Buying a sloped North Shore lot: five checks first

Before you make an offer on a sloped North Shore lot, run five checks.

In the District of North Vancouver, a steep slope is defined as more than 20 degrees (36%) and more than 10 metres in height. The District suggests keeping a 20 metre buffer from the top or base of a steep slope free of development, unless a qualified professional recommends otherwise.

The five checks:

1. Hazard maps. Is the lot inside a Slope Hazard Development Permit Area?
2. Geotechnical. An engineer's slope assessment, with a signed landslide assurance statement.
3. Trees. An arborist report, a protection plan and a replacement plan.
4. Foundations and walls. Engineered design, with geotechnical and structural field reviews.
5. Survey. A detailed topographic survey before design starts.

What a sloped lot can become: our East Keith Rd duplex sits on a 20 ft elevation change. An engineered split-level design worked with the slope instead of against it, and oversized decks keep the ocean and mountain views.

A slope is not a reason to walk away. It is a reason to know the cost and the process before the offer, not after.

Send it to us and we will run the checks.