Our guidelines help protect and enhance the ecosystems near streams and other bodies of water from the environmental hazards of development.
Burnaby has a rich aquatic ecosystem, with two lakes and over 90 creeks and streams which are vital habitats for plants, fish, birds, and other wildlife. Our Streamside Protection and Enhancement Development Permit Area (DPA) and its associated guidelines help protect and enhance the ecosystems near streams and other bodies of water from the environmental hazards of development. This development permit area designation:
- regulates development near streams
- fosters healthy aquatic ecosystems through conservation, restoration, and enhancement
- ensures the long-term ecosystem health and viability of these habitats
When a Streamside Protection and Enhancement DPA is required
Unless exempted, a development permit addressing Streamside Protection and Enhancement must be approved before:
- subdivision of land
- construction of, addition to, or alteration of a building or structure
- alteration of land, including but not limited to clearing of vegetation, grading, changes to landscaping, preparation or construction of services and trails
Is your property within the Streamside Protection and Enhancement DPA?
Use the mapping tool below to find out if your property is within a Streamside Protection and Enhancement DPA. All parcels shown shaded in the map are subject to a streamside DPA, as well as any other parcel in Burnaby that contains a stream, or is partly or entirely located:
- within 30 metres of the top of bank of a stream; or
- within 30 metres of the top of a ravine bank for ravines that are less than or equal to 60 metres in width, or
- within 10 metres of the top of ravine bank for ravines that are greater than 60 metres in width
Streamside Protection and Enhancement DPA overview
The Streamside Protection and Enhancement Development Permit Area is designated in Appendix C of the Burnaby 2050 Official Community Plan (OCP).
The minimum width of a SPEA setback, including definitions, can be found in Part 4 of the Zoning Bylaw Part 4-4.2 of the Burnaby Zoning Bylaw (Pages 97-99).
The Streamside Protection and Enhancement Development Permit guidelines and exemptions can be found in Schedule II of the Zoning Bylaw Streamside Development Permit Guidelines.
Helpful guides
The following information guides have been prepared to support your application for a Streamside Protection and Enhancement Development Permit:
- Technical Guide: Methodology for Determining the SPEA
- Preparing an Environmental Assessment Report
- Preparing a SPEA Restoration and Enhancement Plan