Consolidated Zoning Bylaw Approved

October 28, 2022

The Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) approved a new user-friendly region-wide electoral area zoning bylaw at its October 27 board meeting. The new single bylaw was developed to make it easier for homeowners, developers, architects, and others in the region to understand the regulations.

Fraser Valley Regional District Zoning Bylaw No. 1638, 2021 consolidates the nine (9) existing zoning regulations for all of the electoral areas of the Regional District. These bylaws were adopted by three separate regional districts (Fraser-Cheam, Dewdney-Alouette, and Central Fraser Valley) between 1976 and 1992.

What is a Zoning Bylaw? 

A zoning bylaw regulates the use of land and the construction of buildings on the land. The FVRD zoning bylaws list all of the uses allowed in a certain zone. Zoning bylaws regulate:

  • Density i.e. the number of homes that can be built on one property
  • Size and shape of buildings, which are regulated by setbacks and height
  • Size of new lots that are created by subdivision

Why Update the Zoning Bylaw?

The FVRD Board directed staff to undertake the process of consolidating the nine bylaws into a single user-friendly electoral area zoning bylaw. The Board’s direction was to provide consistency, clarity, and ease of use by the general public. The new Zoning Bylaw standardizes and simplifies zoning regulations across the FVRD without significantly altering the regulations applicable to any particular parcel of land or type of zone.

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