As mentioned in previous updates, on April 22nd, Council adopted amendments to the Zoning Bylaw with various clarifying amendments related to Bill 44 and Floor Area Ratio (FAR) requirements.  

Clarifying regulations related to addressing Bill 44 include: 

• aligning floor area ratio exclusions and accessory building and structure floor area limits for detached and attached garages, carports, and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs); 
• updating the definitions of “Single Residential”, “Townhouse”, and “Rowhouse” to clarify the intent and reference to the number of permitted principal dwellings;  
• updating the definition of “Triplex” to clarify the siting of secondary suites is in keeping with BC Building Code requirements; 
• ensuring ADU’s are sited to maintain road safety view corridors; and 
• aligning the 6 m separation required between an ADU and a principal dwelling with BC Building Code fire separation requirements. 

Minor changes to meet the intent of regulations throughout the bylaw such as: 

• including guardrails as a building feature excluded from height calculations (alongside other such similar rooftop projections already exempted); 
• deleting the industrial floor area limits in CD20 (Comprehensive Zone 20), this was originally intended to regulate the siting of the industrial buildings but has unintended consequences for mezzanines and does not fit with current industrial policies to support intensification; 
• provide for cafes and concessions at municipal parks and recreation facilities to serve alcohol; and 
• updates to ambiguous, missed, or confusing wording, civic addresses, legal descriptions, notes, figures, and errors where needed. 

More information can be found in the full report by City staff. 

April 15, 2025

On April 8th, Council gave three readings to amendments to the Zoning Bylaw with various clarifying amendments related to Bill 44 and Floor Area Ratio (FAR) requirements.  

Clarifying regulations related to addressing Bill 44 include: 

• aligning floor area ratio exclusions and accessory building and structure floor area limits for detached and attached garages, carports, and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs);
• updating the definitions of “Single Residential”, “Townhouse”, and “Rowhouse” to clarify the intent and reference to the number of permitted principal dwellings;  
• updating the definition of “Triplex” to clarify the siting of secondary suites is in keeping with BC Building Code requirements;
• ensuring ADU’s are sited to maintain road safety view corridors; and
• aligning the 6 m separation required between an ADU and a principal dwelling with BC Building Code fire separation requirements. 

Minor changes to meet the intent of regulations throughout the bylaw such as: 

• including guardrails as a building feature excluded from height calculations (alongside other such similar rooftop projections already exempted);
• deleting the industrial floor area limits in CD20 (Comprehensive Zone 20), this was originally intended to regulate the siting of the industrial buildings but has unintended consequences for mezzanines and does not fit with current industrial policies to support intensification;
• provide for cafes and concessions at municipal parks and recreation facilities to serve alcohol; and
• updates to ambiguous, missed, or confusing wording, civic addresses, legal descriptions, notes, figures, and errors where needed. 

More information can be found in the full report by City staff.