The Board of Variance is an appeal body consisting of five appointed members who hear and then decide upon variances to the Zoning Bylaw of the City of Port Coquitlam.  The Board of Variance provides citizens with an avenue for appeal on the interpretation and the strict application of certain local government provisions and regulations in specific circumstances defined in the legislation. The Board of Variance functions independently from City Council and has its own authority under the Local Government Act.

Click here to download a Board of Variance Application form and handouts.

Meeting Schedule and Submission Deadlines
Board of Variance meetings are held in the Second Floor Meeting Room of City Hall at 6:30 pm on the first Thursday of each month. Click here for map and directions to City Hall.

Function
The Board of Variance is not an appeal board for local government policy  decisions, and it cannot replace decisions of elected officials. The Board is confined to considering variances that will not impact adversely upon a policy decision or change the intent of the Bylaws adopted by City Council.
 
Variances can be granted respecting bylaw requirements for the siting, dimensions, or size of buildings. In some special cases general regulations or ones prohibiting structural changes in a non-conforming building or requiring services upon subdivision may result in an undue hardship, if applied to a particular site. A person may appeal to the Board for a variance only if the application of these general regulations to his or her particular site would impose such a hardship.

For complete details refer to the Board of Variance Terms of Reference or Bylaw No. 3105.

•  relaxation of zoning regulations
• extension of non-conforming uses
• relaxation of servicing requirements
• reconstruction of a nonconforming building
• relaxation of tree protection requirements