How to Build a laneway home in Vancouver BC

• Step 2: Get required pre-approvals

  Have your proposal reviewed and approved before you apply for a development/building permit to avoid conflict with regulations.

  A. Hire a design professional

  Designing a new house or laneway house can be complicated so we recommend that you work with a qualified design professional.

  • Review a sample of an acceptable drawing package PDF file (2 MB)
  • Review a guide to designing for tree retention PDF file (247 KB)

  B. Contact City staff

  Some property attributes and regulations can add complexity to the standard approval process and may require alternate processes and timelines. We’re here to answer your questions and offer guidance.

  Contact our Development and Building Services Centre

  C. Apply for a sewer and water connection permit

  Important note You need to apply for a sewer and water permit before you apply for your development/building permit application in step 3.

  To apply, you need:

  • A signed, sealed, and certified legal survey plan prepared by a BC land surveyor
  • A FortisBC gas servicing location diagram

  View the current fee rates for sewer and water connections (By-law 8093, Schedule A, page 41) PDF file  (210 KB)

  Apply for sewer and water permit

  Need help? Refer to the Sewer and Water Permit Online Application Guide PDF file (5 MB)

  After you apply:

  1. We check the application for completeness and notify you to pay initial fees.
  2. We review the proposed service locations and configuration.
  3. We provide you with feedback based on our standards to determine:
     • The optimal siting for the sanitary and storm sewer service sizes, location(s), available elevation range
     • Any pumping requirements of your sanitary, storm sewer, and water service, including size and estimated water pressures
  4. We notify you of the approved, final design of the location and configuration, and to pay any outstanding fees.
  5. Send us your signed and sealed final drawings to confirm the location and configuration.
  6. After we accept your drawings and you pay all fees, we issue your permit and you can download it.

  D. Apply to use the street and sidewalk during construction

  We will notify you if you need one or more of the following permits to use the street, lane, or sidewalk:

  • Construction street use permit
  • Temporary street occupancy permit

  E. Prepare documents for tree protection and removal

  Provide the following documents:

  1. A recent signed, sealed, and certified legal survey plan of the property prepared by a BC land surveyor
  2. A site plan drawing showing the proposed siting of all buildings in relation to existing trees
  3. A report prepared by a certified arborist to support any tree removal(s) proposed
  4. A signed arborist letter of assurance (Required if work is proposed within a tree protection zone.)

  Include these documents with your development/building permit application in step 3 and our landscape staff will review it.

• 

  Step 3: Prepare and send your permit application

  Try the Project Requirements Exploration Tool

  If you used the tool earlier in step 1, continue using it in this step to:

  • Apply for your development/building permit
  • Provide the required documents – specific to your property’s attributes – to avoid delays when we intake your application

  Apply to build a house

  After sending your application, continue with item D below.

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  A. Prepare your application package of drawings and documents

  Refer to the submission requirements checklist:

  • Single detached house or duplex submission requirements checklist PDF file (256 KB)
  • Laneway house submission requirements checklist PDF file (312 KB)

  B. Complete the application form

  Development/Building Permit Application Form PDF file (448 KB)

  C. Send your application package and form

  Include the application form and all required drawings and documents so that we can accept your application.

  Send your application

  D. Pay fees

  After we intake your application, we will notify you to pay the permit application fees and any deposits. Pay the fees online, in person, or by mail.

  • Online by credit card (Important note Only the permit holder/applicant can make online payments toward a permit.)

  E. We review your application

  Following a detailed review of the submitted plans and documents by various staff teams, we will notify you about:

  • A list of conditions and items to address before we can issue your permit(s)
  • Any payments to make for Development Cost Levies (DCL), Development Cost Charges (DCC), damage deposit(s), and sewer and water servicing fees

  Note All proposals for new houses or laneway houses must get approval for any proposed tree removal(s) and for the protection of existing trees that may be impacted on the site and/or adjacent properties.

  F. We approve your permit(s)

  When we issue your permit(s), we will send you an email with instructions to download and print your permit(s) and approved drawings.

• Step 4: Begin construction, get trade permits, and book inspections

  A. Have the permit and drawings at the construction site for our inspectors

  • One printed copy of the issued permit
  • One printed set of approved drawings (full-sized and to scale) that show City of Vancouver accepted stamp. If the City stamp is missing, or the drawings aren’t at the construction site, you will be need to rebook the inspection and may need to pay a re-inspection fee.

  B. Move soil, green waste, or plant materials

  Contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to get a Movement Certificate before moving soil, green waste, or plant materials outside of a regulated area to prevent the spread of the Japanese beetle. Learn more and find out how to contact the CFIA

  C. Apply for trades permits

  Construction of a new house or laneway house requires separate trades permits. The general contractor hires trades contractors, who apply for trades permits directly.

  • Plumbing permit
  • Electrical permit
  • Fire sprinkler permit
  • Gas permit
  • Mechanical permit

  D. Book inspections

  Book inspections to review and approve all completed work during the stages of construction.

  Does your project involve demolition and a requirement to recycle demolition material? Before you book a forms inspection, you need to submit your recycling compliance report for approval and complete the demolition permit.

• Step 5: Occupy building(s)

  After we approve the final inspection of the permitted work, you can occupy the house.

  We don’t require an occupancy permit for a single detached house or laneway house, but you or your contractor may want to apply for an occupancy permit for other reasons.

  Apply for an occupancy permit

Steps to amend (revise or change) an issued building permit

• Step 2: We review the amendment application and provide next steps