Board of Variance

Meetings

Appeal submission deadlines and upcoming meetings

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  2023 meetings

  Important note Hearings occur online at 1:15pm.

  Deadline for submission	Meeting date
  Monday, November 14, 2022	Tuesday, January 17, 2023
  Monday, December 12, 2022	Tuesday, February 14, 2023
  Monday, January 16, 2023	Tuesday, March 14, 2023
  Monday, February 20, 2023	Tuesday, April 25, 2023
  Monday, March 20, 2023	Tuesday, May 23, 2023
  Monday, April 17, 2023	Tuesday, June 20, 2023
  Monday, May 15, 2023	Tuesday, July 18, 2023
  Monday, June 5, 2023	Wednesday, August 9, 2023
  Monday, July 10, 2023	Tuesday, September 26, 2023
  Monday, August 7, 2023	Tuesday, October 24, 2023
  Monday, September 11, 2023	Tuesday, November 21, 2023
  Monday, October 9, 2023	Tuesday, December 5, 2023
  Monday, November 13, 2023	Tuesday, January 16, 2024
  Monday, December 4, 2023	Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Upcoming agendas

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  2023 agendas

  Important note Hearings occur at 1:15pm.

  Meeting date	Upcoming agenda
  September to December 2023	1148 West 7th Avenue 3019 Point Grey Road 5839 Prince Albert Street 6945 Victoria Drive

  Email the Board’s site office: BOV@Vancouver.ca for the final agenda schedule, including the appellants’ written submission. Appeal hearing will begin at 1:15pm at City Hall, ground floor at the City Townhall (in the 'Joe Wai' Meeting Room).

  Important note Contact the Board's site office if you wish to submit written comments or if you wish to 'register to speak' at an upcoming Board of Variance meeting.

Meeting minutes 

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  2023 minutes 

  Meeting date	Minutes
  January 17, 2023	Minutes
  February 14, 2023	Minutes
  April 11, 2023	Minutes
  May 23, 2023	Minutes
  June 20, 2023	Minutes
  July 18, 2023	Minutes

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  2022 minutes 

  Important note During the COVID-19 pandemic, no board meetings were held in April and June 2022.

  Meeting date	Minutes
  January 11, 2022	Minutes
  February 8, 2022	Minutes
  May 17, 2022	Minutes
  July 19, 2022	Minutes
  August 9, 2022	Minutes
  September 13, 2022	Minutes
  October 25, 2022	Minutes
  November 15, 2022	Minutes
  December 6, 2022	Minutes

Board decisions

Decisions prior to 2022 can be requested by contacting the Board Secretary at bov@vancouver.ca

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  2023 Board decisions

  Site address	Board's decisions
  845 West 20th Avenue	Board's minutes and decision PDF file (1.8 MB)
  1410 East 49th Avenue	Board's minutes and decision PDF file (682 KB)
  1775 Trimble Street	Board's minutes and decision PDF file (1.5 MB)
  1916 William Street	Board's minutes and decision PDF file (1.2 MB)
  2028 West 36th Avenue	Board's minutes and decision PDF file (3.6 MB)
  2981 McGill Street	Board's minutes and decision PDF file (8.5 MB)
  3045 East 18th Avenue	Board's minutes and decision PDF file (1.9 MB)
  3295 Renfrew Street	Board's minutes and decision PDF file (7.3 MB)
  5560 Chester Street	Board's minutes and decision PDF file (2.1 MB)
  3019 Point Grey Road	Board's minutes and decision PDF file (2.1 MB)

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  2022 Board decisions

  Site address	Board's decisions
  438 Richards Street	Board's minutes and decision PDF file (1.3 MB)
  482 East 17th Avenue	Board's minutes and decision PDF file (247 KB)
  944 Semlin Drive	Board's minutes and decision PDF file (3.7 MB)
  1238 Burrard Street	Board's minutes and decision PDF file (509 KB)
  2037 Macdonald Street	Board's minutes and decision PDF file (909 KB)
  2157 West 57th Avenue	Board's minutes and decision PDF file (1.4 MB)
  3219 Point Grey Road	Board's minutes and decision PDF file (1.6 MB)
  3508 West 18th Avenue	Board's minutes and decision PDF file (957 KB)
  2871 Point Grey Road	Board's minutes and decision PDF file (2.2 MB)

How we work

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  Terms of reference

  The board operates under the terms of Board of Variance By-law and The Vancouver Charter, section 572.

  • Review the Board of Variance Bylaw
  • Learn about the Board's legal authority in the Vancouver Charter
  • What is the Vancouver Charter?

  The board hears appeals on decisions made under these by-laws:

  • Zoning and Development By-law

    Regulates the development of property in Vancouver by encouraging land use and building in accordance with community goals and visions for the future of Vancouver and its neighbourhoods.

  • Sign Bylaw

    Regulates the number, type, form, appearance, and location of signs according to zoning districts and uses within a district.

  • Protection of Trees By-law

    Allows us to preserve, protect, and strengthen our urban forest, while still providing some flexibility for tree removal in the event of property maintenance and development.

  • Parking By-law

    Regulates the number and design of parking, loading, bicycle parking, and passenger spaces that are to be provided in association with development on a site.

  Important note Board decisions are binding. City committees or Council may give information to the boards on particular appeals, but they cannot influence board decisions.

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  Meeting frequency

  Meeting

  The board generally meets at City Hall the second Wednesday of each month. Meetings start at 1:15pm, and run until all appeals have been heard.

  Site inspections

  There is also a site inspection the day before each board meeting to visit all the sites under appeal. Site inspections start at 1pm and run until all sites have been visited.

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  Time commitment

  The time commitment during meeting weeks is 15 hours per week on average. Considerable time is also spent reviewing appeals.

  Many board activities occur during weekday daytime hours, so board members should have a lot of control over their schedule.

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  Quorum

  There must be a minimum number of three members of the board present to make decisions.

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  Remuneration

  Members of the Board of Variance are entitled to receive payment for their expenses incurred in the conduct of their official duties on the board, including transportation to and from:

  • Their home or office to meetings of the board
  • Inspection trips to view sites involved in appeals

Who we are

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  Membership

  Both boards consist of the same five members, all of whom are appointed by City Council, who usually have experience in the building industry.

  Important note Appointed or elected City officials cannot be board members.

  All members can be reappointed. There is no limit on the number of terms a member may serve. The Chair is elected by the members.

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  Members

  In accordance with the our civic agency public selection process, 5 members have been appointed to the Board by City Council. Terms expire July 31, 2024.

  • Gilbert Tan – Board Chair
  • Rakshin Kandola
  • Alex Ray
  • Namtez (Babbu) Sohal
  • Peter Gee