Vancouver to expand sites of outdoor saunas and cold plunges: report

The City of Vancouver will vote on a motion pushing to permit outdoor cold plunges and saunas.

The City of Vancouver is one step closer to making it more accessible for businesses to operate cold plunges and outdoor saunas.

A staff report recommends bylaw amendments be referred to a public hearing in October that would set out the requirements for these businesses to operate outdoors and in all commercial and industrial zones.

‘Appetite for this’

The report stems from a motion last June by ABC Coun. Lisa Dominato, that set out to modernize the current bylaw.

“There’s a real appetite for this,” she said.

“It started in Europe and in Nordic countries, but we’re seeing an evolution here in Canada of an interest in having these services, and our regulations are really outdated.”

As per the report, “currently, cold plunges and saunas are only permitted in some zones and are not generally permitted outdoors.”

The proposed bylaw amendments would expand potential locations by allowing them at sites such as parks, which would be under the jurisdiction of the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation.

“I have heard some proponents who are interested in potentially offering pop-up saunas, near the beach and so if you’re doing cold plunge swims in the ocean, they might be able to offer [this] service,” added Coun. Dominato.

‘No legislation, rules’

City staff consulted with industry members and Vancouver Coastal Health on the report.

One of the key findings from the feedback was that there are varied business types and operations.

Staff said the proposed zoning regulations provide flexibility by allowing the use in more zones to accommodate a range of business types.

Oll Farrell, who runs The Good Sauna out of Container Brewing in East Vancouver, said it’s been challenging navigating some of the city’s requirements.

“The real thing is nothing existed like this in the past,” he said.

“And so, there’s been no legislation, rules, or regulations on how to do this. We’re very much at the forefront of creating this experience.”

Farrell said he welcomes the proposals in the report.

“The big complaint about this city is that it’s boring,” he said.

“It’s boring because we’re being stopped from doing interesting things quickly and efficiently. It just puts everyone off from even starting a fun and new idea.”

Bearing council’s approval at the public hearing, the changes could come into effect by the end of the year.