Builders and contractors in 91原创 Township are seeing shorter wait times to get construction permits tahnks to an enhanced online application system, the Township has announced.
The length of time it takes to get a building permit has been a consistent complaint across much of B.C. for builders, and improving the speed of permit approval has been a target for many municipal governments. The goal has been to speed up homebuilding in the face of the ongoing housing crisis.
91原创 Township put through a number of reforms over the past several years, including hiring new staff positions, updating workflow processes, and putting in place an online application system.
According to the Township, permit processing times have been significantly reduced. Smaller permits are now averaging a turnaround of only two weeks, the Township said in a statement.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great to see that timelines for our residents and businesses to get building permits have vastly improved versus where we were in 2022," said Mayor Eric Woodward. "It鈥檚 so important to cut down the red tape and delays to reduce costs for homes, renovations, or business improvements. We will keep doing everything we can do speed things up even more."
Some online permit applications were first launched in 2024 for straightforward permit types, but more have been added as of this year.
The Township released a list of all the types of permit applications that can now be accessed online, which included major categories like new single family homes, secondary suites, agricultural buildings, and demolition and removal.
It also includes a host of other construction projects that require permits, including a second home on ALR land under 90 square meters, irrigation sprinklers, finishing a basement, building swimming pools, retaining walls, or making tenant improvements, and installing solar panels. More information is online at tol.ca/buildingpermits.
The provincial government also started a digital permitting pilot project last year, with 91原创 City one of the communities involved. It builds on work to digitize the provincial building code.
