Board of Variance

Next Hearing

Board of Variance
Date: Wednesday, March 20
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Electronic meeting via Webex

Notice Join Hearing

Webinar number: 2771 411 9908
Webinar password: westvan

If you are interested in participating in this hearing, please phone Legislative Services at 604-925-7004 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the scheduled hearing date to register to speak. View the link below for detailed instructions on how to participate.

Instructions on How to Join a Virtual Board of Variance Hearing

Purpose

A local government that has adopted a zoning bylaw must establish one or more Boards of Variance (BOV). A person may apply to the BOV for a minor variance if they feel compliance with the bylaw would cause them a hardship. In a municipality, a BOV will consist of three or five persons, depending upon the population size of the municipality. Each member is appointed for a three-year term by the municipal council but members of an Advisory Planning Commission or an officer or employee of the local government are prohibited from being appointed to a BOV.

Role

The BOV may grant a variance if they have considered the following factors and are of the opinion that the variance does not: result in inappropriate development of the site; adversely affect the natural environment; substantially affect the use and enjoyment of the adjacent land; vary the permitted uses and densities or defeat the intent of the bylaw. The BOV focuses primarily on hardship relating to matters such as siting, dimensions and size of buildings. They cannot conflict with other matters such as Land Title Act covenants, permits or land use contracts or floodplain bylaw specifications.

Members

Sama Abri, John Elwick, Lesel Radage (Chair), Dave Simmons, and Ronald Yaworsky (Acting Chair).

Staff Representatives

Pascal Cuk, Board Secretary
604-925-7049
Email

Terry Yee, Building Inspector
604-925-7248
Email

 

How to Write to the Board of Variance

Board Decisions at Previous Hearings

2024 Hearings

2023 Hearings

Documents and Resources

2024 Board of Variance Application Deadline and Hearing Schedule

To view application documents and written submissions or enquire about Hearing procedures or results, contact Legislative Services at 604-925-7004.

To view plans, permit and variance information, contact Permits and Inspections at 604-925-7040​.

Province of British Columbia's Board of Variance web page