Practical guidance on building in British Columbia — permits and letters of assurance, seismic retrofits, foundations, renovations and the structural decisions that shape a project's cost and schedule.
An even-handed comparison of cold-formed steel and wood framing for four- to six-storey BC buildings, from code limits and foundations to movement, envelope and panelisation.
Adopted 20 May 2025 and in force since September, Vancouver's by-law is built on BCBC 2024. What it changes for seismic demand, transition dates, mass timber, egress and energy.
Four or six units on a lot built for one house changes the structure completely. What a BC multiplex needs, from unit minimums and party walls to tight-lot foundations.
Four forms decide whether a BC building gets occupancy. Here is who signs Schedule A, B, C-A and C-B, when each is due, what field review covers, and what holds up sign-off.
Which older BC buildings need seismic strengthening, what makes an upgrade mandatory under Vancouver's Part 11, and how an assessment becomes a retrofit scope you can build.
Joist direction, a sealed beam design and the footing under each new post decide whether an open-concept renovation works. Here is the Vancouver permit set and the order of work.
Tell us what you are building and we will tell you exactly what engineering your permit needs — and what it will take to get there.
