Referral Bill 16 Density Bonus Inclusionary Zoning
Motion 32 · Council Meeting, May 5, 2026
Summary
- Provincial legislation (Bill 16, Vancouver Charter Section 634) requires Vancouver to update its Zoning and Development By-law (ZDBL) to comply with new rules for density bonus provisions by June 30, 2026; this report seeks Council approval to refer the necessary amendments to a Public Hearing.
- Key changes include removing non-compliant density bonus provisions and heritage amenity share provisions across multiple areas, and replacing select provisions with inclusionary zoning requirements — particularly in Downtown sub-areas L1, L2, M, and C2 under the Downtown Official Development Plan (DODP).
- The amendments also update hotel amenity bonus provisions in the DODP, adding up to a 20% floor area exclusion for specific amenity spaces accessory to hotel use, following a 2025 Council direction to encourage new hotel development.
- Staff recommend referring the ZDBL amendments and the DODP amendment to a joint Public Hearing so both by-laws can be considered together, even though the ZDBL amendments alone would not require a public hearing.
- A broader Financing Growth Update — covering Development Cost Levies, Amenity Cost Charges, and Community Amenity Contributions — is expected to come to Council on July 28, 2026, with a further comprehensive review of inclusionary zoning to follow.
- Staff also recommend Council approve a Scope of Work for a comprehensive review of Vancouver's inclusionary zoning approach and direct staff to consult with affected stakeholders as required.
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great the motion carries unanimously okay so just bear with me for one sec so we have communication number one changes to the 2026 council meeting schedule we also have report number four operator appointment and lease approval for social facility at number 300 through 485 west 42nd avenue then we have report number seven cd-1908 text amendment 185 through 193 southwest marine drive and 7980 manitoba street and we have report number one cd-1 rezoning 5635 through 5655 canby street and 511 west 41st avenue Then we have report number 13, CD-1 rezoning 354 through 380 East 10th Avenue. And then report number 14, CD-1 rezoning 1728 through 1738 Alberni Street and 1706 Alberni Street and 735 Bidwell Street. And then we have referral report number one. Uh, 2026 financing growth update bill 16 compliance update to density bonus provisions and inclusionary zoning and, uh, referral report. Number two, CD dash one, eight 47 text amendment one 33 through one 59 West 49th Avenue, formerly one 31 through one 63 East 40 hours. Sorry. West 49th Avenue. Okay.
Stop being sad.
The first item on the agenda will be report number one, City of Vancouver commemoration framework. Before we begin this agenda item, if anyone believes that they have a conflict of interest, now is the time to declare it. Does anyone have a conflict to declare? Seeing no one in the queue, this item does have a presentation, and we do have team members to present.
morning elena marley managing director of arts and culture um can you see the presentation we're sharing at the minute doesn't seem to be coming up
Statement Watch
Sandra Singh, Deputy City Manager. I'm afraid I'm not in a position to speculate on what could happen in terms of this, but certainly council has access to data on this.
Similar question to this chair. Are there any reported cases of fatal overdoses at these overdose prevention sites?
I would have to follow up with these.
The answer is no, no, not a single one. Is the reduction of prevention of overdose deaths in alignment with Ministerial Order 488?
I would need to review that Ministerial Order. I don't have it in front of me.
It's not. Would the anticipated increase in overdose deaths be in opposition to or in contravention of Ministerial Order 488? Counselor, if you could...
me a moment to review order 488 I could certainly do so.
Do we need a recess then?
I would like to know from the deputy city manager if they need a recess in order to review that section.
If council would like me to provide an opinion on alignment with that ministerial order I would need some time to review it. It's been some time since I've looked at it.
Okay, and Councillor Orr, you're wishing to, yeah. And what length of recess would be roughly required, Deputy City Manager?
Five minutes.
Five minutes, okay. Okay, we'll take a five-minute recess, and we'll return at 4.25. Thanks.
Okay.
Thank you. Thank you, everyone, for your patience. So I understand that the Deputy City Manager has a response to Councillor Orr's question, so I'll turn it over to Sandra Singh.
Thank you for the time to review the ministerial order from December 9, 2016. So this is a very brief ministerial order that is directed toward the regional health authorities and BCEHS. It is not directed toward municipalities, so it's not directed to us.
Thank you, Sandra, for clarifying that question. Councillor Orr.
Thanks. Thanks for that answer. One more question to the deputy city manager through the chair. Does the city's responsibility to maintain the appearance of public order supersede its responsibility to follow all applicable issued health directives by the province and its responsibility to protect the health, well-being, and lives of its residents?