North Vancouver — both the City and the District — sits on the steepest residential terrain in Metro Vancouver. The entire area slopes from sea level at Burrard Inlet up to the base of Grouse Mountain and Mt. Seymour within just a few kilometres. Nearly every District property has significant grade changes, and rock outcroppings are common. Retaining walls here are not decorative choices — they are structural necessities that make the lot usable. From Edgemont Village and Deep Cove to Lynn Valley and Upper Lonsdale, hardscaping on the North Shore is a specialty discipline.
The City of North Vancouver caps lot coverage at 40% (with principal buildings limited to 30%) and restricts paving, decks, and non-garden structures to just 20% of the lot — the strictest open-site-space rule in our coverage area. The District limits building coverage to 35% and caps front yard paving at 40% for straight-in garages or 60% for side-entry garages. These tight limits mean every square metre of hardscaping must be carefully designed.
The North Shore receives more precipitation than anywhere else in Metro Vancouver — the mountains amplify rainfall significantly. Drainage is the number-one engineering concern on every project. The District's retaining wall rules use a unique 35-degree inward slope envelope that controls stepped wall heights, and the first wall from the base is limited to just 0.91m. We understand these rules because we build on North Shore slopes every week.
Neighbourhoods We Serve
Local Regulations You Should Know
DNV Retaining Walls — 35-Degree Slope Envelope
The District uses a unique mathematical formula for stepped retaining walls. The first wall from the base is limited to 0.91m (3 feet) above the lower of natural or finished grade. Subsequent walls must not exceed 2.44m above grade following a 35-degree inward slope envelope. This is more complex than most cities' simple height-based rules. Building permit required for walls over 1.2m.
Source: Zoning Bylaw 3210, §409(3)
Tree Protection — Species-Based (DNV) and 3:1 Replacement (CNV)
The City protects all trees 20cm+ DBH with a 3:1 replacement ratio and $781.06 ecological compensation fee per tree. The District protects trees by category (location, covenant, species) and always protects Arbutus, Garry Oak, Oregon Ash, Pacific Yew, Western White Pine, and Yellow-cedar regardless of size. Both municipalities can levy $50,000+ fines per tree.
Source: CNV Bylaw 8888; DNV Bylaw 7671
Permit Fees in North Vancouver
| Permit Type | Estimated Fee |
|---|---|
| CNV Building Permit (up to $5,000 value) | $124.99 flat |
| CNV Building Permit ($20,000 value) | ~$353 |
| DNV Building Permit (up to $1,000 value) | $99.80 flat |
| DNV Green Demolition Permit | $290.80 flat |
Fees are approximate and may change. Contact 604-990-4220 for current rates.
What We Build in North Vancouver
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