I1a: Industrial (heavy industrial sub-district)

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

None: the sub-district lists no homes (s. 4.1.2.2)

Main uses

Everything the I1 district allows, plus heavy industry, industrial port or harbour uses, a freight depot or terminal, a recycling and waste processing facility, a salvage yard and a crematorium (enclosed, no chapel or gathering rooms, not part of a cemetery); I1's secondary and accessory uses, on its conditions (ss. 4.1.2.2, 4.1.3)

Smallest lot for a subdivision

None set in the district; subdivision goes to the City's Approving Officer (our reading)

Lot coverage

None set in the district; at least 10% of the lot left permeable, shown on a landscape architect's plan (Part 4-4.3, whose table names I1; we read it as covering the sub-district)

Height limit

4 storeys (s. 4.1.4; the table names I1, which we read as covering its sub-district too)

Setbacks

Front 6.0 m, flanking street 4.5 m; across a street from an A or R district lot: front 9.0 m, flanking 6.0 m. Lane 3.0 m, sides 3.0 m, rear 3.0 m; 6.0 m from any line beside an A or R district lot or across a lane from one. One side may be 0.0 m where it isn't beside an A or R district lot and the other side is at least 6.0 m (s. 4.1.4; read as for I1)

The sub-district is for heavy industry and similar uses that need set siting to limit noise, fumes, dust, odour, vibration and unsightliness, kept apart from homes, child care and schools (s. 4.1.1).

Its own heavy uses (not crematoria or the I1 uses) stand at least 100 m from homes on R, C, E or P district lots, public and private elementary and secondary schools, and child care on lots outside the I districts, measured from the nearest building face or screened outdoor area to the other lot's line. A crematorium stands 150 m from the same homes and schools and from any child care. A salvage yard stands 30 m from any A1 district lot (s. 4.1.3).

Making, warehousing or storing hazardous waste or dangerous goods needs a permit from the Province's Waste Management Branch; no outdoor storage in a required street yard; screening at least 1.8 m high along any lot line where work or storage is done outdoors (s. 4.1.3).

Secondary offices, artist studios and self-storage only above the ground storey (self-storage not within 400 m of a SkyTrain station); secondary shops, restaurants and personal and business services at most 250 m² unless part of the main use; accessory offices at most 40% and a showroom at most half of each unit (s. 4.1.3).

On land in the Fraser River flood plain (the regional plan's flood plain map), buildings with rooms for living, business or storing goods floodwater would damage stand at least 60 m from the river's natural boundary, with the underside of the floor no lower than a line rising from 3.392 m (geodetic) at Boundary Road to 4.002 m at Fenwick Street; for industrial uses with flood proofing the City's General Manager Engineering approves, the floor may be up to 0.6 m lower (Part 4-4.1). Whether a lot is in it we don't check here: see the floodplain section and ask the City.

No homes, so no secondary suite, boarders, home occupation or short-term rental (our reading).

Along stretches of Kingsway, the Lougheed Highway, Hastings Street and Boundary Road, buildings must stand back a set distance from the road's centre line, 12.9 m to 30.2 m depending on the stretch (Part 4-1.3.3).

Uses the district doesn't list aren't allowed (Part 1, s. 4.1), besides transit, public utilities, civic facilities and public parks, allowed everywhere (Part 6-1.4).

Parts 4 (general regulations), 6 (use-specific regulations) and 7 (parking) of the bylaw also apply.

Site-specific exceptions listed in the bylaw by legal description can add or change uses for one property, and development permit areas, the ALR and building rules apply on top. Confirm with the City of Burnaby's planning department before you buy or build.

Source: Part 3, Section 4.1 of Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026, No. 14815 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-05); zone map: Open Government Licence – Burnaby.