Burnaby Adopts Its Long-Term Vision: The Burnaby 2050 Official Community Plan
Burnaby 2050: A Long-Term Plan Shaping the City’s Future
Source: City of Burnaby website
In December 2025, Burnaby City Council formally adopted the Burnaby 2050 Official Community Plan (OCP), a comprehensive, forward-looking blueprint that will guide how the city grows, changes, and invests over the next 25 years. Final reading and adoption took place at the Council’s December 9, 2025 meeting, bringing a multi-year planning process to completion.
This new OCP replaces Burnaby’s previous plan and reflects a major update in how the City approaches land use, housing, transportation, climate action, and community well-being.
A Vision Defined by the Community
At the core of Burnaby 2050 is a vision developed and selected through extensive public input:
“Burnaby is a green and inclusive city with safe and connected neighbourhoods and a vibrant economy where people want to live, work and play for generations to come.”
This vision acts as the foundation for all goals, policies, and actions within the plan. It emphasizes balance between growth and livability, environmental protection and economic opportunity, and present needs and future generations.
Values That Guide Every Decision
Burnaby 2050 is built around five core community values that shape how policies are created and evaluated:
- Connectivity – Strong transportation, social, technological, and environmental connections
- Inclusivity – Welcoming, safe neighbourhoods that support diverse communities
- Opportunities to Thrive – A resilient economy, local jobs, and access to services
- Stewardship – Responsible management of infrastructure, lands, and resources
- Sustainability – Reducing emissions, adapting to climate change, and protecting ecosystems
These values are not abstract statements; they directly inform land use planning, infrastructure investment, and city services.
A Clear Framework for Growth and Land Use
One of the most important roles of the OCP is to guide where and how growth happens. Burnaby 2050 introduces a simplified and updated land use framework that:
- Encourages more housing choice, including townhomes, multiplexes, and apartments
- Concentrates higher density near SkyTrain stations and frequent transit corridors
- Supports complete communities, where daily needs, schools, parks, shops, and services are within easy reach
- Protects employment lands, industrial areas, and agricultural land
- Preserves and enhances parks, open spaces, and natural areas
The plan also establishes Development Permit Areas (DPAs) to guide form, character, environmental protection, and tenant protections in key parts of the city.
Five City-Wide Goals
Burnaby 2050 organizes its policies around five overarching goals:
- Complete Communities – Housing, services, parks, and amenities that support daily life
- Welcoming Spaces and Culture – Inclusive public spaces, cultural assets, and placemaking
- Thriving Economy – Job creation, innovation, and protection of industrial and employment lands
- Connected and Sustainable Infrastructure – Transportation, utilities, and climate-resilient systems
- Climate Action and Environment – Emissions reduction, climate adaptation, and environmental protection
Each goal is supported by specific objectives and detailed policy actions, ensuring the plan is both aspirational and implementable.
Climate Action as a Core Lens
Climate change is treated as a central issue throughout Burnaby 2050. The plan focuses on both reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing the city for climate impacts such as heat waves, flooding, and extreme weather.
Key directions include:
- Energy-efficient building design
- Low-carbon transportation options
- Urban forests and green infrastructure
- Protection of streams, creeks, and biodiversity
Climate action is not isolated in one chapter; it is embedded across land use, transportation, and infrastructure planning.
A Plan Shaped by Extensive Engagement
Burnaby 2050 was developed over four phases between 2022 and 2025: Surfacing, Visioning, Drafting, and Confirming. The City engaged broadly with residents, businesses, youth, community organizations, Host Nations, and Indigenous peoples living in Burnaby.
The scale of engagement was substantial:
- 61 events, workshops, and meetings
- 3,656 survey responses
- 23,090+ comments reviewed
- Thousands of one-on-one conversations and online interactions
This input directly influenced the plan’s vision, values, and policy directions, helping ensure it reflects real community priorities.
From Vision to Action
Burnaby 2050 is supported by an implementation framework that includes:
- Alignment with zoning bylaws and City regulations
- Monitoring and performance indicators
- Regular updates to ensure the plan remains relevant
This allows the City to track progress and adjust policies over time while staying aligned with the long-term vision.
Key Takeaways
- Burnaby 2050 was adopted in December 2025
- It provides a 25-year framework for growth and decision-making
- The plan is rooted in community values and extensive engagement
- Major priorities include housing choice, climate action, connectivity, and economic resilience
- Burnaby 2050 is both a vision document and an implementation tool
- Read the Burnaby 2050 Official Community Plan
- Access the interactive Land Use Map
- View the accessible map (black and white)
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