How do I rezone a property in BC?

What the answer means

A rezoning changes the zoning bylaw for a lot: what may be built and used there and how much. The owner applies to the municipality or regional district, which must consider the application, but whether to adopt the bylaw is the council's or board's choice. A report gives the lot's zone where the local government publishes an open zoning map, and lists open development applications near it where the council publishes them. Where one does, a report lists the open files on and within 200 m of the lot, rezonings included; elsewhere ask the planning department what has been applied for nearby.

Applying

Every local government with a zoning bylaw sets by bylaw how an owner applies to amend it or the official community plan, and must consider every application it gets (Local Government Act s. 460). The fee may cover only the usual cost of processing that kind of application (s. 462). Many councils send a file to an advisory planning commission for comment (s. 461).

Readings and the public hearing

A rezoning is a bylaw given readings. Where a public hearing is held, it comes after first reading and before third, and everyone who thinks their interest in property is affected must have a fair chance to speak or write (s. 465). After it the council can adopt the bylaw, turn it down, or change it without a new hearing only if the change doesn't alter the use or raise the density (s. 470).

When there's no hearing

No hearing is needed where an official community plan covers the land and the rezoning fits it (s. 464 (2)). Since 2023 a council must not hold one where the rezoning fits the plan and is for a development at least half of whose floor area is homes, nor for one made only to allow the small-scale housing the Act requires (s. 464 (3), (4)). The council still gives notice of first reading (s. 467).

Who is told

A rezoning that changes the use or density of fewer than 10 owners' lots is mailed to the owners and tenants of the lots and those within the distance the council's bylaw sets, at least 10 days before the hearing or first reading, and published (ss. 466 (4), (7), 467).

The official community plan

Every bylaw adopted after an official community plan must be consistent with it (s. 478 (2)). Where the plan doesn't support what you want, the plan is amended first or alongside, and an amendment to the plan always goes to a public hearing (ss. 464 (1), 477).

What the council can ask for

A rezoning often comes with a covenant on title registered under the Land Title Act (s. 219), a housing agreement, or density offered in return for amenities or affordable homes where the bylaw sets out those conditions (Local Government Act s. 482). Councils can also charge amenity cost charges at building permit or subdivision under their own bylaw (s. 570.2), and development cost charges apply as usual.

In the ALR

A zoning bylaw can't allow in the farmland reserve a use the Agricultural Land Commission Act doesn't, and any part of it that does has no effect there (ALC Act s. 46 (4), (5)). A rezoning that needs the reserve's rules lifted needs the Commission's own approval first.

In the Islands Trust

On islands in a local trust area the local trust committee rezones, with the same Part 14 powers, and its bylaw has no effect until the Trust's executive committee approves it (Islands Trust Act ss. 27, 29).

What it means for a buyer

Paying for a lot on the strength of a rezoning that hasn't been adopted is a bet: readings can stall, and a council can turn it down after a hearing. A rezoning already applied for near the lot is a clue to what's coming next door.

The Local Government Act (Part 14), the Agricultural Land Commission Act and the Islands Trust Act as consolidated on BC Laws, summarised in our words, read 2026-10-19. The City of Vancouver rezones under the Vancouver Charter, with its own steps. Each council's procedures bylaw, fees and policies decide the details.

Sources, read 2026-10-19 and summarised in our words unless marked otherwise: Local Government Act, Part 14 (ss. 460 to 470, 477, 478, 482, 570.2); Agricultural Land Commission Act, s. 46; Islands Trust Act, ss. 27, 29; Development applications, Columbia Shuswap Regional District (Open Government Licence – Columbia Shuswap Regional District); Development applications, City of Surrey (Open Government Licence – Surrey); Development applications, City of Abbotsford (Open Government Licence – City of Abbotsford); Development applications, District of Squamish (Open Government Licence – Squamish).

Where applications near a lot are listed

In these 9 places a report lists the open development applications on and within 200 m of the lot from 4 local governments' open maps, checked 2026-10-04.

Not open: the Township of Langley (its development activity map's layers name no licence); the City of Kelowna (its open data has no development applications layer). Coverage on the sources page.

See also zoning by place, the homes floor, subdividing and development permit areas.