Rainwater management on private property

Note All new rezoning developments continue to require rainwater management. Starting July 25, 2023, you will no longer need to submit rainwater management plans with your rezoning application. 

At the plumbing permit application stage, you’ll need to show compliance with:

• The Vancouver Building By-law rainwater management requirements (in effect on January 1, 2024)
• Any site-specific rainwater management conditions approved by Council

Review the amendments to the Building By-law PDF file (157 KB)

Review Council decisions for rezoning applications

Note For all new development permit applications [excluding rezoned sites and those in the First Shaughnessy district PDF file (202 KB)], rainwater management requirements will depend on when a new development permit has been opened.

Until December 31, 2023

We will continue to assess new development permit applications to determine if rainwater management is required. This is usually the case for new developments located:

• In a rainwater management area of concern
• Where adequate drainage is unavailable

If rainwater management is:

• Required - You no longer need to submit rainwater management plans. Instead, at the plumbing permit application stage, you’ll need to show compliance with the rainwater management requirements of the Vancouver Building By-law that will be in effect on January 1, 2024. Review the amendments to the Building By-law PDF file (157 KB)
• Not required - You will be sheltered from the new Vancouver Building By-law rainwater management requirements that will be in effect on January 1, 2024.

Effective January 1, 2024

All new development permit applications for Part 3 buildings in Vancouver (excluding residential buildings with up to 8 dwelling units) must demonstrate compliance with the rainwater management requirements of the Vancouver Building By-law that will be in effect. Review the amendments to the Building By-law PDF file (157 KB)

Note “In-stream” rezoning applications will continue to be processed using the Rainwater Management Bulletin PDF file (903 KB) until December 31, 2023. It is no longer available after that date.

Effective January 1, 2024

You may be eligible to transition to the Vancouver Building By-law rainwater management requirements. Refer to the transitioning in-stream applications menu. 

For development permits opened before January 1, 2024

If rainwater management is:

• Required - You may continue to follow the rainwater management plan process described in the Rainwater Management Bulletin PDF file (903 KB) until December 31, 2023. It is no longer available after that date.
• Not required: You will be sheltered from the new Vancouver Building By-law rainwater management requirements that come into effect on January 1, 2024.

Effective January 1, 2024

You may be eligible to transition to the Vancouver Building By-law rainwater management requirements. Refer to the transitioning in-stream applications menu. 

Until December 31, 2023

If your project has a development permit and rainwater management is:

• Required: There is no change to the terms of your development permit or rainwater management legal agreement.
  • Starting January 1, 2024, you may be eligible to transition to the Vancouver Building By-law rainwater management requirements. Refer to the transitioning in-stream applications menu. 
• Not required: You will be sheltered from the new Vancouver Building By-law rainwater management requirements that will be in effect on January 1, 2024.

A direct-to-building permit application that was opened* before January 1, 2024, will be sheltered from the new Vancouver Building By-law rainwater management requirements that will be in effect on January 1, 2024.

Effective January 1, 2024

If your project has a development permit that was opened* before January 1, 2024, refer to the in-stream development permit application requirements menu. 

If your project has a development permit that was opened* on or after January 1, 2024, refer to the new development permit application requirements menu.

Direct-to-building permit applications opened* on or after January 1, 2024, must demonstrate compliance with the rainwater management requirements of the Vancouver Building By-law, but alterations to existing buildings are exempt. Review the amendments to the Building By-law PDF file (157 KB)

Explanatory note
* The date that a permit is "opened" is seen as the "application date" in our online portal. Search for a permit

Compliance with the Vancouver Building By-law rainwater management requirements PDF file (157 KB) (in effect January 1, 2024) will be verified at the plumbing permit application stage.

The plumbing permit application is submitted online and must contain:

• Project Summary form PDF file (88 KB)
• Site schematic showing rainwater management and drainage components. The Project Summary form may be included on the same page as this schematic.
• Supporting calculations and references
• Schedule B from the plumbing registered professional of record and the civil registered professional of record (if not already submitted at the building permit application stage)

For guidance on Schedule B, refer to the Province’s Guide to the Letters of Assurance (section 21.2) External website, opens in new tab.

Learn more about permit processing times and fees

Effective January 1, 2024

If your project requires a rainwater management plan, you may be eligible to transition to the Vancouver Building By-law rainwater management requirements. This will depend on whether or not construction has started and the conditions applied to your project.

For projects that have not started construction:

A new or revised plumbing permit application is submitted online and must contain all of the elements described in the plumbing permit menu.

The building’s design for rainwater management must meet:

• The more restrictive of the “release rate requirement” of the Vancouver Building By-law and the terms of the rezoning approval (if applicable) and development permit, and
• The greater of the volumetric “capture requirement” of the Vancouver Building By-law and the terms of the rezoning approval (if applicable) and development permit.*

Generally, a requirement for a water quality treatment device may not need to be carried forward into construction for projects that transition to the Vancouver Building By-law rainwater management requirements, but the development must still comply with erosion and sediment control requirements and water quality standards for discharged stormwater (Review reference documents).  

After the plumbing permit is issued, you may request to unwind the rainwater management legal agreement. To complete this process, submit a Form C (Release), which you can obtain and have prepared by a notary or lawyer.

* Certain sites are exempt from the “capture requirement” under the terms of their rezoning approval (if applicable) and development permit. This exemption may be carried forward.

For projects that have started construction:

For projects under the Certified Professional program with staged construction, if construction has not progressed beyond excavation and shoring, a plumbing permit application may be submitted online as described above.

All other requests to transition to the Vancouver Building By-law rainwater management requirements will be addressed case-by-case. Questions? Email rainwater@vancouver.ca

Water quality standards for discharged storm water can be found in the Sewer and Watercourse By-law (section 3) PDF file (346 KB).

• Zoning and Development By-law (Section 4.3) PDF file (158 KB) in effect until December 31, 2023
• Building By-law rainwater management requirements PDF file (157 KB) in effect January 1, 2024
• Sewer and Watercourse By-law PDF file (346 KB)
• Engineering Design Manual (Section 5) PDF file (10 MB)
• Erosion and sediment control, large lot developments (more than 1,000 m²) PDF file (241 KB)
• Erosion and sediment control, small lot developments (less than 1,000 m²) PDF file (664 KB)

Alongside coordinated sewer system upgrades, private property rainwater management will enable housing development to proceed by helping to relieve sewer system capacity constraints. It will also help to meet regulatory obligations.

References:

• Combined sewer overflows in the city of Vancouver
• Basin characterization maps PDF file (8.1 MB) in the city of Vancouver
• Real-time sewer overflow map External website, opens in new tab from Metro Vancouver

The preferred rainwater management tools are those that integrate natural systems, reduce the volume of rainwater entering the sewer system, and control the rate of rainwater release from a site:

• Landscape-based solutions can allow rainwater to soak into the ground or return to the atmosphere.
• Non-potable water systems can use rainwater instead of drinking water for applications like toilet flushing. They can also help to reduce water and sewer utility bills. Learn more about non-potable water system requirements.
• Vegetated roofs (green roofs) can help absorb and return rainwater to the atmosphere.

Learn more about green rainwater infrastructure

To reduce the volume of sanitary sewage entering the sewer system (and to reduce the use of drinking water), we have plumbing fixtures and mechanical equipment water efficiency requirements PDF file (251 KB).

Council approved streamlined rainwater management requirements PDF file (696 KB) in July 2023. This immediately simplified the:

• Green Buildings Policy for Rezonings PDF file (246 KB) and associated Bulletin PDF file (121 KB)
• Rezoning Policy for Sustainable Large Developments PDF file (1.1 MB) and associated Bulletin PDF file (1.5 KB)

Additional changes take effect on January 1, 2024:

• Zoning and Development By-law: rainwater management requirements will be removed from sections 4.3.4, 4.3.5, and 4.3.6 PDF file (19.3 MB) and the Rainwater Management Bulletin PDF file (428 KB) will no longer be used.
• Vancouver Building By-law External website, opens in new tab: new rainwater management requirements take effect in Book II, Division B, Article 2.4.2.5 External website, opens in new tab.

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