Vancouver Building Permit Data
51,865 building permits on record in Vancouver, with a median issue time of 68 days.
The dataset shows 4,341 permits issued in the last 12 months, down 16% year over year. The median project value over the last year was $105,000, representing $6.5B in total declared construction value.
How long do permits take in Vancouver?
The median time from application to issue in Vancouver is 68 days, based on 4,322 permits issued in the last 12 months where Vancouver recorded an application date in the open-data feed. Not all permits in the dataset include an application date, so this figure represents a partial sample and may not reflect all permit types equally.
Use the median of 68 days as a planning benchmark. Complex applications, requests for variances, or incomplete submission packages routinely push timelines beyond the median, sometimes significantly. Permit type, work scope, and application completeness all affect where your permit lands in the distribution.
Permit activity trend in Vancouver
Vancouver issued 4,341 permits in the last 12 months, down from 5,196 in the prior 12-month window. July 2025 was the busiest month in the two-year window, with 503 permits issued. Permit volume varies by season and by the number of large projects entering the pipeline; a single major development can shift monthly totals significantly, so month-over-month figures are best read as a direction indicator, not a precise forecast.
What gets built in Vancouver?
The top permit categories in Vancouver show where construction activity is concentrated. The counts reflect the last 12 months of available data.
Addition / Alteration is the single largest category in Vancouver, accounting for 56% of permits (2,415 in the last 12 months).
New Building permits make up 24% of Vancouver's permit mix, with 1,042 in the last 12 months.
Demolition / Deconstruction permits make up 16% of Vancouver's permit mix, with 705 in the last 12 months.
Salvage and Abatement represents 3% of Vancouver's permits at 137 in the last 12 months.
Temporary Building / Structure represents 1% of Vancouver's permits at 41 in the last 12 months.
Reading the data before you apply
Permit data works best as a reference range rather than a precise forecast. A median of 68 days in Vancouver means half of permits resolve faster than that and half take longer. If your project is straightforward and the application is complete, you may land in the faster half. If it involves variances, rezoning, or a complex building type, expect the slower half of the distribution. Checking the permit history for nearby addresses gives you a real-world baseline calibrated to your specific neighbourhood and project type.
Distributions tell you more than averages when you are building a project timeline. The 90th-percentile wait in Vancouver is 273 days, which means roughly 1 in 10 permits takes at least that long before a decision is issued. If your project has characteristics that put it in the slower category, such as a heritage overlay, a site with drainage constraints, or an unusual structure type, plan for the 90th percentile rather than the median. Permit fees, contractor availability, inspection scheduling, and any required engineering or heritage reviews all add time on top of the permit issue date itself.
The permit history lookup below lets you see every permit on record for any Vancouver address, including permit type, declared project value, and issue dates. If a property has had previous permits, that record tells you what the building department has already reviewed and approved for that parcel, which can simplify the scope discussion on a new application. If there are no prior permits, that is also useful to know before you begin. The lookup is free, and the full permit history report for any address is available if you need the complete record for due diligence or renovation planning.
Check a Vancouver permit for free
See every permit on record for any Vancouver address, free. The full history report is $29 if you want it.
Frequently asked questions
How many building permits are issued in Vancouver?
51,865 building permits are on record for Vancouver in the Van Permit Audit dataset, with 4,341 in the last 12 months.
How long does a building permit take in Vancouver?
The median time from application to issue in Vancouver is 68 days, based on 4,322 permits in the last 12 months.
What is the typical project value of a Vancouver building permit?
The median declared project value is $90,000.
Neighbourhoods in Vancouver
Permit cost benchmarks
Related guides
Check a Vancouver permit for free
See every permit on record for any Vancouver address, free. The full history report is $29 if you want it.
Source: Van Permit Audit national permit dataset, aggregated from official municipal open-data sources. Median issue times reflect 2018 to 2025 issued permits; permit-volume coverage windows vary by city. Citation: "Source: Van Permit Audit (vanpermitaudit.ca)."