Are there building height limits near an airport in BC?

What the answer means

An airport needs the air over the land around it kept clear for planes landing and taking off. Where Transport Canada has made a zoning regulation for an airport, it binds the land around it on top of the council's own zoning.

What a regulation does

The federal Cabinet may make zoning regulations for land near an airport to stop uses that clash with the airport or with flying safely, or that interfere with signals to and from aircraft (Aeronautics Act s. 5.4 (2)). Transport Canada makes one only for an airport with an airport certificate or for a designated airport site; the airport's own land needs none, so a regulation covers the land around it. In BC, 20 are in force, listed below.

Height limits

Each regulation draws imaginary surfaces over the land, and no one may build a building, structure or object, or add to one, whose top would rise above them. Approach surfaces rise from each end of a runway, transitional surfaces from its sides, and an outer surface sits at a set height above the airport. In Abbotsford's, for example, the approach surfaces rise 1 m for every 50 m out, the transitional surfaces 1 m for every 7 m, and the outer surface lies 45 m above the airport's reference point, but never less than 9 m above the ground (Abbotsford Airport Zoning Regulations, SOR/83-253, ss. 2, 5; Schedule, Parts III, IV, VI). So close to a runway's end the limit can be only a few metres, while farther out it's the outer surface (our reading).

Trees and birds

In 16 of BC's regulations, where a tree or other natural growth rises above a surface, the Minister of Transport may direct the owner or occupier to remove the excess growth (Abbotsford's s. 6). In 12, no owner or occupier may let the land be used to dispose of waste that is edible by or attractive to birds (Abbotsford's s. 7).

Existing buildings

A regulation doesn't apply to a use, building, structure or object that existed on the day it came into force, or to one that had every approval it needed by then (Aeronautics Act s. 5.4 (4), (5)). Building higher or adding to one later must fit under the surfaces (our reading of the regulations' wording: "or any addition to any existing building").

Where it's recorded

A regulation comes into force on the lands it covers once a copy, with a plan and description of the lands signed by a BC land surveyor, is deposited in the land title office (Aeronautics Act s. 5.6 (2), (4)). It is on record there, not necessarily as a charge on each title, so a title search may not show it (our reading); ask your lawyer or notary to check. Each regulation also describes its outer limits in words, by lot, plan and road.

Enforcement

Where something breaks a regulation, the Minister may give written notice to stop the use or remove or alter the building, structure or object by a date at least 30 days away; the owner may object in writing within 30 days and be heard, and the Minister may then enter the land and do it (Aeronautics Act s. 5.7). No one is entitled to compensation for a loss, removal or alteration that a zoning regulation causes (s. 5.8).

Noise

These regulations don't deal with noise. Transport Canada's land use guidance recommends no new homes inside an airport's NEF 30 noise contour and says annoyance can begin as low as NEF 25 (TP 1247, Part IV); councils near busy airports write that into their plans and zoning. The contours aren't open data, so ask the council or the airport whether the lot is inside one (see noise).

Tall structures anywhere

Apart from these regulations, anyone planning a structure that could be an obstacle to aircraft, such as a tower or a turbine over 60 m or lower near an aerodrome, must tell Transport Canada first (Canadian Aviation Regulations s. 601.24; see small wind turbines).

What it means for a buyer

A report gives the nearest airport or airstrip within 2 km of the lot and says when the lot lies near a runway's line, but not whether the lot is inside a regulation's lands: the plans aren't open data. A house of ordinary height far from a runway's end is rarely near a surface, while a second storey, a tall tree or a tower close to one can be (our reading); ask before you buy.

Our summary of the Aeronautics Act (ss. 5.4 to 5.81) and the 20 BC airport zoning regulations on the Justice Laws site, with Abbotsford's (SOR/83-253) as the worked example, and of Transport Canada's airport zoning page and Land Use in the Vicinity of Aerodromes (TP 1247), read 2026-10-22. Each regulation sets its own surfaces and heights; read the one for your airport.

Sources (read 2026-10-22; summarised in our own words unless noted): Aeronautics Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. A-2 (ss. 5.4 to 5.81) (read 2026-10-22); Abbotsford Airport Zoning Regulations, SOR/83-253 (ss. 2, 5 to 7; Schedule); Airport zoning regulations, Transport Canada; Aviation: Land Use in the Vicinity of Aerodromes, Transport Canada, TP 1247 (Part IV).

By airport

20 BC airports have a federal airport zoning regulation in force, each limiting heights on the land around it; 16 also let the Minister order trees cut back, and 12 bar waste that draws birds. Listed by name.

From the list of regulations made under the Aeronautics Act on the Justice Laws site, read 2026-10-22. A regulation's lands reach past the place it's named for: each describes its outer limits by lot, plan and road, and its plan is deposited in the land title office.

Before you buy: who to ask

The airport, or Transport Canada

Is the lot inside the airport's zoning regulation's lands, and how high may a building or a tree rise there?

The council's planning department

Is the lot inside the airport's noise contours, and do the zone or the official plan set rules near the airport?

Your lawyer or notary

What is on record in the land title office for this lot, and does the title carry anything about the airport?

Look up the lot above: its report gives the nearest airport or airstrip within 2 km and whether the lot lies near a runway's line.

See also railways, highways and airports nearby, small wind turbines, setbacks, cutting trees and property records.