I-2: Industrial

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

No homes, except, outside the False Creek Flats' sub-areas A and B, a caretaker's home where it is essential to the business, and a home with an artist studio in floor space that stood on February 26, 2013 (additions up to 10%); both conditional (ss. 2.1, 2.2.3, 2.2.4)

Main uses

Industry, manufacturing, labs, warehousing, wholesaling, transportation and storage, artist studios, motor vehicle repair and utilities, mostly outright; offices, a few kinds of shop (rental stores, a gas station's convenience store, small take-out food) and restaurants, conditional and limited in size. No bulk storage of explosives, fuel, coal tar or radioactive material (ss. 2.1, 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.6)

Smallest lot for a subdivision

None set in the district (our reading)

Lot coverage

None set. Floor space ratio 3.00 for industry, storage, wholesale and similar uses, 1.00 for all other uses together: retail at most 1,000 m², offices the greater of 235 m² or a third of the floor area, a restaurant 300 m². In sub-area B, up to 4.00 with approval (ss. 3.1.1.1, 3.2.1.1, 3.2.1.2)

Height limit

18.3 m; up to 30.5 m with the Director of Planning's or Development Permit Board's approval, weighing daylight and privacy in nearby residential districts (ss. 3.1.2.1, 3.1.2.5)

Setbacks

No front yard; sides 1.5 m beside an RM district and 0.9 m beside an RA, R1 or RT district with no lane between, else none; rear 3.1 m, less the distance from the rear line to a lane's centre line, and the Director of Planning may waive it where rear access isn't needed. Sub-area B: front 0.6 m, sides 7.6 m, upper floors set back more, buildings at most 61.0 m deep and wide (ss. 3.1.2.2, 3.1.2.3, 3.1.2.8, 3.1.2.9, 3.2.2)

The schedule's aim is industry that doesn't sit well beside homes but gives jobs, without uses that are dangerous near residential districts. Sub-areas A and B, in the False Creek Flats between Prior Street, Clark Drive, Great Northern Way and Main Street, have their own uses, heights and setbacks (s. 1.1).

Outright uses get a permit once they meet the rules; conditional uses are at the Director of Planning's discretion, weighing the schedule's intent, Council's policies and guidelines and what neighbours, owners and tenants submit (s. 2.1).

Sections 2 (definitions), 10 (general regulations) and 11 (use-specific regulations) of the by-law also apply. Parking is set by the separate Parking By-law, which we haven't summarised.

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 Vancouver's development, buildings and licensing department before you buy or build.

Source: the I-2 District Schedule (June 2026) of Zoning and Development By-law No. 3575 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-05); Section 11, Use-Specific Regulations (February 2026), Zoning and Development By-law No. 3575; Section 2, Definitions (June 2026), Zoning and Development By-law No. 3575; zone map: Open Government Licence – Vancouver.