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

Recent updates

Stakeholder workshop

June 19 – 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 – 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

Regulation redesign presents new 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.

Project update to Council

May 15 – staff presented Council with a project update and some proposed amendments to create a more user-friendly and up-to-date Zoning and Development By-law and to make it easier to find land use information.

The report recommends that the matter be referred to Public Hearing in June, at which time the public will have the opportunity to speak to Council about the proposed amendments.

Past updates
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
We are here
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
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