Development in Vancouver is guided by a collection of regulations and other related documents that set out the rules and expectations for what is possible.
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Rules generally vary depending on where a property is located, and the type of project that is being proposed.
Find documents related to your property
To determine what can be built on a property, find the regulations and policies that apply for an address.
When you are ready to design a project in preparation for a permit application, review the applicable guidelines and bulletins.
Helpful resources
Looking for other regulations or development-related resources not included in this document library? Other resources that may be helpful:
Contents
Official development plan by-laws
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What's changed?
Find out what’s changed recently with our by-laws, policies, guidelines, and bulletins.
Zoning and Development By-law
A regulation is a rule contained within a by-law. The use and development of land in Vancouver is regulated by the Zoning and Development By-law and the official development plan by-laws.
Zoning district schedules
The city is divided into zoning districts, which are organized into five broad categories (limited agriculture, residential, commercial, industrial, and heritage), and comprehensive development districts, which are either area specific or site specific.
Official development plan by-laws
Development plans are plans for the future physical development of the city or a certain part of the city. Official development plans (ODPs) are development plans that Council has adopted by by-law. After Council adopts an ODP, Council cannot authorize, permit, or undertake any development that is contrary to or at variance with that ODP.
Rezoning policies
Rezoning policies provide guidance for developing or using a property in ways that existing rules or zoning do not allow.
Guidelines
Guidelines are statements that provide guidance on how discretion in the Zoning and Development By-law is applied, or how policies are interpreted.
The guidelines below are organized by location and project type.
Bulletins
Bulletins are documents that explain how a regulation is applied and how discretionary decisions under the regulation are made by the Director of Planning. They can include background information and summaries of related regulations or policies, and may include procedural information.