In this lesson we’re going to talk about your City’s Zoning and Bylaws in relation to your property. We’re going to help you understand your properties restrictions and allowances and make sure you have a clear understanding about what you can and cannot do based on your zoning and bylaws. 

You don't know your zoning? We'll help you with that.

So whether you are buying a property or already have one, you know whether you can add a suite, a coach or carriage home, a 2nd driveway, build out or even build up. And in this lesson, I’m going to quickly show you how.

Let us know in the comments below, how did you make out finding your zoning? 

• Does it allow you to do what you want to do?

• Did you hire a design team to help you out?

• How did they do and what were your results?

We hope you found this lesson helpful and well see you in the next one.

READ THE TRANSCRIPT AND ADDITIONAL NOTES BELOW

To start this lesson, we're going to do 1. a map search to find your zoning 2. understand your zoning, and 3. understanding the corresponding bylaws. I'm going to be sharing an example project that will take us through each step showing you how you can do the same for your home. This is especially beneficial for those looking at purchasing a home or bare land, and I'll give you some personal examples there as well.

I was contacted about a project where the homeowner purchased plans or hired someone on Fivrr to design them a home without checking the zoning or the bylaws and they wanted me to just added them, sort of as side notes. Now don't go running off to Fivrr to save some money on your plans, I am not at all recommending you do that - you'll find out why in a minute - but I'm going to use this example as to why knowing your zoning and bylaws are important. 

Finding Your Zoning

If you don't already know your zoning, you're going to have to do a GIS map search. 

A geographic information system (GIS) is a system that creates, manages, analyzes, and maps all types of data. GIS connects data to a map, integrating location data (where things are) with all types of descriptive information (what things are like there).

Let's take it a step further and say you don't know what City, District, Municipality, or County you're in. Make a google search "GIS map [location]". This can be fairly general like your area or specific like your address.

Once you find one titled 'GIS map' or 'mapping' and a City, you'll be prompted to 'launch' the map. (If you don't, keep searching until you find it. If you're having a hard time, DM me to make sure you get it)

This will open up the interactive map. Everyone's will look different, but they all work the same. Each will have a search bar prompting you to add your address. Once your address is found, click on it and a small pop-up will appear.

This is a list of your property information. Each area will be different, but typically include your rough property size, location (if it's in a large location they're typically segmented into areas), PID number (Property Identification Number), Roll number, legal description, ownership, zoning, link to zoning bylaws, and if your area has an Official Community Plan (OCP) and link to OCP document. 

When you click the link to your zoning bylaws it will take you to the entire bylaw document. Find your specific zoning in the Table of Contents.

The key sections in your bylaws are 'Definitions', General Regulations', and your specific zoning. 

Understanding Your Zoning

Your specific zoning will be roughly 1-2 pages and may include the following:

• Intent & Permitted Use

• Subdivision regulations (for developers)

• Zoning Specific Regulations

  • Number of buildings allowed (residents & accessory buildings)

  • Minimum Setbacks

  • Maximum Building Height

  • Maximum Property Coverage

  • Gross Floor Area & Floor Area Ratio

  • Minimum Number of Parking

Understanding Your Bylaws

Your General Regulations is where you'll find more detailed information to items in your specific zoning. 

Using the Fivrr example, this project has a limitation of their gross floor area. That is the total square footage, measured to the outside surface of the exterior walls (found in definitions). 

If they had read the bylaws, they would have known that their maximum is 465 sm. (5,005.21 sf.). While basements up to 90 sm. (968.75 sf.) and garages up to 60 sm. (645 sf.) are exempt, their total square footage is 6953 sf. If we exclude the garage and basement we are over the max. gross floor area by 334.04 sf. There is also a maximum allowable balcony size which must have been completely disregarded because of the sheer size of the multiple balconies drawn. 

Another often overlooked bylaw is the building height. If you are planning a 3 storey home, this is crucial that this is determined prior to design and even reviewed prior to purchasing property, especially if the property is located within a flood zone.