The port authority is responsible for the shared stewardship of the Port of Vancouver, which includes managing how the federally owned lands and waters within our jurisdiction are used, and leasing port property to terminal operators and other tenants.

The port is made up of over 1,500 hectares of land and 16,000 hectares of water. Some of the ways port lands and waters are used include:  

directions_boat Marine terminals, used for the handling, shipping, and transportation of trade commodities and cruise passengers  

directions_railway Industrial activities that support port operations, such as container storage facilities, intermodal yards for loading and unloading trains, and the transloading of import and exports

warehouse Commercial operations, like marinas, and warehouses  

nature_people Public recreation, such as CRAB Park at Portside, New Brighton Park, and Shoreline Park 

Leasing property

We are the largest landlord of industrial real estate in the Lower Mainland, managing more than 1,400 property agreements throughout our jurisdiction. In this capacity, we manage lands and waters in a way that supports our responsibilities as outlined in the Canada Marine Act. We do this by: 

  • Generating revenue to support port operations and investment in gateway capacity 
  • Reducing impacts of land use while upholding environmental standards through responsible land management practices 
  • Optimizing the use of land, supporting trade by making the most of the land we have available 
  • Keeping the Port of Vancouver competitive on a global trade stage

View current leasing opportunities 

If you are interested in leasing port property for trade enabling purposes (retail spaces and residential housing are not permitted), please fill out a leasing inquiry form in full and email it to realestateinfo@portvancouver.com.  

For more information about leasing port property, please refer to our leasing FAQ page. 

Land use planning

We manage federally owned land within our jurisdiction and acquire new land to support future port-related activities. We focus on sites with easy access to shipping channels, truck routes or rail corridors, and close to existing port holdings. Making strategic land acquisitions is one of the ways we ensure the Port of Vancouver is ready to handle growing trade.  

Our Land Use Plan guides the long-term development and use of port lands and waters over the next 15 to 20 years. The plan includes:

  • Land and water designations, each with a specific intent and list of primary and conditional uses
  • Goals, objectives, and policy directions to communicate and guide strategic planning and development decisions
  • Implementation measures and monitoring to demonstrate the port authority’s commitment to acting on the directions established in the plan 

Land use plan

For more information about our land use planning policy and initiatives, or for records of historical amendments to our Land Use Plan, please contact landuseplan@portvancouver.com  

Trade-oriented industrial land

A river runs horizontally through the image. A city and mountains can been seen on the top bank and a port terminal is on the bottom bank.

The Greater Vancouver region is experiencing a growing shortage of trade-oriented industrial land. Trade-oriented industrial land is an important and specific type of industrial land: it’s land that supports the efficient and reliable movement of goods through our region and includes activities and facilities such as:

  • Marine terminals
  • Warehouses and distribution centres
  • Transload and intermodal facilities 

The industrial land shortage is putting a strain on our regional and national supply chains and can lead to:

  • Persistent and lengthy delays in the shipment of goods
  • Increased costs for imported goods that can impact affordability
  • Lost opportunities for trade and businesses to grow
  • Unnecessary transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions  

Addressing the growing demand for trade-oriented industrial land

 

To support our mandate of facilitating Canada’s trade through the Port of Vancouver, we focus on:

  • Optimizing the use of existing trade-oriented industrial land in our jurisdiction
  • Advocating for all levels of government to preserve existing trade-oriented industrial land in the region
  • Encouraging greater collaboration to protect and expand the availability of trade-oriented industrial land
  • Leading and collaborating on infrastructure projects to reduce trade bottlenecks and strengthen regional trade capacity

For more information about trade-oriented industrial land at the Port of Vancouver, please contact [EMAIL]. 

Resources

Land Use Plan
Leasing inquiry form
Land Use Plan designation map
Recreational docks