Municipal permitting reference

How building permits work in Vancouver

Vancouver permits are administered by the City of Vancouver under the Vancouver Building By-law (separate from the BC Building Code).

Responsible authority: City of Vancouver — Development, Buildings and Licensing
Indicative planning range: Single-family: 8–16 weeks. Multi-family / commercial: 4–9 months. Major rezoning: 12+ months.

Typical permitting sequence

1
Zoning check
Check Vancouver Zoning & Development By-law (e.g. RS-1, RT-7, RM-3A). Many projects require Development Permit first.
2
Development Permit
Required for almost all new buildings & additions. Reviewed for design, urban design, and zoning.
3
Building Permit application
Submit through Vancouver Building Permit Hub with VBBL drawings, energy compliance.
4
Plan review
Multi-disciplinary review (building, plumbing, gas, sprinkler, engineering).
5
Trade permits
Plumbing, gas, sprinkler, electrical permits issued separately.
6
Inspections
Booked online through VanConnect.
7
Occupancy
Final inspection or formal occupancy permit closes the file.

• Heritage properties and projects in special districts (e.g. Downtown DD) face additional design review.

Use the municipality's site for authoritative forms, fees, current service standards, codes, portal access, and project-specific requirements.

Compare this process overview with current municipality-reported filing counts, permit types, maps, neighborhoods, and address history.