Frequently asked questions

In Vancouver, an Official Development Plan (ODP) is a plan for the future physical development of the city or a certain part of the city that Council has adopted by by-law. Up until now, ODPs in Vancouver have generally been area-specific ODPs (e.g. the Coal Harbour and East Fraser Lands ODPs) or topic-specific (e.g. Rental Housing Stock ODP).

The Vancouver ODP will be a document setting out the long-term policy for land use and development city-wide over the next 30 years and beyond.

In other municipalities in BC, the equivalent document is called an "Official Community Plan" (OCP). In other provinces they are referred to as Official Plans, Municipal Development Plans, or City Plans.

In April 2024, the Province passed legislation requiring the City of Vancouver to adopt a city-wide ODP by June 2026. 

By June 2030, the City is mandated to repeal existing ODPs, and have a single city-wide ODP.

...Vancouver Plan?

The Vancouver ODP is the next step in implementing the Vancouver Plan (2022). The draft ODP is largely the same as the Vancouver Plan but with more details on land use, including Generalized Land Use (GLU) designations. Unlike the Vancouver Plan, the Vancouver ODP will eventually be adopted by by-law and have legal status on rezoning decisions. 

...Area Plans (e.g. Cambie Corridor Plan, Grandview-Woodland Plan) and Rezoning Policies?

Area Plans and rezoning policies provide finer grained direction for development. They include detailed guidance on land use, building forms, public spaces, and amenities, and more. These will continue to be important into the future and will need to be consistent with the Vancouver ODP.

...the Zoning and Development By-law?

The Zoning and Development By-law is a regulatory by-law that provides detailed rules that shape development. The Zoning and Development By-law is a tool that divides the city into different zones, each with its own set of enforceable regulations that specify uses (what can be built or operate where), building heights and densities (how much can be built in an area). The Generalized Land Use (GLU) designations in the draft ODP are not zoning. Instead, they provide high-level guidance on how land could be developed under existing policy and zoning.

A Public Hearing for the Vancouver ODP will be held in early 2026.

The Vancouver ODP will be updated regularly, including in 2030, and every 5 years after that. These updates will include opportunities to engage. 

Any ODP amendments outside of the 5-year cycle will also include consultation.

The ODP will largely be implemented through area planning and future policy work, which involves significant engagement.