Property owners in Vancouver can now apply and pay for a building permit and receive it electronically through a new service called ePlan.

This streamlined permitting process is the latest initiative from Vancouver’s Permitting Improvement Program (PIP).

“This is an important step towards cutting permit wait times for Vancouver residents and businesses,” said Mayor Ken Sim.

Designed to digitally transform and streamline the permitting process, PIP:

• ensures plans for houses, duplexes, laneways and townhouses can be checked in as little as two and half weeks, saving over nine weeks;
• includes an updated inspection review processes to reduce the need for applicants to address/redo previously unpermitted work; and
• provides the Tenant Improvement Program, a dedicated building permit review stream for office tenants in eligible commercial buildings so they receive a permit in as little as two weeks.

Close to half (45 per cent) of all low-density housing permit applications submitted in 2021 were incomplete, which creates delays in issuing permits.

Vancouver is looking at:

• providing education and in-person support for property owners requiring assistance in submitting application; and
• technical solutions that allow applicants to perform their own completeness checks before submitting their application.

On February 22, Vancouver is launching a pilot to allow home-based businesses to apply, track, pay, and receive their business licence electronically.

This will allow applicants to track their applications in real time and help them plan more effectively. 

To further streamline the permit process, Vancouver is reviewing ways to:

• simplify the review process for renovation permits;
• reduce the number of steps and staff required to review applications; and
• improve letters to applicants so they easily understand outstanding items before a permit can be issued.

Read about Vancouver’s PIP.