Consolidated Environmental Management Plan for Burrard Inlet ...

Municipalities
The municipalities forming the catchment of
Burrard Inlet are responsible for administering
various bylaws and policy tools regulating land
use, development, environmental and water quality
protection, as authorized by the Local Government Act.
Within Burrard Inlet there are 8 municipalities
bordering the basin and one Electoral Area
administered by Metro Vancouver:
City of Burnaby
City of North Vancouver
City of Port Moody
City of Vancouver
District of North Vancouver
District of West Vancouver
Village of Anmore
Village of Belcarra
Municipalities may use various tools, to protect the
environment as it relates to Burrard Inlet. Some typical
examples of bylaws and policies are as follows:
• Zoning bylaws, which set out the type and form
of development, including areas of lower or
higher density development, and types of and
limitations to land uses with potential direct or
indirect infl uence on the Inlet, including site
imperviousness and parking requirements
(affecting runoff characteristics and water quality),
foreshore land use (e.g. marinas) and provisions
to prevent off-site nuisance (e.g. pollution).
• Offi cial Community Plans, which outline general
development visions, goals, and strategies/
directions, and provide for development and growth,
including provisions for environmental protection.
• Development Permit Areas, which
can be used to preserve and protect
sensitive environmental features.
• Implementation of the provincial Riparian
Areas Regulation, either through the province’s
methodology or via a local government bylaw, which
regulates development setbacks from streams,
thereby infl uencing fi sh habitat and water quality.
• Watercourse bylaws, which regulate discharge
of pollutants into streams, and in some cases
physical disturbances to watercourses.
• Pesticide bylaws, which may restrict the use of
pesticides to prevent environmental contamination.
• Plumbing and sewer bylaws, which mandate
the types of systems that may be installed,
and prevention of cross-connections.
• Tree bylaws, which regulate tree protection
and conditions for permits for removal.
Trees are important for habitat, ecological
connectivity between the Inlet and upland
areas, and for mitigating stormwater runoff.
• Anti-Idling bylaws, which regulate unnecessary idling
• Park Master Plans, which can incorporate
environmental considerations in park
areas adjacent to the inlet
• Integrated Stormwater Management Plans, which
include protection of water quality criteria.
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Burrard Inlet Environmental Action Program / Consolidated Environmental Management Plan for Burrard Inlet