Vancouver Airport Zoning Update

Summary#

This is a proposal from Transport Canada to replace the current Vancouver International Airport Zoning Regulations. The changes would reserve extra protected areas and new height and land‑use limits around Vancouver International Airport to keep the option of building an extra runway open, and to reduce bird hazards and radio/communications interference. The notice was published on April 27, 2024, and people can comment within 60 days of that publication.

What it does#

• Adds new zoning areas to protect two possible future runways (a “Foreshore Runway” and a “Close‑in South Parallel Runway”) so those runway options remain physically possible over the long term.
• Sets height limits for buildings and natural growth:
  • a fixed ceiling for the outer area (generally 45 m) and slope‑based limits on approach and side (transitional) areas so allowable height increases with distance from the runway.
  • approach slopes described in the proposal use a rise over run of 1:50; transitional surfaces use 1:7.
• Updates rules about wildlife:
  • prohibits land uses that attract wildlife (especially birds) near flight paths.
  • allows open water storage reservoirs only for up to 48 hours (short‑term exception).
• Adds a new ban on land uses that cause interference with communications or navigation signals to and from aircraft (examples include certain radio transmitters or tower equipment). This does not apply to ordinary cellphone users.
• Aligns some wording with current airport standards (TP 312 / ICAO) so terminology matches modern practice.
• Keeps a small number of narrow exceptions (“bump‑outs”) that allow taller buildings on a few specific sites; existing buildings and uses in the new zones would generally be grandfathered as legally non‑conforming.
• Explains enforcement powers (the Minister of Transport would oversee compliance) and notes penalties for conviction: $5,000 for an individual and $25,000 for a corporation.

Who's affected#

• Vancouver Airport Authority — the airport operator that wants to protect future runway options.
• Municipal governments: City of Richmond, City of Vancouver, City of Burnaby, and City of Delta — their planning and stormwater choices in parts of these cities could be affected.
• Landowners and property developers in the newly zoned areas — future development height and some uses (for example, open storm ponds or waste sites) could be limited.
• NAV CANADA and other aviation stakeholders — the rules are intended to reduce hazards they manage, such as signal interference and bird strikes.
• Musqueam Indian Band and nearby communities — consulted in the process; the proposal says current Indigenous harvesting and fishing rights would not be changed, but the area overlaps some traditional lands.
• Residents and businesses near the airport may notice changes in what can be built or how municipalities manage water and parks, but most existing buildings would remain as they are.

If anything above is unclear in the proposal (for example, the precise maps and the small exception areas), the formal zoning plans and legal descriptions that would be deposited after the regulations are adopted will show exact boundaries.

Why it matters#

• Keeps future runway options open: by limiting new tall development and certain land uses now, the airport aims to avoid being boxed in by later construction and to preserve long‑term capacity options (the airport’s planning work estimates the need for more runway capacity in about 30 years).
• Safety: reducing nearby bird attractants and banning signal‑interfering uses lowers the risk of bird strikes and navigation/communication problems during take‑off and landing.
• Local planning impacts: cities will need to consider alternative ways to manage stormwater and siting of radio infrastructure in the affected zones. That could change design choices for parks, ponds, and some new developments.
• Grandfathering and narrow exceptions attempt to limit immediate disruption: most existing buildings and approved plans would be preserved, while a few specified sites are allowed higher limits to protect current development expectations.