VANCOUVER — Vancouver homeowners may soon get more months out of their balconies. The city's recently approved City-wide Design and Development Guidelines recognize fully retractable balcony glazing as a way to make balconies usable year-round, without the glazing counting against a building's floor space ratio (FSR).
The guidelines take effect on October 27, 2026. Fully retractable systems preserve a balcony's outdoor function while shielding it from wind, rain, pollution and urban noise — a meaningful difference in a city where compact homes are the norm and outdoor amenity space is at a premium.
Vancouver joins more than 10 British Columbia municipalities that have adopted similar policy changes or zoning amendments, including the City of North Vancouver, Coquitlam, Burnaby, the City and Township of Langley, Abbotsford and Chilliwack, along with others across the Lower Mainland.
'As homes become more compact and cities continue to densify, residents need outdoor spaces that can be enjoyed more often throughout the year,' said Kristoph Karbach, executive vice president of Lumon North America, welcoming the change and inviting developers who had hesitated over density rules to revisit balcony glazing.
