IC-3: Industrial-Commercial, False Creek Flats

What the zone allows

Homes allowed

Homes in a mixed-use building (conditional), none in the first 10.7 m of its ground floor behind the front wall, entrances aside; micro dwellings only in sub-area A (north of Great Northern Way and 2nd Avenue, on the schedule's map); a home with an artist studio (conditional); otherwise only a caretaker's home where it is essential to the business, or a home used as one continuously since October 25, 1988 (additions up to 10% or 37 m², whichever is less) (ss. 1.1, 2.1, 2.2.3 to 2.2.5)

Main uses

Light industry: most kinds of manufacturing, labs, printing, storage warehouses, wholesaling (Class B outright up to 1,000 m²), building supplies, motor vehicle repair, catering, production studios, clubs, fitness centres, theatres, vocational schools and shops selling art and handcrafts only, outright; offices (not lawyers', accountants', real estate, insurance or travel offices), restaurants, a cabaret, a casino, brewing, heavier manufacturing, storage yards, truck terminals and child day care, conditional. No general retail stores (ss. 1.1, 2.1, 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.6, 2.2.8, 2.2.9)

Smallest lot for a subdivision

None set in the district (our reading)

Lot coverage

None set. Floor space ratio 3.00 for manufacturing, storage, Class A wholesaling, artist studios, shops, schools and theatres, 2.50 for artist studios with homes, 1.00 for all other uses together (shops at most 1,000 m²); in sub-area A, 4.00 for a mixed-use building with homes at most 3.50, every home secured rental or 20% of the homes' floor area social housing (ss. 3.1.1.2, 3.1.1.3)

Height limit

18.3 m; in sub-area A, 30.5 m for a mixed-use building with every home secured rental or 20% of the homes' floor area social housing. Accessory buildings 3.7 m (4.6 m at the peak), in the rear yard, at most 10% of the lot (ss. 2.2.11, 3.1.2.1, 3.1.2.4)

Setbacks

No yard along a street; sides 1.5 m beside an R district with no lane between, else none (0.9 m where one is given); 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 (ss. 3.1.2.2, 3.1.2.3, 3.1.2.5 to 3.1.2.7, 4.2.2)

The schedule's aim is a mix of light industry, cultural uses and homes that sits well beside residential and commercial districts, with services that complement industry and a few offices (s. 1.1).

Buildings meet the street with the main entrance and public rooms facing it, windows over 80% of the ground floor's street wall and 40% of upper floors (s. 4.2.2).

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 IC-3 District Schedule (June 2026) of Zoning and Development By-law No. 3575 (summarised in our words, checked 2026-10-05 and 2026-10-06); 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.