Regulation redesign: simplifying rules for city building

Updated and simplified land use regulations and policies will result in more streamlined review processes.

Regulation Redesign is a comprehensive review of our land use regulations and related policy documents. The aim of this work is to:

Simplify and clarify land use regulations and policies to improve ease of use and clarity in order to reduce permit processing times
Modernize and update the rules, language, and format or land use documents; and the processes to create/amend them
Improve consistency among land use policies and regulations
Improve external and internal communication on the land use planning framework and its systems
Establish a robust and enduring land use framework (including regulations, policies, protocols, and procedures) that is able to adapt well into the future

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regredesign@
vancouver.ca

Outcomes of Regulation Redesign will be:

An updated Zoning and Development By-law with a user-friendly format
More consistent regulations across district schedules
More clarity on the purpose of various land use documents (for example, guidelines, bulletins) and how they relate to each other and land use regulations

What's happening

Virtual focus groups – District Schedule Prototype for the Zoning and Development By-law

We’re working on delivering a simpler Zoning and Development By-law that will make it easier for people to find and to understand land use regulations. To advance this work, we have developed a prototype to improve the format and structure of current district schedules. Key features include clearer land use terms and a new organization of zoning information using tables and diagrams.

The prototype is based on input from Phase 1 and 2 engagement with industry stakeholders, project advisors, the public, and City staff.

Join us for one of the online virtual focus groups

This is an opportunity to provide feedback to improve the user-friendliness of the by-law. While the technical discussions rely on the user’s familiarity of the document, these session are open to everyone.

Wednesday, October 14, 9:30am–11am (complete)
Tuesday, October 27, 9:30am–11am (full)

Additional session added due to high demand. Space is limited, register now.

Wednesday, October 28, 9:30am – 11am

Amendments to Zoning and Development By-law approved

At the public hearing on June 25, Council approved amendments to clean-up, clarify, and consolidate our land use regulations and related land use documents to make them more user-friendly. These are incremental changes towards more simplified zoning regulations. In combination with permit processing improvements, these changes will help simplify and streamline permit review.

On July 24, 2020, Council enacted the amendments to the zoning regulations, and September 15, Council gave final approval to the consequential amendments to the related land use documents. The specific amendments include:

Organize and consolidate information by topic and update regulations in sections 3, 4, and 5 on authorities, administration of development permits, and relaxation and discretion into separate sections
Clarify when the Development Permit Board reviews development applications (no change in role or administration) and update relaxation authorities to allow both the Director of Planning and Development Permit Board to relax for unnecessary hardship
Add new definition for unnecessary hardship
Update terms “vary” and “relax” throughout the by-law to reflect authorities to relax and vary regulations, and move regulations to the relevant section of district schedules
Consolidate regulations from district schedules that allow variance of regulations into Section 10.6 (Character House) and broaden permitted variations to further enable retention
Introduce new definitions for awning, balcony, enclosed balcony, deck, roof deck, canopy, covered entry, patio, porch, and verandah, and update terms throughout the by-law and various land use documents
Update and improve consistency of regulations for decks, balconies and covered entries, porches, and verandahs
Correct references and errors in numbering and spelling

For more information on the changes, read the report (587 KB)

View the redline version of the amendments (12 MB)

Read the June 25 Public Hearing minutes (129 KB)

Recent updates

Regulation redesign project updates

Open house and pop-ups February 19-27

Thank you to everyone who dropped into the open house and everyone who talked with staff at a pop-up event and for sending in your comments online. Your comments are invaluable and will be used to improve user-friendliness of the land use by-law, clarify regulations to provide more certainty, and making regulations more consistent so they are easier to understand.

Stay connected and receive project updates by signing up on our list serve.

View the information boards (1.3 MB)

Regulation redesign zoning webpages

Zoning and Development By-law
The landing page for the Zoning and Development By-law containing general information on the by-law and its functions.

Zoning and land use document library
Your single reliable source of land use regulations and policies currently in effect.

Zoning and land use amendments
Your single reliable source outlining recent changes to the City's land use by-laws, policies, guidelines, and bulletins.

Past updates
Stakeholder workshop

June 19, 2019: over 65 stakeholders attended a workshop to explore ideas and identify alternatives for simplifying floor area and building height regulations.
Amendments to Zoning and Development By-law approved

June 11, 2019: at public hearing, Council approved amendments to create a more user-friendly and up-to-date Zoning and Development By-law. The amendments were enacted and effective as of July 9.

The specific amendments are:
- Simplify and update the regulations by reformatting Sections 2, 10 and 11 of the by-law
- Update references to sections 10 and 11 throughout the by-law (and in various official development plans, policies, and guidelines)
- Replace gendered terminology with gender neutral language
- Clarify the height regulations in the I-3 District Schedule
- Clarify the applicability of housing requirements for floor area increases achieved through heritage transfer or heritage amenity shares in the C-5A and C-6 districts
- Read the Council report (2.8 MB)
- Read the Council minutes (155 KB)
Phase 1 engagement activities

Open house

January 29 and February 2, 2019 - to continue the conversation on how to improve our land use policy and regulations, we hosted two open houses on January 29 and February 2, 2019, and held listening sessions in the community with industry stakeholders.
- View the open house information displays (2.2 MB)
Pop ups

We launched the Regulation Redesign project in November 2018 with a series of public engagement activities:

November 26 to December 6, 2018 - pop up engagement events around town and at the Development and Building Services Centre to listen to experiences with Vancouver's land use regulations and policies.
- View the information displays (607 KB)
Stakeholder roundtable

November 28, 2018 - over 65 stakeholders attended a roundtable event to share ideas and experiences with Vancouver's land use regulations and policies, and told us how they want to be involved.
- Read the stakeholder roundtable report (352 MB)
- View the Regulation Redesign presentation (1.1 MB) which contains background information on the project's key objectives.
Regulatory updates

On July 17, 2018, Council approved several regulatory improvements at public hearing.

The amendments include updates to the RS zones, clarifying decision-making authority throughout the bylaw, providing more flexibility for artist studio live and work spaces, simplifing review processes, and repealing outdated policies.
- Read the Council report (466 KB)
- Read the Council minutes (210 KB)
Next steps

Ongoing regulatory updates to streamline review processes, simplify and consolidate regulations, bylaws, and policies to make it user friendly will be reported to Council throughout the review.

Timeline

Here is our process and anticipated milestones

In each phase, we will consult with development and building industry professionals, builders, the broader public and staff.

Spring -
winter 2018
Phase 1: Project Start Up

What we are doing:
- Review regulatory framework and best practices
- Public consultation, listening sessions, kiosk at the development and building services centre, stakeholder roundtable, pop-up events in the community
- Seek feedback to identify issues and ideas of the current land use zoning and development regulatory framework
Who we’ll consult with:
- Development and building industry professionals, builders, and the broader public
Spring 2019

Phase 2: Develop options and directions
What we will do:
- Prioritize issues and explore options based on findings in Phase 1
- Report to Council with options and directions
Who we'll consult with:
- Development and building industry professionals, builders, and the broader public
Fall 2019-
winter 2020
Research, development, update regulations

What we will do:
- Develop guiding principles for new regulations
- Create definitions for balconies, porches and decks, update and harmonize regulations
- Develop options for a user-friendly zoning by-law format
- Clarify the purpose and format of land use documents (for example, guidelines, bulletins)
- Improve coordination of policy development and implementation through improved tracking
Spring 2020
Production

What we will do:
- Report to Council with updated regulations and a recommended option for a user-friendly zoning by-law
- Prototype and test new by-law structure and format
- Begin drafting new zoning by-law
- Ongoing regulatory updates to simplify and clarify regulations
- Establish protocols and procedures for developing regulations and land use policies
Public engagement opportunities
We are here
Winter 2021
Refinement

What we will do:
- Report to Council with regulatory updates
- Continue drafting and refining new zoning by-law
- Develop implementation plan for introducing new by-law
- Communicate protocols and procedures for developing regulations and policies
Public engagement opportunities
Winter 2021
Implementation

What we will do:
- Introduce new by-law: education and training programs
Public engagement opportunities

What is Zoning?

Watch the video to learn more: Zoning 101

Zoning and Development By-law

The Zoning and Development By-law 3575 establishes regulations for the development of land in the City of Vancouver.

Housing Vancouver strategy

Learn how our 10-year strategy provides a strong foundation for the future in Vancouver.