Vancouver Council will gain more authority to impose landscaping requirements on new development and hand off responsibility for revoking dog licences under proposed amendments to the City’s charter. The British Columbia government characterizes the enabling legislation, which was recently tabled in Bill 4, as a tool to support Vancouver’s climate change adaptation policies and streamline administrative processes.

Under current rules, Vancouver Council can pass a bylaw to establish requirements for “the provision, maintenance and retention of landscaping” in situations where a developer must seek special approval for a conditional land use or if the development site is located in a designated district or zone where special approvals are required. The proposed amendment would allow the City to broadly apply landscaping requirements as a condition of any development permit.

Along with that, development proponents could be asked to submit supporting plans to show how they will ensure landscaping is introduced or retained and then maintained. They may also be required to produce and submit reports assessing a site’s existing landscape and/or the projected effects of proposed new landscaping.

Meanwhile, Council would no longer have to act as the dog licensing court, with a proposed rule change to allow it to delegate that authority to an animal control officer employed on City staff. Currently, Vancouver’s chief licensing officer can recommend the revocation of a dog licence, but Council must make the final decision. Appeal processes for dog owners would remain in place with any shifting of authority.