BCpropertycheck

What can I build on my West Vancouver property?

Enter any District of West Vancouver address. The tool tells you the zoning, how many units the new provincial rules let you build, and every constraint layer — particularly the creek setbacks (West Van has many fish-bearing tributaries) and BC Hydro's transmission corridors that run through Cypress Bowl.

  • DWV zone catalogue (RS1 through RS8, RSE estate zone, RD1-RD3 duplex, RM1-RM5 multi-family, RT1 townhouse, C1-C3, PA1-PA3, CD)
  • Bill 44 SSMUH minimum-unit floor — applies on RS lots, but yard setbacks and slope DPAs frequently bind before unit count does
  • Provincial riparian (Capilano, Lawson, Brothers Creek, Eagle Creek tributaries), ALR, contaminated sites, floodplain
  • BC Hydro 230 kV / 500 kV transmission lines run through Cypress Bowl — flagged with SRW warning
  • Slope and creek-hazard DPAs noted (City layers are PDF-only — the tool flags but cannot georeference)

West Vancouver property FAQ

How do I check zoning in West Vancouver?

Enter the address above. The tool queries the DWV's public ArcGIS Planning_zoning_boundaries FeatureServer for the zoning code (ZONING_DES) and full description (ZONING_FULL), then matches against the bylaw schedule for FSR, height, and setbacks.

What does RS3 mean in West Vancouver?

RS3 (Single Family Dwelling) is one of West Van's larger-lot SFH zones with a 17,000 sqft minimum lot size. RS4 sits at 30,000 sqft and RS5 at 43,000 sqft. The smaller RS6 (6,000 sqft), RS7 (Hillside), and RS8 (Special Needs) zones cover the more compact and special-purpose areas.

Does Bill 44 SSMUH override RS6 in West Vancouver?

Yes — the Province's SSMUH unit floor (3 units on lots up to 3,014 sqft, 4 units above that, 6 within 400 m of a prescribed frequent-transit stop) applies regardless of municipal opposition, with limited exceptions including parcels larger than 4,050 m² and land not served by both municipal water and sewer. DWV adopted compliance bylaws by the June 2024 deadline. That said, slope, creek, and view-corridor design constraints often determine whether the unit floor can actually be built.

Are West Van's riparian setbacks unusually strict?

West Van has many fish-bearing tributaries flowing south from the Cypress watershed. SPR Class A/B setbacks of 30 m apply to those streams under the provincial RAPR framework. The District also overlays its own Streamside Protection DPA with comparable widths.