# Gov Handbook: West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

> 21 answers about local government in West Vancouver. Hub page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/ · All answers as JSON: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/index.json · Full text: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/llms-full.txt

## Building, renovating and your property

- [West Vancouver building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/building-permit.md): Use West Vancouver’s single-family and duplex permit guide for residential work. Submit the application request and supporting documents. A building clerk sends an invoice and payment instructions if the request is accepted.
- [West Vancouver fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/fence-rules.md): In West Vancouver’s RS5, RS9, RD1, RD2 and RD3 zones, fences are limited to 1.2 metres in front and 1.8 metres elsewhere. Other residential sites generally allow 1.8 metres in front and 2.4 metres elsewhere. Special limits apply near retaining walls.
- [West Vancouver permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/deck-shed-garage-permit.md): West Vancouver treats a detached garage, carport or tool shed as an accessory building. Use the District’s accessory building guide to check siting and dimensions, then confirm the permit requirement for your design with the Permits Department.
- [West Vancouver building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/building-permit-fees.md): West Vancouver’s standard building permit starts at $150 for construction valued up to $5,000.99. From $5,001 through $250,000.99 the fee is $150 plus $14.70 per $1,000 or part above $5,001. Higher bands use different rates.
- [West Vancouver zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/zoning-lookup.md): Use West Vancouver’s property information search. Enter the civic address or folio to find the property’s zoning, legal description and assessment information, then check the corresponding zone regulations.
- [West Vancouver secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/secondary-suite.md): West Vancouver requires secondary suites to meet applicable building requirements, be registered with the municipality and be licensed according to their use. Check the District’s suite guide before converting or renting the space.
- [West Vancouver tree removal rules and permits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/tree-removal.md): West Vancouver generally protects private trees 75 centimetres or more in diameter at breast height, including combined stems. The threshold drops to 20 centimetres for specified new-building or subdivision projects. Check the District’s full protected-tree list before removal.

## Garbage, recycling and waste

- [West Vancouver garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/garbage-collection.md): Enter your West Vancouver address on the District’s collection page for your schedule. WestVanCollect can send pickup reminders, service changes and bear alerts.
- [West Vancouver yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/yard-waste.md): West Vancouver collects grass, leaves, weeds, branches and prunings. Tie prunings with compostable twine. They must be under three inches in diameter and no longer than three feet. Set materials out between 5 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. on collection day.

## Water, sewer, roads and snow

- [West Vancouver watering restrictions](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/water-restrictions.md): West Vancouver’s normal watering season runs May 1 to October 15. Under Stage 1, even-numbered residential addresses water lawns on Saturday and odd-numbered addresses on Sunday. Automatic watering runs 5 to 7 a.m. and manual watering 6 to 9 a.m.

## Pets, animals and wildlife

- [West Vancouver dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/dog-licence.md): West Vancouver dogs over six months old must be licensed and wear a District tag. Start with the District’s Dogs page for licensing and owner responsibilities.
- [West Vancouver dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/dog-leash-rules.md): Use West Vancouver’s Dogs in Parks list to find off-leash areas. On the Seawalk, only the area north of the fence between 19th and 24th streets is listed. Check signs for the boundaries at each park.
- [West Vancouver rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/dangerous-dogs.md): West Vancouver’s animal bylaw includes dogs that have aggressively pursued or harassed a person or domestic animal in its aggressive-dog definition. Contact Bylaw and Licensing Services about an incident.
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/how-many-pets.md): West Vancouver allows up to three dogs and six cats per home. Each dog over six months must wear a current District tag.
- [West Vancouver backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/backyard-chickens.md): West Vancouver permits up to six chickens per lot in single-family residential zones. Register the flock with Bylaw and Licensing Services. The registration fee is $50 per flock and the enclosure must be outside the front yard.

## Bylaws, noise and complaints

- [West Vancouver noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/noise-rules.md): West Vancouver generally allows construction noise on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays. The areas mapped in Schedule B for Rodgers Creek and Cypress Village have different hours, 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. every day.
- [West Vancouver unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/unsightly-property.md): West Vancouver’s good neighbour rules cover property that becomes unsightly through accumulated filth or discarded material. Report the address and condition to District Bylaw and Licensing Services.
- [West Vancouver backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/backyard-fire.md): West Vancouver prohibits in-ground fire pits, wood-burning fire bowls, chimineas and outdoor wood-burning fireplaces. Its fire safety page lists gas devices that may be used on private property and current seasonal restrictions.
- [West Vancouver fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/fireworks.md): West Vancouver prohibits personal fireworks. A certified display supervisor can apply to the Fire Chief for a display event permit at least ten business days before an event. Firecrackers are prohibited.
- [West Vancouver bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/bylaw-fines.md): Dispute a West Vancouver bylaw notice within 14 days of receipt or presumed receipt. The early payment rate applies in those 14 days. The late rate applies after 28 days.

## Starting and running a business

- [West Vancouver home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/home-based-business.md): West Vancouver has a home-based business licence category. Use the District’s permits and licences page to find the home-business application and check that your proposed activity qualifies.

## Zoning

- [All 44 zones in West Vancouver, as JSON](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/zoning/index.json)
- Zone of an address: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/zoning/lookup?address=123+Main+St