Frequently Asked Questions

The effective date of the new zoning bylaw requirement is January 29, 2019.

The building permit types affected are building permits issued for:

• One-Family Residential
• Quadruplex Residential
• Street-Oriented Village Home Residential Uses
• Triplex Residential
• Two-Family Residential

The City of Coquitlam Zoning Bylaw is available on our Zoning Bylaw page. View Section 514 of the Zoning Bylaw (PDF) sitting exception.

The regulations are in the City of Coquitlam Zoning Bylaw. The setbacks are listed in the Zone the building is located, and the siting exception is listed in Part 5 General Regulations, Subsection 514 (4).

No. The additional 1.0 meter interior side yard setback applies to mechanical equipment located on the exterior of the building.

Exterior heating and cooling equipment, heat pumps, ancillary swimming pool heating and filtering equipment, as well as emergency generators, are the equipment that are regulated by the siting exceptions. Also note, ancillary swimming pool heating and filtering equipment is restricted to a maximum height of 1.3 metres above grade.

Venting terminations for high efficient central heating and cooling equipment (mainly furnaces and boilers) must be located such that they do not vent into the area of a lot adjacent to an interior side lot line.

Not impacted by this bylaw are:

• Direct Vent Fireplaces
• Exhaust from Heat Recovery Ventilation Units
• Exhausts from Hot Water Tanks and Instantaneous Domestic Water Heaters
• Kitchen and Bathroom Exhaust Fan Outlets
• Portable Air Conditioners

Exhaust vents for central heating and cooling equipment must be located so that they exhaust towards the front yard, rear yard, exterior side yard or through the roof. Reference the manufacturer’s recommendations or contact Technical Safety BC for the appliance venting requirements.

You can call the Building Division at 604-927-3441, or visit the Building Division on the main floor of City Hall and speak directly with Building Division staff.