P2: Institutional

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

Institutional homes: non-market rental housing, supportive and transitional housing, congregate housing, dormitories and aftercare and rehabilitation centres, up to 6 storeys; home occupations in them. No houses, townhouses or market apartments unless an R overlay district is zoned on the lot (ss. 5.2.2, 5.2.4)

Main uses

The P1 district's uses, plus hospitals, health care, educational services, offices, religious assembly, a cemetery or crematorium (at least 150 m from homes, schools and child care), a social service centre, research and development, correctional and parole facilities, transportation facilities, utilities, works yards and the institutional homes above; secondary financial institutions, an artist studio, a production or rehearsal studio, recreation and fitness, animal care (no overnight boarding but for animals in care) and visitor accommodation (only with a post-secondary institution, civic facility or hospital) (ss. 5.2.2, 5.2.3)

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 20% of the lot left permeable, shown on a landscape architect's plan (Part 4-4.3)

Height limit

8 storeys; a cemetery 4, institutional homes 6, a post-secondary campus 12 (on all its land), a hospital 20; more where a residential overlay district is zoned on the lot (s. 5.2.4)

Setbacks

Street 3.0 m (above the 6th storey a further 3.0 m step back), lane 1.2 m, rear 3.0 m, sides 0.0 m but 3.0 m beside an R1 or R2 lot, where the wall has windows or openings, and above the 6th storey; cemetery buildings 3 m from every lot line (s. 5.2.4, s. 5.2.3, Part 4-1.3.2)

Most land in this district is schools, hospitals, civic buildings and other public institutions, so a lot here is rarely for sale (our reading); ask the City what a lot here may be used for before you buy.

Main uses are allowed only on land publicly owned or publicly leased and run, except assembly and entertainment, child care, cemeteries, crematoria, social service centres, educational services, health care, religious assembly and the institutional homes (s. 5.2.3).

The P2a sub-district (land for existing or future schools) is a separate code and isn't summarised here (s. 5.2.2.2).

A lot can be zoned with an overlay district on top of this one (Part 6-2.0): the overlay's uses are added, height follows the R district where there is one (else the taller district), and setbacks follow the district each use belongs to; with an R overlay, at least 5% of the floor area must be P2 uses and a share of the homes non-market rental (10% or 5% by quadrant, as Part 5 Table 5-1.3 sets). The City's open zoning layer gives only the base code, so whether a lot has an overlay is unclear from it: ask the City (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), 5 (rental housing and bonus incentives), 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 5.2 of Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026, No. 14815 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-05); zone map: Open Government Licence – Burnaby.