On this page
Legal resources
Book and reports
British Columbia building code, 2018 [online] and 2012 [print]
"Applies to the construction of buildings; including extensions, substantial alterations, buildings undergoing a change of occupancy, green building specifications, and upgrading of buildings to remove an unacceptable hazard."
Vancouver Building By-law 2019
"identifies the minimum standard in the City of Vancouver for buildings"
The building access handbook 2014
building requirements for persons with disabilities from British Columbia Building Code 2012 including illustrations and commentary
British Columbia fire code, 2018 [online] and 2012 [print]
Objectives: Safety, health, and fire protection of buildings and facilities
British Columbia plumbing code, 2018 [online] and 2012 [print]
Objectives: Safety, health, protection of buildings and facilities from water and sewage damage, and environment
See also: Locating standards at the SFU Library and at other libraries
Canadian law of planning and zoning [print]
Older, but "the only Canadian text comprehensively treating all aspects of the municipal regulation of land use, covering cases and legislation in every Canadian province."
Canadian municipal and planning law [print]
"Includes bibliographical references and index."
Public interest, private property: law and planning policy in Canada [online] and [print]
"Case studies focus on spheres in which public values and private property rights collide--expropriation law, natural resources regulation, green development, and water provision--laying the groundwork for more active debates on the issues currently shaping our cities."
Assessment of the Municipal Acts of the Provinces And Territories Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Legal database
Westlaw Next Canada
Current Canadian legal information, including cases, legislation, and law reports
Finding legislation (i.e. municipal acts):
- On the homepage, click on Statutes and Regulations
- Select province
- Click on Statutes
- Type Municipal Act into the search or scroll to M
** Note: Some cities, such as Calgary, Montreal and St. John's, have their own municipal statutes.
Finding summaries of cases, by legal issue:
- On the homepage, click on Canadian Abridgment Digests
- Choose an area of focus (such as Municipal or Construction or Transportation)
- Click on a subheading to see related cases
Finding legal articles and newsletters:
Stay up to date with current issues surrounding planning legislation.
- On the homepage, click on Articles and Newsletters
- Click on Municipal and Planning Law Reports (or use catalogue link here)
Finding cases and decisions:
Stay up to date with current legal decisions:
- On the homepage, click on Cases and Decisions
- Click on Municipal and then jurisdiction (e.g. British Columbia)
For more information please see the guides Finding legal cases by topic and How to find legal cases by citation
Current planning and bylaws
Municipal bylaws
Vancouver zoning and planning
- Vancouver zoning bylaw 3575
- Elecoral Area A Building and Zoning
- Zoning Map (archived July 2019)
- Sustainable zoning
- Current planning projects
- Zoning district descriptions
- Regional Planning Metro Vancouver
Metro Vancouver
- Buraby Zoning bylaw
- Metro Vancouver Bylaws "Metro Vancouver’s most commonly requested, active bylaws", from Air Quality to Regional Parks to Sewer Use
- Electorial Area A Zoning Bylaw Metro Vancouver
- New Westminster Zoning Bylaw
- North Vancouver Zoning
- Richmond zoning bylaw
- Surrey Zoning
- West Vancouver zoning bylaw
- Planning Guides (CivicInfo BC) from Agriculture to Wildfire. Metro Vancouver and the rest of BC
Historical planning
Books and reports
Rawn report: Sewerage and drainage of the Greater Vancouver area, British Columbia [print, and 1970 consolidation print]
1953 Master plan of the sewage system, including the enclosure of creeks, and "apportionment of costs"
Historical data, Vancouver Town Planning Commission [print]
Dates back to plans existing prior to 1963.
Out of print and contract publications [print]
Dates back to contracts existing prior to 1963.
West End: planning policies and design guidelines [print]
"For reference only: does not form part of the zoning by-law or official development plan."
The Vancouver City Planning Commission: some historical notes [print]
Notes made to plans prior to 1975.
City of Vancouver sites unless otherwise indicated:
- Chinatown Historic Area Planning Committee
- Gastown Historic Area Planning Committee
- Historical Regional Planning Reports & Maps Metro Vancouver
- Vancouver City Planning Commission
- Vancouver Heritage Commission
Other resources:
- Greater Vancouver Regional District Planning Department fonds (1947-1982) UBC Archives
- Harry Lash Library MetroVancouver, including their vertical files
- Vancouver Archives including digital objects - sample search: "Vancouver city planning commission", or older items "Vancouver town planning commission"
- Harland Bartholomew and the City of Vancouver (Internet Archives) digitized items not found at the Vancouver Archives
- British Columbia History Vancouver Public Library
Journal article databases
Historical Abstracts
Sample terms: Urban planning; History of urban planning
America: History and Life
For US and Canadian cities. Sample terms: Urban planning, Urban planners
Art Index
Sample terms: Urban planning; Grid plan (Urban planning); History of urban planning; Public spaces