Board of Variance
The Board of Variance is an independent body that considers variances to the Surrey Zoning Bylaw. The Board has the authority to grant variances in situations where compliance with the Zoning Bylaw would cause a person undue hardship. Open meetings are held once per month.
View the 2019 Board of Variance meeting schedule.
Permitting variance
A minor variance may only be permitted if the Board finds undue hardship; and if the variance does not:
- Result in inappropriate development of the site or adversely affect the natural environment;
- Substantially affects the use and enjoyment of adjacent land;
- Vary permitted uses and densities under the applicable bylaw; or
- Defeat the intent of the applicable bylaw.
Jurisdiction and limitations of the Board of Variance
Within Board Jurisdiction:
- Variance of zoning regulation relating to the size, dimensions on siting of buildings or structures;
- Structural addition of non-conforming buildings and structures;
- Relaxation of certain limited subdivision servicing requirements;
- Determination of the percentage of destruction of a non-conforming building or structure (a matter relevant to whether it can be rebuilt).
- Variance of certain tree protection requirements; and
- Granting an extension of the effective date of a Land Use Contract termination.
Outside Board Jurisdiction:
- Conflict with a registered covenant or Section 219 of the Land Title Act
- Deal with a matter that is covered in a permit or land use contract;
- Deal with a flood plan specification;
- Apply to a property where authorization for Heritage Conservation alterations are required;
- Apply to a property where Heritage Conservation is scheduled or contains a feature or characteristic of Heritage Conservation;
- Apply to a property where a Heritage Revitalization Agreement is in effect.
Appealing to the Board of Variance
Board of Variance Appeal Application Process:
- Pre Application Requirements – The application process to appeal to the Board of Variance is quite extensive. In making your application you should have a working knowledge of all relevant local zoning bylaw and maps, the Official Community Plan, and any special restrictions (e.g. heritage, land use contracts, development permits areas and restrictive covenants). Before completing and application for a variance, a BOV Inquiry form must be submitted to the Planning Division, together with all supporting documents, to determine whether a bylaw variance appeal is recommended.
- Submitting an Application – Once it has been determined that bylaw variance appeal is required, applicants must complete and submit the BOV appeal application to the City Clerk’s Office, and provide all supporting documents. For additional information on the application process and all corresponding documentation required please consult this BOV appeal application guide.
- The Board has been granted the authority to consider the extension of the effective date of a Land Use Contract termination. Detailed information on restrictions and how to apply to the Board can be found on our Land Use Contract Termination Appeals page.
Complaining about the process or a Board of Variance decision
A decision made by the Board of Variance is final. However, judicial review of Board decisions is available through the Judicial Review Procedure Act.
Judicial review may occur when it is suspected that the Board exceeds its jurisdiction, breaches the rules of procedural fairness in reaching its decision, or makes an unreasonable decision.
Committee Minutes
See this years' committee meeting minutes and all previous years in the drop downs below.
2019 Meeting Minutes
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Committee Minutes - 2010-2018
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Committee Minutes - 2000-2009
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Committee Minutes - 1989-1999
Committee Minutes - 2010-2018
2018 Meeting Minutes
January 16, 2018 | Minutes |
February 14, 2018 | Minutes |
March 14, 2018 | Minutes |
May 9, 2018 | Minutes |
June 13, 2018 | Minutes |
July 11, 2018 | Minutes |
September 12, 2018 | Minutes |
October 10, 2018 | Minutes |
2017 Meeting Minutes
January 11, 2017 | Minutes |
February 8, 2017 | Minutes |
March 8, 2017 | Minutes |
April 12, 2017 | Minutes |
May 10, 2017 | Minutes |
June 14, 2017 | Minutes |
July 12, 2017 | Minutes |
September 13, 2017 | Minutes |
October 16, 2017 | Minutes |
November 9, 2017 | Minutes |
December 13, 2017 | Minutes |
2016 Meeting Minutes
February 10, 2016 | Minutes |
April 13, 2016 | Minutes |
May 11, 2016 | Minutes |
July 13, 2016 | Minutes |
September 14, 2016 | Minutes |
October 12, 2016 | Minutes |
November 16, 2016 | Minutes |
2015 Meeting Minutes
January 14, 2015 | Minutes |
February 11, 2015 | Minutes |
March 11, 2015 | Minutes |
April 8, 2015 | Minutes |
May 13, 2015 | Minutes |
June 12, 2015 | Minutes |
July 8, 2015 | Minutes |
September 9, 2015 | Minutes |
October 14, 2015 | Minutes |
December 9, 2015 | Minutes |
2014 Meeting Minutes
January 22, 2014 | Minutes |
February 12, 2014 | Minutes |
March 12, 2014 | Minutes |
May 14, 2014 | Minutes |
June 11, 2014 | Minutes |
July 9, 2014 | Minutes |
September 10, 2014 | Minutes |
November 12, 2014 | Minutes |
2013 Meeting Minutes
January 16, 2013 | Minutes |
February 13, 2013 | Minutes |
March 13, 2013 | Minutes |
April 10, 2013 | Minutes |
April 18, 2013 | Minutes |
May 8, 2013 | Minutes |
May 28, 2013 | Minutes |
June 12, 2013 | Minutes |
July 10, 2013 | Minutes |
August 21, 2013 | Minutes |
September 11, 2013 | Minutes |
October 9, 2013 | Minutes |
November 13, 2013 | Minutes |
December 4, 2013 | Minutes |
2012 Meeting Minutes
February 8, 2012 | Minutes |
March 14, 2012 | Minutes |
April 11, 2012 | Minutes |
May 9, 2012 | Minutes |
June 13, 2012 | Minutes |
July 11, 2012 | Minutes |
September 12, 2012 | Minutes |
October 10, 2012 | Minutes |
November 14, 2012 | Minutes |
December 12, 2012 | Minutes |
2011 Meeting Minutes
January 12, 2011 | Minutes |
February 9, 2011 | Minutes |
March 9, 2011 | Minutes |
April 13, 2011 | Minutes |
May 11, 2011 | Minutes |
June 8, 2011 | Minutes |
July 13, 2011 | Minutes |
September 14, 2011 | Minutes |
October 12, 2011 | Minutes |
December 14, 2011 | Minutes |
2010 Meeting Minutes
January 26, 2010 | Minutes |
February 23, 2010 | Minutes |
March 23, 2010 | Minutes |
April 13, 2010 | Minutes |
April 27, 2010 | Minutes |
May 26, 2010 | Minutes |
June 23, 2010 | Minutes |
July 28, 2010 | Minutes |
August 10, 2010 | Minutes |
September 22, 2010 | Minutes |
October 27, 2010 | Minutes |
November 24, 2010 | Minutes |
December 8, 2010 | Minutes |
Committee Minutes - 2000-2009
2009 Meeting Minutes
January 27, 2009 | Minutes |
February 24, 2009 | Minutes |
March 24, 2009 | Minutes |
April 28, 2009 | Minutes |
May 26, 2009 | Minutes |
June 23, 2009 | Minutes |
July 28, 2009 | Minutes |
September 22, 2009 | Minutes |
October 27, 2009 | Minutes |
November 24, 2009 | Minutes |
December 10, 2009 | Minutes |
2008 Meeting Minutes
January 22, 2008 | Minutes |
February 26, 2008 | Minutes |
March 25, 2008 | Minutes |
April 22, 2008 | Minutes |
May 27, 2008 | Minutes |
June 24, 2008 | Minutes |
July 29, 2008 | Minutes |
September 23, 2008 | Minutes |
October 28, 2008 | Minutes |
November 25, 2008 | Minutes |
December 11, 2008 | Minutes |
2007 Meeting Minutes
January 24, 2007 | Minutes |
January 30, 2007 | Minutes |
February 27, 2007 | Minutes |
March 27, 2007 | Minutes |
April 24, 2007 | Minutes |
May 17, 2007 | Minutes |
June 26, 2007 | Minutes |
July 24, 2007 | Minutes |
August 28, 2007 | Minutes |
September 25, 2007 | Minutes |
October 18, 2007 | Minutes |
November 27, 2007 | Minutes |
2006 Meeting Minutes
January 26, 2006 | Minutes |
February 23, 2006 | Minutes |
March 23, 2006 | Minutes |
April 27, 2006 | Minutes |
May 25, 2006 | Minutes |
July 27, 2006 | Minutes |
August 24, 2006 | Minutes |
September 28, 2016 | Minutes |
October 25, 2006 | Minutes |
December 13, 2006 | Minutes |
2005 Meeting Minutes
January 20, 2005 | Minutes |
February 17, 2005 | Minutes |
March 17, 2005 | Minutes |
April 21, 2005 | Minutes |
May 19, 2005 | Minutes |
June 16, 2005 | Minutes |
July 21, 2005 | Minutes |
August 18, 2005 | Minutes |
September 15, 2005 | Minutes |
October 20, 2005 | Minutes |
November 17, 2005 | Minutes |
December 1, 2005 | Minutes |
December 15, 2005 | Minutes |
2004 Meeting Minutes
January 20, 2004 | Minutes |
March 16, 2004 | Minutes |
April 20, 2004 | Minutes |
May 18, 2004 | Minutes |
June 15, 2004 | Minutes |
July 20, 2004 | Minutes |
August 17, 2004 | Minutes |
September 21, 2004 | Minutes |
October 19, 2004 | Minutes |
November 23, 2004 | Minutes |
December 14, 2004 | Minutes |
2003 Meeting Minutes
January 21, 2003 | Minutes |
February 18, 2003 | Minutes |
March 18, 2003 | Minutes |
April 15, 2003 | Minutes |
May 20, 2003 | Minutes |
June 17, 2003 | Minutes |
July 15, 2003 | Minutes |
August 19, 2003 | Minutes |
September 16, 2003 | Minutes |
October 21, 2003 | Minutes |
November 18, 2003 | Minutes |
December 9, 2003 | Minutes |
2002 Meeting Minutes
January 15, 2002 | Minutes |
February 19, 2002 | Minutes |
March 19, 2002 | Minutes |
April 16, 2002 | Minutes |
May 21, 2002 | Minutes |
July 16, 2002 | Minutes |
September 17, 2002 | Minutes |
October 15, 2002 | Minutes |
November 19, 2002 | Minutes |
December 10, 2002 | Minutes |
2001 Meeting Minutes
February 20, 2001 | Minutes |
March 20, 2001 | Minutes |
April 17, 2001 | Minutes |
May 15, 2001 | Minutes |
June 19, 2001 | Minutes |
July 17, 2001 | Minutes |
August 27, 2001 | Minutes |
September 18, 2001 | Minutes |
October 16, 2001 | Minutes |
November 20, 2001 | Minutes |
2000 Meeting Minutes
January 18, 2000 | Minutes |
February 15, 2000 | Minutes |
March 21, 2000 | Minutes |
April 18, 2000 | Minutes |
May 16, 2000 | Minutes |
June 20, 2000 | Minutes |
July 18, 2000 | Minutes |
August 15, 2000 | Minutes |
September 19, 2000 | Minutes |
October 17, 2000 | Minutes |
November 21, 2000 | Minutes |
December 12, 2000 | Minutes |
Committee Minutes - 1989-1999
1999 Meeting Minutes
January 19, 1999 | Minutes |
February 16, 1999 | Minutes |
March 16, 1999 | Minutes |
April 20, 1999 | Minutes |
May 18, 1999 | Minutes |
June 15, 1999 | Minutes |
July 20, 1999 | Minutes |
August 17, 1999 | Minutes |
September 21, 1999 | Minutes |
October 19, 1999 | Minutes |
November 16, 1999 | Minutes |
November, 26, 1999 | Minutes |
December 14, 1999 | Minutes |
1998 Meeting Minutes
January 20, 1998 | Minutes |
February 17, 1998 | Minutes |
March 17, 1998 | Minutes |
April 21, 1998 | Minutes |
May 19, 1998 | Minutes |
June 16, 1998 | Minutes |
July 21, 1998 | Minutes |
August 18, 1998 | Minutes |
September 15, 1998 | Minutes |
October 20, 1998 | Minutes |
November 17, 1998 | Minutes |
1997 Meeting Minutes
January 21, 1997 | Minutes |
February 18, 1997 | Minutes |
March 18, 1997 | Minutes |
April 15, 1997 | Minutes |
May 20, 1997 | Minutes |
July 15, 1997 | Minutes |
August 19, 1997 | Minutes |
September 16, 1997 | Minutes |
October 21, 1997 | Minutes |
November 18, 1997 | Minutes |
1996 Meeting Minutes
January 16, 1996 | Minutes |
February 20, 1996 | Minutes |
March 19, 1996 | Minutes |
April 16, 1996 | Minutes |
May 21, 1996 | Minutes |
June 18, 1996 | Minutes |
July 16, 1996 | Minutes |
August 20, 1996 | Minutes |
September 17, 1996 | Minutes |
October 15, 1996 | Minutes |
November 20, 1996 | Minutes |
December 10, 1996 | Minutes |
1995 Meeting Minutes
January 17, 1995 | Minutes |
February 21, 1995 | Minutes |
May 30, 1995 | Minutes |
June 20, 1995 | Minutes |
July 18, 1995 | Minutes |
August 22, 1995 | Minutes |
September 19, 1995 | Minutes |
October 17, 1995 | Minutes |
November 21, 1995 | Minutes |
December 12, 1995 | Minutes |
1994 Meeting Minutes
January 19, 1994 | Minutes |
February 15, 1994 | Minutes |
March 15, 1994 | Minutes |
April 19, 1994 | Minutes |
May 17, 1994 | Minutes |
June 21, 1994 | Minutes |
July 19, 1994 | Minutes |
August 16, 1994 | Minutes |
September 20, 1994 | Minutes |
October 18, 1994 | Minutes |
November 15, 1994 | Minutes |
December 13, 1994 | Minutes |
1993 Meeting Minutes
January 19, 1993 | Minutes |
February 16, 1993 | Minutes |
March 16, 1993 | Minutes |
April 20, 1993 | Minutes |
May 18, 1993 | Minutes |
June 15, 1993 | Minutes |
July 20, 1993 | Minutes |
August 17, 1993 | Minutes |
September 21, 1993 | Minutes |
October 19, 1993 | Minutes |
November 16, 1993 | Minutes |
December 21, 1993 | Minutes |
1992 Meeting Minutes
January 21, 1992 | Minutes |
February 18, 1992 | Minutes |
March 17, 1992 | Minutes |
April 21, 1992 | Minutes |
May 19, 1992 | Minutes |
June 16, 1992 | Minutes |
July 21, 1992 | Minutes |
September 15, 1992 | Minutes |
August 18, 1992 | Minutes |
October 20, 1992 | Minutes |
December 15, 1992 | Minutes |
1991 Meeting Minutes
Janury 15, 1991 | Minutes |
February 19, 1991 | Minutes |
March 19, 1991 | Minutes |
April 16, 1991 | Minutes |
May 21, 1991 | Minutes |
June 18, 1991 | Minutes |
July 16, 1991 | Minutes |
August 20, 1991 | Minutes |
September 17, 1991 | Minutes |
October 15, 1991 | Minutes |
November 19, 1991 | Minutes |
December 17, 1991 | Minutes |
1990 Meeting Minutes
January 16, 1990 | Minutes |
February 20, 1990 | Minutes |
March 20, 1990 | Minutes |
April 17, 1990 | Minutes |
May 15, 1990 | Minutes |
June 19, 1990 | Minutes |
July 17, 1990 | Minutes |
August 21, 1990 | Minutes |
September 18, 1990 | Minutes |
October 16, 1990 | Minutes |
November 20, 1990 | Minutes |
December 18, 1990 | Minutes |
1989 Meeting Minutes
January 17, 1989 | Minutes |
February 21, 1989 | Minutes |
March 21, 1989 | Minutes |
April 18, 1989 | Minutes |
May 16, 1989 | Minutes |
June 20, 1989 | Minutes |
July 18 1989 | Minutes |
August 15, 1989 | Minutes |
September 19, 1989 | Minutes |
October 17, 1989 | Minutes |
November 21, 1989 | Minutes |
December 19, 1989 | Minutes |