West Vancouver climbs from the shores of English Bay and Burrard Inlet up the steep slopes of Hollyburn Mountain and the North Shore Mountains. From the waterfront estates of Dundarave and Ambleside to the hillside properties of British Properties, Chartwell, and Caulfeild, the district is defined by dramatic elevation changes, ocean views, and some of the largest residential lots in Metro Vancouver.
The terrain here makes retaining walls and engineered drainage standard components of almost every project. British Properties and upper Sentinel Hill sit on steep, rocky slopes where blasting and rock-breaking are common prerequisites for hardscaping. Waterfront properties face different challenges — tidal influence, natural boundary setbacks, and unique grade line calculations that differ from the rest of the lot. Even the flatter areas around Ambleside and Cedardale have enough slope to require thoughtful grading.
West Vancouver enforces a 50% front yard impervious surface cap and limits driveway widths to 4.5m — meaning permeable pavers and creative layout design are essential for front yard hardscaping on larger lots. With retaining walls capped at 2.4m exposed face (though stacked rock walls with gentle slopes are exempt), proper material selection and multi-tier engineering make the difference between a project that works and one that runs into zoning issues.
Neighbourhoods We Serve
Local Regulations You Should Know
Retaining Wall Permits — 2.4m Max Exposed Face
Walls over 1.2m require a building permit with P.Eng. letters of assurance. Maximum exposed face is 2.4m per wall. Walls over 1.2m near parallel walls must be separated by at least 1.2m, and walls over 1.2m must be setback at least 2.4m from front and rear site lines. Inclined walls (stacked rock) with slopes under 75% are exempt from the 2.4m limit.
Source: Zoning Bylaw 4662, §120.22 + Building Bylaw 5340, §19.1
Front Yard Impervious Surface — 50% Maximum
No more than 50% of the front yard can be impervious surface. Driveway width is capped at 4.5m, sidewalk at 1.5m. Any excess over 50% must use turf blocks or similar permeable materials, with an equal permeable area provided elsewhere on the site. A landscaping plan must be approved before the building permit is issued.
Source: Zoning Bylaw 4662, §130.16(7)-(9)
Tree Protection — Large Trees and Protected Species
All trees over 75cm diameter (any species) are protected. Six specific species — Pacific Yew, Pacific Dogwood, Yellow Cedar, Shore Pine, Arbutus, and Garry Oak — are protected at just 20cm. Eagle, heron, and raptor nest trees are protected regardless of size or species. Security deposit is $1,000 per tree (maximum $10,000). Penalty up to $10,000 per conviction, each day a separate offence.
Source: Tree Bylaw 4892-2016 (consolidated through 5322-2024)
Permit Fees in West Vancouver
| Permit Type | Estimated Fee |
|---|---|
| Building Permit Application Fee | $150.00 or 50% of permit fee (whichever is greater) |
| Building Permit (up to $250K value) | $150.00 + $14.70 per $1,000 over $5,001 |
| Tree Cutting Permit (1 tree) | $330.00 + $120.00 per additional tree |
| Blasting Permit | $1,125.00 + $10,000 damage deposit |
Fees are approximate and may change. Contact 604-925-7044 for current rates.
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