Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026 (No. 14815): what changed
Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026 (Bylaw No. 14815) was adopted June 9, 2026 and took effect July 1, 2026, replacing the 1965 bylaw. Below: the new residential districts, the repeal, and what it means for your lot.
July 1, 2026: Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026 (No. 14815) replaces the 1965 rules
· Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026, Bylaw No. 14815
Burnaby adopted Zoning Bylaw 2026 (Bylaw No. 14815) on June 9, 2026, and it took effect July 1, 2026. Section 7.0 repeals Burnaby Zoning Bylaw, 1965, except to give effect to a 12-month transition for complete Preliminary Plan Approval applications received before July 1.
The residential chapter now uses R1 Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing and R2 to R8 for townhouse and apartment districts, with rental sub-districts R2r, R3r and R4r. The table lists each new district and its storey limit. A property's former zone name may no longer describe its current rules; check the City's current zoning map and the new bylaw schedule before planning work.
The new bylaw sets no floor area ratio. Building size is controlled by height in storeys, lot coverage, setbacks and permeable surface.
District
Name
Storey limit
R1
Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing (1 to 6 units by lot and transit area)
2.5 to 3 storeys
R2 / R2r
Townhouse District / Rental
4 storeys
R3 / R3r
Low-Rise Apartment 1 / Rental
4 storeys
R4 / R4r
Low-Rise Apartment 2 / Rental
6 storeys (8 in Transit-Oriented Areas)
R5
Mid-Rise Apartment 1
12 storeys
R6
Mid-Rise Apartment 2
20 storeys
R7
High-Rise Apartment 1
30 storeys
R8
High-Rise Apartment 2
40 storeys
New residential districts in Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026 (No. 14815), in force July 1, 2026. Source: the consolidated bylaw text.
July 1, 2026: Old district codes: what happened to RM, M, B and P zones
· Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026, Bylaw No. 14815
Burnaby did not publish a one-to-one crosswalk from old districts to new ones, so check your lot's current district instead of translating the old code. Some codes now mean something different: P1 was Neighbourhood Institutional and is now Parks, Open Spaces and Natural Areas, and P2 was Administration and Assembly and is now Institutional.
The old stand-alone RM, M, B, C3 to C9 and P3 to P12 districts no longer apply on their own. They survive only as the underlying schedule inside a Comprehensive Development (CD) district, for example a lot shown as CD, RM5s, C3.
Code
Before July 1, 2026
Since July 1, 2026
P1
Neighbourhood Institutional
Parks, Open Spaces and Natural Areas
P2
Administration and Assembly
Institutional
RM1 to RM7, M, B, C3 to C9, P3 to P12
Stand-alone districts
Only as the base schedule inside a CD district
Districts whose meaning changed with Bylaw 14815. R2r, R3r and R4r are new rental sub-districts.
We compare the municipality's consolidated zoning bylaw and its published updates against our stored copies. Each entry links to the municipality's published record. This timeline highlights selected residential changes; use the official bylaw and amendment records to confirm the rules for your lot.
Frequently asked questions
What is Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026 (Bylaw No. 14815)?
It is the City of Burnaby's complete replacement for Zoning Bylaw 1965. Council adopted it on June 9, 2026 and it took effect July 1, 2026. It introduces R1 for small-scale multi-unit housing and R2 to R8 for townhouse and apartment districts, and sets no floor area ratio.
What happened to Burnaby's old RM zones?
The old stand-alone RM, M, B, C3 to C9 and P3 to P12 districts no longer apply on their own. They remain only as the underlying schedule within Comprehensive Development (CD) districts. Burnaby has not published a one-to-one crosswalk, so look up your lot's current district.
What is the main recent zoning change in Burnaby?
Burnaby's Zoning Bylaw 2026 replaced the 1965 bylaw and took effect July 1, 2026. It introduces a reorganized district framework aligned with the Burnaby 2050 Official Community Plan.
Does the new R1 zone guarantee a multiplex can be built on my lot?
R1 is Burnaby's Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing district, but a permitted unit count does not guarantee a particular building form or approval. Lot conditions, servicing, setbacks and other bylaw rules still apply. Confirm with the City of Burnaby.
How do I find the zoning rules for my property?
Look up your address on Burnaby's official zoning map, note the current district, then read that district's schedule in Bylaw 14815. The map identifies zoning; the bylaw and site conditions determine what may be built.
How does ZoneScout track Burnaby zoning changes?
We check Burnaby's official zoning bylaw and amendment notices, then compare the published changes with this page and our zoning data. A reported change does not mean a current lot report has already been updated for it; confirm with the City of Burnaby.
Want alerts on how these changes affect your own lots?