rezoning enquiry and application fees can no longer be paid by credit card.

  B. Email a complete application package

  Review rezoning application procedures and staff and applicant responsibilities in the Development Approval Procedure By-law PDF file (120 KB).

  Email [email protected] and include a download link to your application package. 

  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 Council decision. 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

  Before finalizing the report and proceeding to Council decision, you need to review the conditions carefully and agree to them in principle. Council’s approval of a rezoning application legally obligates the developer to meet the rezoning conditions before constructing under the new zone.

  •  Go to step 7 to learn more about how your rezoning applications and report is scheduled for decision.
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  Step 7: Council meeting is scheduled

  The pathway to Council depends on your application’s consistency with policy and proposed use.

  For applications that are consistent with an Official Development Plan (ODP) and includes significant residential use, we write a council report and schedule it for a future Council meeting.

  View Official Development Plans

  For applications that are not consistent with the Official Development Plan (ODP) and applications where the majority of the floor area is not residential, we write a referral report and make a recommendation to Council to referral the application to a future Council meeting or a public hearing. 

  To learn more about when public hearings are prohibited or not required, review the Development Approval Procedures Frequently Asked Questions PDF file (168 KB)

  A: Contents of the report

  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 or Council meeting (if applicable)
  • Recommends whether Council should approve or refuse your application
  • Includes the legal conditions and design requirements for approving your application
  • Includes the CD-1 by-law associated with the application

  B. If your application is a referral report, Council decides on whether to refer the report

  A Council date is scheduled where Council will decide and refer the application to a future public hearing or future council meeting. 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 Council meeting or refuse it.

  •  To learn about the process required for Council’s decision on your application, go to step 8.
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  Step 8: City Council decides on your application at a public hearing

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

  To prepare for the Council meeting or public hearing, we:

  • Send you instructions to update the site sign
  • Ask you to provide supplementary information, such as your team’s contact information as needed
  • Update the project webpage on Shape Your City
  • Mail notification postcards to surrounding properties
  • Advertise in newspapers

  At the Council meeting or public hearing:

  • Your rezoning application is summarized along with the correspondence (public comments) it received.
  • Your rezoning planner presents the application to Council with a recommendation to either approve or refuse it.
  • You may also present to Council and respond to questions from Council members.
  • If a public hearing, registered members of the public speak 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. 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

  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). We monitor completion of your rezoning conditions, and when you're ready for enactment, we'll add the CD-1 By-law to a Council meeting agenda for Council to vote on. Shortly after, your zone will be reflected in our Zoning Map. 

  Your development permit can only be issued after the zoning change is enacted.