• About Burnaby

  • About Get to know Burnaby – urban centre, heritage site, Maclean’s magazine’s “best run city”	Community Links Link to the Burnaby Board of Trade, Tourism Burnaby and a variety of community associations
    Getting Around Search locations, maps, and ways to get around Burnaby by car, bike, or public transit	Strategic Directions Learn about Burnaby’s vision as a livable, sustainable, and thriving City
    News & Media Read up on what’s new and what’s relevant for citizens and businesses in the City	Education Read about the school system and post-secondary education options available in Burnaby
    Photos & Videos Browse photos and videos that showcase our open spaces, facilities and culture	Sister Cities Explore our sister cities from around the globe

    Tourism Burnaby Discover hotels, attractions, restaurants and shopping	Burnaby Awards The City of Burnaby has been honoured with many awards

• Things To Do

  • Calendar of Events Check in with our calendar of City sponsored and supported events	Be Active Programs Find programs that fit your lifestyle, register online or buy a B Active Pass	Community Centres Find information regarding local recreational facilities
    Arts & Heritage Explore the arts through classes, theatre, exhibits, museum and more	Outdoor Facilities Be active and get some fresh air at our outdoor facilities	Golf Courses Play, practice or learn at two 18 hole courses or our new driving range
    Explore Outdoors Uncover the natural beauty of Burnaby parks, trails, dog-friendly sites and play areas	Festivals & Events Don’t miss out on the culture and the fun that make Burnaby truly unique	Library Browse our local libraries and find the facility nearest you
    Visitor Resources Search our most popular attractions and visit the Burnaby Tourism Booth online	Be Involved Connect with your community. Volunteer, donate, and meet our outstanding citizens

    Leisure Guide Be Active! Register for programs today	Take a Hike Explore Burnaby's parks and trails!	Summer Camps Summer fun for everyone!

• City Services

  • Garbage and Recycling Find a collection schedule and learn about the City’s waste reduction programs	Bylaws & Enforcement Learn about our local bylaws and enforcement policies	Policies, Projects & Initiatives Learn about Burnaby’s vision as a livable, sustainable and expanding urban centre
    Public Safety Learn about Burnaby RCMP, Emergency Programs and more	Permits and Licences Get the necessary permit or licence for your business, construction site or home	Rentals & Catering Find rates and information on rentals in Burnaby
    Fire Department Learn about the department, fire prevention and fire extinguisher training	Planning Obtain information on current, proposed and future uses of land in the City	Property Taxes Find information on taxes, fees and online payments
    Roads & Traffic Keep up with traffic conditions and road work, and submit maintenance requests	Building Apply for permits, request inspections and report any safety or construction concerns	Water & Sewers Learn new ways to conserve water, read about liquid waste and sewer systems

    Maps Find a map for cycle routes, waterways, trails or parks

    Environment Learn about programs and public education topics

    Rentals Book your wedding at one of our venues

• Doing Business

  • Burnaby Business Profile Find out who does business in Burnaby and why it is a strong centre for business and economy	Places To Do Business Learn about the town, urban, and business centres that lend to our strong business sector
    Business With Burnaby Find current bid opportunities and access rental information for doing business with Burnaby	Filming Access information, permits and application forms for filming in Burnaby
    BizPaL Use BizPaL to get your business started with a customized list of permits and licences	Business Property Safety Read about our initiatives on property safety and principles for crime reduction
    Permits & Licences Get the necessary permit or licence for your business, construction site or home	Business Watch Crime prevention initiative to improve information sharing and reporting of suspicious activity

    Burnaby Board of Trade Recognized for its leadership, the Board supports local businesses	Bid Opportunities with the City Learn more about how to do business with the City

• Our City Hall

  • Contacts & Location Find us at City Hall or locate a phone number in our City Directory	Financial Reports Learn about City Budgets and read through our Annual Financial Plan
    Mayor & Council Meet our City Council, Boards, and Committees, and access meetings and reports online	Publications & Forms Get public access to City documents and forms
    City Departments Contact a specific department or access archived information	Elections Learn about municipal elections in Burnaby and access information from past elections
    Bylaws Get full and direct access to all City Bylaws	Requesting Information Methods to access City records and information

    Boards, Committees & Commissions View agendas, minutes and membership lists	Live Council Meeting Webcast Meetings are held on Mondays at 7 PM in the Council Chamber

Print

Subdivision

Property owners wanting to create a new parcel of land out of an existing parcel in the City of Burnaby must obtain subdivision approval. Land use policies and development requirements are set out in the Official Community Plan, the Zoning Bylaw and Subdivision Control Bylaw and other public documents. Copies of these documents are also available at City Hall.

The Subdivision Approval Process

The subdivision approval process enables the City of Burnaby to ensure that new parcels of land are created in a manner that is beneficial to the overall well being of the community and in compliance with applicable procedures, regulation and bylaws.

What is Subdivision?

The Provincial Government has granted municipalities the authority to regulate the subdivision of land. Subdivision can generally be described as the legal mechanism to create new parcels of land. The subdivision process is governed by the City’s zoning and subdivision bylaws and the Provincial Government’s Local Government and Land Title Acts.

When is Subdivision required?

In the case where a property owner wants to create a new parcel of land out of an existing parcel, subdivision approval would be required. Subdivision can take the following forms: 

• Consolidating two or more parcels into one parcel 
• Adjusting or realigning an existing property line 
• Creating several parcels from one or more existing parcels

For any of these situations, the property owner must apply to the City of Burnaby for subdivision approval.

What is the Process?

The City of Burnaby has prepared a Subdivision Approval Guide to assist you in understanding the City’s subdivision approval procedure. Upon review of the material, anyone interested in submitting an application is urged to Contact the Planning Division of the Planning & Building Department for further information.

Prior to submitting a subdivision application form consider the following:

• Subdivision Approval Guide
• Subdivision Application Form
• Fee List
• Agent Authorization Form
• Acceptable Standby Letters of Credit
• Insurance Requirements for Subdivision Servicing Agreement
• Certificate of Insurance - Standard Form
• Third Reading and Final Adoption Requirements 
• Related policies:
  • Official Community Plan - OCP
  • Burnaby Zoning Bylaw
  • Subdivision Control Bylaw
  • Development Cost Charges
  • Guidelines for rezoning and subdivision on forested sites
  • Environmental Review Committee
  • Guide to Developing Around Streams
  • ERC Guide for Applicants

Useful Links

• BC Land Title and Survey Authority
• Association of British Columbia Land Surveyors

More information?

If you have questions on the Subdivision process, please contact the Planning Department.

While every care is taken in the preparation of this web page, the City of Burnaby assumes no responsibility or liability in respect of this content. This information is intended as a guide only and is not a legal document. The public is advised to review the applicable legislation and bylaws and conduct its own enquiries with city staff.