Variance Table Builder

Planning reporting tool

Create a formatted variance summary table for planning staff reports, board reports, development variance permit applications, and internal review. Compare zoning bylaw requirements against an applicant’s requested variance and automatically calculate the variance amount and percentage difference.

How it works

Enter one row for each regulation proposed to be varied, such as:
• Maximum building height
• Minimum front, side, or rear yard setback
• Maximum lot coverage
• Maximum floor area

For each row, the tool:
• Compares the bylaw requirement against the applicant’s request
• Identifies whether the regulation is a minimum or maximum standard
• Calculates the amount of variance requested
• Calculates the percentage variance where applicable
• Builds a formatted summary table suitable for copying into Word, reports, or agenda packages

The tool supports:
• Metres (m)
• Square metres (m²)
• Percentages (%)

The output table can be copied as plain text or HTML, or printed directly to PDF. All calculations occur locally in the browser. No information is sent to a server.

When to use it

• Best used for preparing development variance permit tables, staff reports, planning analysis summaries, board reports, zoning review notes, and preliminary application screening where multiple measurable regulations are proposed to be varied.
• Not used for legal interpretation, statutory decision-making, density analysis, use permissions, floodplain exemptions, or determining whether a variance should be supported.
• Audience: planners, planning technicians, approving officers, local governments, consultants, developers, and applicants preparing or reviewing variance applications.

Notes and limits

• Assumption: the tool assumes the bylaw requirement and requested variance can be expressed numerically using metres, square metres, or percentages.
• Known constraint: some zoning bylaws regulate lot coverage or floor area in ways that may function as density controls. Under the British Columbia Local Government Act, density cannot be varied through a development variance permit. Users must confirm how the bylaw is structured before relying on the output.
• Edge case: percentage-based regulations are calculated differently from dimensional standards. For example, lot coverage variances are expressed in percentage points rather than dimensional increase or reduction.

Disclaimer

This tool is for general information only. It may contain errors or omissions. Use at your own discretion. No liability is accepted for decisions made based on this tool.

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