You can search and view the Board of Variance proceedings, including livestream, meeting agendas, minutes and reports via eAgenda.
To access meeting information from before 2015, contact [email protected].
Learn how you can appeal to the Board of Variance
The Board of Variance (BOV) is an independent body that considers variances to the requirements of the Burnaby Zoning Bylaw where compliance with the bylaw may cause a person undue hardship. A person may apply to the BOV for relaxation of the requirements related to site, size and dimensions of buildings or structures where hardship can be demonstrated and where variances are minor in nature.
Board of Variance Bylaw
What is undue hardship?
Traditionally, hardship has resulted from specific site and/or building characteristics or aspects (e.g. irregular shape, slope, etc) as opposed to those which are personal or generated by the owner. If the issue is common to all the residential properties in the area, this is not classified as a hardship, even if complying with the general setback regulations is difficult or expensive.
As the BOV considers neighbourhood input and exercises independent authority, an applicant is not guaranteed success at a Board hearing. Applicants are encouraged to prepare compliant designs to avoid delay and expense. If your only recourse is to appeal to the Board, please be prepared to demonstrate a hardship.
If there is no hardship, you have two options:
- comply with the existing regulations; or
- apply for a Development Variance Permit (DVP), which can vary parts of the Zoning Bylaw and Sign Bylaw, but cannot vary land use or density. Please contact the Planning and Development Department to discuss whether an application for DVP could be supported.
Submit a complete application package to Legislative Services including all the items listed below. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
- Before you submit your appeal to the Board of Variance – If you've already applied for a building permit and have been advised that your permit will be denied, ask for a Building Referral Letter to submit with your variance application. The letter is prepared by the plan checker in the Building Division, or by a Preliminary Plan Approval technician, describing the infraction(s) and section(s) of the Zoning Bylaw that the permit contravenes.
- Notice of Appeal
- Hardship Letter – prepared by the agent/owner outlining why they are applying to the BOV and what difficulties the site creates. (e.g: This requirement will cause undue hardship because...)
- Application fee – an invoice will be provided by the Legislative Services office for payment to the cashier at City Hall (4949 Canada Way)
For 2026 hearings, the application fee for:- Up to three (3) variances is $1,330
- More than three (3) variances is $2,000
- Proposal for variance – including:
- Title sheet with:
- project title
- property address(es) of the site
- names and contact information for the applicant, architect, landscape architect, land surveyor and any other consultants
- Site plan reduced to 8.5"x11" (letter sized) paper with:
- existing and proposed property lines
- topographic elevations
- building footprint(s)
- proposed setbacks
- proposed building height(s)
- location of any streams, setbacks or other environmental constraints
- Site survey (if available) reduced to 8.5"x11" (letter sized) paper with:
- topographic survey
- posting plan
- Floor plan(s) with size and use
- Building elevation(s), sections and proposed building height(s).
- Current Title Certificate – including a copy of any legal notations or legal encumbrances registered on the title which may impact the development of the site (e.g: rights of ways, easements, restrictive covenants)
- Letter of Authorization (signed by the owner if an applicant is applying on behalf of the owner registered on the Title Certificate)
- Title sheet with:
- Additional recommended materials – the following materials are not required for a complete submission, but may strengthen your application:
- Photographs, which demonstrate the hardship and the relation to adjacent to properties and buildings.
- Elevation drawings and/or floor plans, which demonstrate the requested variance and/or hardship.
Submissions that are not provided by the deadline, are not complete or require further revision may not be added to the Board of Variance agenda.
Once the completed package is received at Legislative Services, you will be placed on the agenda based on the schedule below.
Note: Staff will provide a report and comments to the BOV evaluating the proposed variance.
2026 meeting schedule
| Application deadline | Date of hearing |
|---|---|
| December 8, 2025 | January 5, 2026* |
| January 5, 2026 | February 2, 2026* |
| February 2, 2026 | March 2, 2026 |
| March 9, 2026 | March 30, 2026 |
| April 7, 2026 | May 4, 2026 |
| May 4, 2026 | June 1, 2026* |
| June 1, 2026 | July 6, 2026 |
| August 4, 2026 | September 14, 2026 |
| September 8, 2026 | October 5, 2026 |
| October 5, 2026 | November 2, 2026 |
| November 9, 2026 | December 14, 2026 |
*No applications received
Note: Meetings take place the first Monday of every month except for August. If there are no applications to be heard, the Board does not meet.
Virtual hearings
You can observe the virtual Board of Variance hearings at 5 pm on the specified meeting dates. You can also access the board's agendas.
If you feel a proposed appeal is affecting you, you can take the following steps:
Participate in-person
Appear in-person in the Council Chamber, City Hall, 4949 Canada Way.
Write to Board of Variance
Email your written comments to Legislative Services by 2:45 pm on the day of the hearing using the online form below.
Alternatively, email your written comments by including a subject, your name and address and send it to [email protected].