What is the difference between a building permit and a development permit?

Building permits and development permits serve different purposes in BC's approval process — a building permit ensures your construction meets safety codes, while a development permit focuses on land use, design guidelines, and community planning objectives.

In British Columbia's municipal approval system, these two permits address separate but often overlapping aspects of construction projects. Understanding the distinction is crucial for homeowners planning renovations or new construction in Metro Vancouver.

Building permits are administered by municipal building departments and ensure your project complies with the BC Building Code (BCBC 2024), safety standards, and structural requirements. This permit covers the technical aspects of construction — structural integrity, fire safety, electrical and plumbing systems, energy efficiency, and accessibility requirements. Building permits are required for most construction work including additions, renovations, new homes, secondary suites, and laneway houses. The building department reviews your plans to ensure they meet code requirements, and inspections are conducted throughout construction to verify compliance.

Development permits focus on land use planning, zoning compliance, and community design standards. These permits ensure your project aligns with the municipality's Official Community Plan, zoning bylaws, and design guidelines. Development permits typically address setbacks, height restrictions, lot coverage, parking requirements, landscaping, and architectural design standards. They're often required for new construction, major additions, or projects in special development permit areas (like heritage districts or environmentally sensitive areas).

In Vancouver specifically, most single-family renovations require only a building permit if they comply with existing zoning. However, you'll need a development permit for projects that exceed zoning requirements (height, setbacks, lot coverage) or are located in Development Permit Areas. The new R1-1 multiplex zoning has streamlined some processes, but larger projects still require both permits. Vancouver offers a concurrent review process where both permits can be processed simultaneously, reducing overall timelines.

The typical sequence is development permit first (if required), followed by building permit application. Some municipalities allow concurrent processing. Development permits generally take 6-12 weeks, while building permits take 4-8 weeks for simple projects or 3-6+ months for complex ones in Vancouver.

For your next steps, contact your municipal building department to determine which permits your specific project requires. Each Metro Vancouver municipality has slightly different processes — Vancouver (311), Surrey (604-591-4086), Burnaby (604-294-7130), and others maintain their own requirements and timelines.