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sample-renfrew-renovation-permit.pdf
This Renfrew Heights renovation permit was reviewed against the RS-1 District Schedule, Vancouver Building By-law 2025, Zoning and Development By-law (Sections 4 and 11), and Parking By-law 6059. The project has one non-compliant finding regarding the proposed rear deck setback and three advisory warnings on FSR calculation methodology, off-street parking documentation, and construction noise scheduling. Four checks fully passed. Review the flagged items with your P.Eng. before submission.
Compliance Checks
Rear Setback: Principal Dwelling
The permit drawings indicate a 7.5 m rear setback for the principal dwelling wall. RS-1 §4.3.2(a) requires a minimum rear yard depth of 7.5 m for one-family dwellings. The proposed setback meets this requirement with zero margin.
Maximum Building Height
The permit states a proposed ridge height of 9.2 m above natural grade. RS-1 §4.7.1 sets a maximum height of 10.7 m for one-family dwellings. The proposal is 1.5 m within the height limit.
Site Coverage Ratio
Lot area is stated as 502 m². Proposed building footprint including the addition is 175 m², representing 34.9% site coverage. RS-1 §4.1.1 limits site coverage to 45%. The project complies with a 10.1% buffer remaining.
Side Yard Setbacks
Both side yards measure 1.8 m per drawings. RS-1 §4.3.1(a) requires a minimum side yard of 1.2 m for each side yard where the building height does not exceed 7.6 m at the side wall. Compliant.
Rear Deck / Accessory Structure Setback
The proposed rear deck is positioned 0.6 m from the rear property line. RS-1 §4.3.2(b) requires accessory structures and decks attached to the principal dwelling to maintain a minimum 1.0 m rear yard. The deck location as drawn is 0.4 m short of the required setback and must be redesigned or relocated before permit submission.
Floor Space Ratio (FSR) Calculation
The permit application states an FSR of 0.58 against the 0.70 maximum. However, the application does not show whether the covered deck area (18.5 m²) has been included in the FSR calculation per the Zoning By-law definition of floor area. If included, FSR rises to approximately 0.62, still compliant. Clarify the covered-area treatment with your designer before submission.
Off-Street Parking Requirement
The permit drawings show a single attached garage (1 stall). Parking By-law 6059 §4 requires 1 off-street parking space per one-family dwelling in RS-1 zones. While the count is technically met, the garage interior dimensions shown (2.7 m × 5.0 m) are below the minimum stall size of 2.7 m × 5.5 m specified in Table 4-A. The garage depth should be confirmed or increased by 0.5 m.
Construction Noise: Hours of Work
The permit application does not include a construction management plan specifying work hours. Noise Control By-law 6555 §8.2 restricts noise-generating construction activities to 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday and prohibits such work entirely on Sundays and statutory holidays per §8.4. A construction hours declaration must be attached to the permit application package.
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