Board of Variance

Board of Variance Application Process

• Step 1: Necessity for a BOV Application Identified

  Contact the Building Permits & Licences Division at 604-864-5525 or building-info@abbotsford.ca to inquire about submitting an application to the Board. Be prepared to provide reasons why you would experience an undue hardship if your appeal was denied.

• Step 2: Complete & Submit the Application

  What you need to submit:

  1. Complete the Board of Variance Application Form
  2. A written statement, signed by the property owner, setting out in detail the grounds upon which the application is based and the relief sought.
  3. One complete set of construction drawings for presentation at the Board hearing, plus one full digital set emailed to building-info@abbotsford.ca.
  4. A site survey plan prepared by a B.C. Land Surveyor, drawn to scale and detailing the proposed development with siting distances from the respective property lines, as well as the location of all existing structures on the property with the siting distances from the respective property lines.
  5. Land Title Search (retrieved within the last 30 days) must be submitted with this application. A $25 fee for document retrieval will be required if the application does not include this document at time of submission.
  6. Hardcopy of all covenants, easements and right-of-ways registered on the subject property. A $25 fee for document retrieval will be required per document if the application does not include these at time of submission.
  7. Application fee: $400.
• Step 3: Circulation of Application

  The application will be reviewed by staff, and a report will be prepared and submitted to the Board members. You will be notified of the meeting time, date and location. Adjacent owners and residents are formally notified of your proposal and are invited to speak or submit written submissions.

• Step 4: Board of Variance Hearing

  During the meeting the applicant will be provided with an opportunity to explain the variance requested as well as the undue hardship. The Board will also consider any submissions made by neighbouring property owners. After listening to all parties, the Board will then deliberate and make a formal decision to approve, deny or defer the appeal during the meeting.

• Step 5: Next Steps following the Board’s Decision

  You will be notified in writing within a few days of the Board’s decision and the next steps required.