Surrey, BC – In a move to accelerate development and make the permitting process more efficient, Surrey City Council has introduced significant improvements, including an expansion of online permitting services and a streamlined tenant improvement approval process.
Expanding Online Permitting for Faster Approvals
At Monday’s Regular Council Meeting, Mayor Brenda Locke emphasized the city’s commitment to reducing delays in new home construction and commercial developments.
“Our goal is to minimize downtime between application and permit issuance,” said Mayor Locke. “The expansion of online services to include development applications is a major step in modernizing and streamlining the process.”
The City’s online permitting system will now support development applications, including rezoning and subdivision requests. This builds on previous online permit expansions for multi-family buildings, electrical and plumbing permits, sign permits, and inspection requests.
Future improvements will allow applicants to track their progress, receive consolidated review comments, and better understand approval milestones, leading to improved communication between applicants and city staff.
Faster Tenant Improvement Permits
To further streamline the process, Council has introduced a Minor Tenant Improvement Program, targeting simpler commercial renovations.
• Faster Approvals: Targeted permit review time of 2-3 business days.
• Simplified Process: Less extensive plan reviews, with on-site inspections by City staff.
• Dedicated Support Team: A specialized staff team will handle tenant improvement permits.
• Flat Application Fee: A simplified fee structure will make the process more accessible for business owners.
Commitment to Efficiency
Ron Gill, General Manager of Planning & Development, highlighted the City’s dedication to streamlining the process.
“These initiatives will improve communication, standardize approvals, and enhance the overall experience from application to permit issuance and inspections,” said Gill.
With these enhancements, Surrey aims to reduce wait times, modernize its approval system, and support economic growth by making development projects more efficient and predictable.