{{Short description|Provincial statute in British Columbia, Canada}} {{italic title}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox legislation | short_title = ''Vancouver Charter'' | legislature = Legislative Assembly of British Columbia | image = Coat of arms of British Columbia.svg | imagesize = 130px | imagealt = Coat of Arms of the BC Legislature | caption = | long_title = | citation = {{cite canlaw |link=http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/vanch_01 |short title=Vancouver Charter |abbr=SBC |year=1953|chapter=55}} | enacted_by = | date_enacted = | date_passed = 1953 | enacted_by2 = | date_enacted2 = | date_passed2 = | date_assented = | royal_assent = | date_commenced = | bill = | bill_citation = | bill_date = | introduced_by = | 1st_reading = | 2nd_reading = | 3rd_reading = | committee_report = | bill2 = | bill_citation2 = | bill_date2 = | introduced_by2 = | 1st_reading2 = | 2nd_reading2 = | 3rd_reading2 = | committee_report2 = | white_paper = | amendments = | repeals = ''Vancouver Incorporation Act, 1921'' | related_legislation = | summary = Incorporation documents of the City of Vancouver | keywords = | status = In force }}

The '''''Vancouver Charter''''' is a provincial statute that incorporates the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The legislation was passed in 1953 and supersedes the ''Vancouver Incorporation Act, 1921''.<ref>{{Cite canlaw|short title =Vancouver Charter|abbr =SBC|year =1955|chapter =55|part =XXVIII|link =https://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/93consol17/93consol17/1409848723}}</ref> It grants the city different powers than other communities in the province, which are governed by the ''Local Government Act''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Vancouver Charter |url=https://vancouver.ca/your-government/the-vancouver-charter.aspx |website=Vancouver.ca |publisher=City of Vancouver |access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref>

==Additional powers== Some of the additional powers and provisions provided by the ''Vancouver Charter'' include:<ref>{{cite report |author= Craig McFarlane |date= September 25, 2007 |title= Community Charter and Local Government Act Municipal Powers Compared to the Vancouver Charter |url= https://www.surrey.ca/bylawsandcouncillibrary/C019-BB7A.pdf|publisher= City of Surrey|access-date= July 31, 2020}}</ref> * The ability to borrow on its own authority without the approval of the Municipal Finance Authority / Metro Vancouver Regional District. *A separately elected park board *Statutory immunity in relation to building regulation both with respect to plan checking and building permit issuance as well as with respect to building inspections. *The authority to prohibit business or business activities *Unique planning and land-use tools, including the power to delegate to the Director of Planning *The authority to impose specialized development levies.

== History == ===Previous legislation=== The city was first incorporated on April 6, 1886, under the ''Vancouver Incorporation Act, 1886''. The act limited voting rights to men who owned property at least the age of 21, and women who were single, divorced, or widowed, over the age of 21 and owned property. The act also forbade women from sitting as the mayor or as aldermen. The act also stated that "No Chinaman or Indian shall be entitled to vote in any municipal election."<ref>{{cite web |title=Planning Vancouver Together: Vancouver Today Reference Guide |url=https://vancouverplan.ca/app/uploads/Vancouver-Today-Reference-Guide-2020-05-15-FINAL.pdf |website=vancouverplan.ca |publisher=City of Vancouver |access-date=July 31, 2020 |page=37 |language=en}}</ref>

The incorporation act was repealed and replaced in 1900 and 1921 prior to the introduction of the ''Vancouver Charter''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vancouver Charter (Vancouver Incorporation) Act |url=https://www.courthouselibrary.ca/how-we-can-help/legislation-case-law/local-private-statutes/vancouver-charter-vancouver |website=Courthouse Libraries BC |access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref>

===Olympic amendments=== On January 12, 2009, Vancouver's mayor Gregor Robertson requested an amendment to the charter to allow the city to borrow $458 million to fund the completion of the 2010 Olympic Village in False Creek without seeking approval from taxpayers in an election-day plebiscite.<ref name="cbcamend">[https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-seeks-charter-change-to-borrow-458m-for-olympic-village-1.778897 "Vancouver seeks charter change to borrow $458M for Olympic Village"], ''CBC'', January 12, 2009.</ref> Robertson said this was due to extraordinary circumstances.<ref name="cbcamend"/> The amendment was passed on January 18, 2009, in an emergency session of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.<ref name="dailypass">[http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=7efa47f1-d06f-49e4-a375-672191fd5ab7 "Legislation lets Vancouver borrow for Olympic village"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107021457/http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=7efa47f1-d06f-49e4-a375-672191fd5ab7|date=November 7, 2012}}, ''The Daily News'', January 19, 2009.</ref><ref name="vanprovpass">[http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=204e7f01-e4da-4c07-98fc-ea89ba528cf1&p=1 "City gets its emergency borrowing bid"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107021514/http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=204e7f01-e4da-4c07-98fc-ea89ba528cf1&p=1 |date=November 7, 2012 }}, ''Vancouver Province'', January 18, 2009.</ref>

===2024 amendments=== The provincial government passed two acts in 2024 to amend the ''Vancouver Charter''.

The first bill, the ''Vancouver Charter Amendment Act, 2024'', recognized First Nations as a level government that qualified for exemptions from the city's development fee structure for social housing projects.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bill 11 - Vancouver Charter Amendment Act introduced |url=https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024MUNI0003-000341 |website=BC Gov News |publisher=Government of British Columbia |access-date=February 2, 2026}}</ref>

The second bill, the ''Vancouver Charter Amendment Act (No. 2), 2024'', updated the charter to more closely align with the ''Local Government Act'' which governs all other municipalities in the province. Changes included requiring the city to adopt a city-wide official development plan (ODP) and banning public hearings for residential rezonings that conform to the ODP. These changes were introduced to streamline the approval process for building new housing within the city.<ref>{{cite web |title=Proposed changes to Vancouver Charter will help build more homes faster |url=https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024MUNI0018-000505 |website=BC Gov News |publisher=Government of British Columbia |access-date=February 2, 2026}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Vancouver}}

Category:British Columbia provincial legislation Category:Municipal government of Vancouver Category:Political charters Category:1950s in Vancouver Category:1953 in Canadian law Category:1953 in British Columbia Category:2010 Winter Olympics Category:Local government legislation in Canada