Construction street use permit

For other street occupancies on City property that are not construction related, you may need a temporary street occupancy permit.

Construction street use permits authorize the use of the street right-of-way including roadways, sidewalks, boulevards, and air spaces above.

New buildings that require shoring, excavation, hoarding (a fence or barrier between a construction site and public space), or scaffolding into City property need to apply for a construction street use permit.

Construction projects that impact public property other than shoring, excavation, hoarding, or scaffolding may also require a construction street use permit. Some of these may include work on sidewalks, traffic lanes, rear lanes, bus lanes, bike lanes, and boulevards. Contact Street Use Review for confirmation.

Street Traffic By-law

Regulates traffic, the use of streets, and the size and weight of vehicles that are permitted to travel on City streets.

Section 71G and Section 80 of the by-law applies to street use.

Read the bylaw (969 KB)

Steps to getting a shoring and excavation street use permit

Step 1: Determine if you need a shoring and excavation street use permit
You may need a shoring and excavation street use permit for:
- Sheet piles
- Anchor rods
- Shotcrete
Unsure if you need a street use permit for shoring and excavation? Contact Engineering Shoring Review
Step 2: Submit application
A. Apply for a building permit

You need to apply for a building permit prior to applying for a shoring or excavation street use permit.

B. Prepare your street use permit application package
1. Fill out the application for permits to use city property form (258 KB).
2. Complete the Commercial General Liabilities Insurance Form (197 KB) or Wrap-up Liabilities Insurance Form (170 KB). If not available at this time, you may be able to move to the next step but the insurance form must be provided prior to payment of fees and issuance of the engineering street use permit.
3. Excavation and shoring drawings sealed by a geotechnical engineer
4. Professional Letter of Assurance - Schedule B (161 KB)
5. Provide contact details (name, phone number, email and mailing address) for:
  - Applicant
  - Payor
  - Prime Contractor
C. Submit your plan

Submit your application package

We will provide a confirmation receipt of your submitted application package within ten business days.
Step 3: Application review
A. Application review

We will review the plan to ensure it:
- Meets City of Vancouver Construction Specifications and Design Manual
- Identifies all impacted utilities and infrastructures
- Meets City of Vancouver, Engineers and Geoscientists BC (EGBC), and all other relevant published geotechnical design requirements
- Protects public safety, City assets, and the environment
- Proposes appropriate monitoring and inspection
- Addresses appropriate fees and deposits
B. Feedback and approval

We will provide you with a list of any conditions and items to be addressed as well as a notice of payment before a shoring and excavation street use permit can be issued.
Step 4: Pay fees and deposits

Make sure the applicable liability insurance forms has been submitted. All street use fees and deposits relating to your application must be paid prior to the issuance of your construction street use permit.

You will receive an email when your permit is issued. Print it and store a hardcopy on site at all times.

Ensure the contact information and mailing address on the shoring street use permit is up-to-date throughout the project.

If your contact information has changed, email Engineering Client Services.
Step 5: Complete work and deposit refund

Steps to getting a hoarding and scaffolding street use permit

Step 1: Determine if you need a hoarding and scaffolding street use permit
You may need a hoarding and scaffolding street use permit for:
- Structural hoarding
- Structural container hoarding
- Tube and clamp structural hoarding
- Non-structural scaffolding and hoarding
Unsure if you need a street use permit for hoarding and scaffolding? Contact Engineering Street Use Review.
Step 2: Submit application
A. If required, apply for a building permit

Confirm with Development, Buildings, and Licensing services online if your activity requires a building permit before you apply for a hoarding or scaffolding street use permit.

B. Prepare your street use permit application package
1. Fill out the application for permits to use city property form (258 KB).
2. Complete the Commercial General Liabilities Insurance Form (197 KB) or Wrap-up Liabilities Insurance Form (170 KB). If not available at this time, you may be able to move to the next step but the insurance form must be provided prior to payment of fees and issuance of the engineering street use permit.
3. Provide contact details (name, phone number, email and mailing address) for:
  - Applicant
  - Payor
  - Prime Contractor
C. Submit your plan

Email streetusereview@vancouver.ca with your application package.

We will provide a confirmation receipt of your submitted application package within ten business days.
Step 3: Application review
A. Application review

We will review the plan to ensure it:
- Meets City of Vancouver Construction Specifications and Design Manual
- Protects the public, City assets, and the environment
- Proposes appropriate monitoring and inspection
- Addresses appropriate fees and deposits
B. Feedback and approval

We will provide you with a list of any conditions and items to be addressed as well as a notice of payment before a hoarding or scaffolding street use permit can be issued.
Step 4: Pay fees and deposits

Make sure the applicable liability insurance forms has been submitted. All street use fees and deposits relating to your application must be paid prior to the issuance of your construction street use permit.

You will receive an email when your permit is issued. Print it and store a hardcopy on site at all times.

Ensure the contact information and mailing address on the hoarding or scaffolding street use permit is up-to-date throughout the project.

If your contact information has changed, email Engineering Client Services.
Step 5: Complete work and deposit refund

Steps to getting a construction street use permit

Step 1: Determine if you need a construction street use permit
You may need a construction street use permit if:
- The project is construction related and you are requesting to occupy portions of sidewalk, boulevard, bus lane, traffic lane, rear lane, or bike lane
- You are occupying air space over a street or sidewalk
- There is a construction trailer storage or elevated work platforms
Unsure if you need a construction street use permit? Contact Engineering Street Use Review.

If you are renovating or building a house or laneway house, please apply for a building permit prior to your construction street use request.
Step 2: Submit a construction street use request
Provide the following project information to Engineering Street Use Review:
- Project work description
- Provide contact details (name, phone number, email and mailing address) for:
  - Applicant
  - Payor
  - Prime Contractor
- Location of project work (address, street name, hundred block)
- Duration of work
- Provide building permit number if available
- Complete the Commercial General Liabilities Insurance Form (197 KB) or Wrap-up Liabilities Insurance Form (170 KB).
  If not available at this time, you may be able to move to the next step as this is required prior to payment of fees and issuance of the engineering street use permit.
Some construction street use requests require additional coordination where it may require a minimum of 60 days of lead time. Email streetusereview@vancouver.ca for more information.

Requests to restrict parking in a curb lane (signage requests) for delivery, pick-up, or other construction related purposes must be made seven (7) business days prior to the start of project work.

Where signage requests are not included in your street use permit request, we will provide a confirmation receipt of your submitted email within ten business days.
Step 3: Application review
A. Application review

We will review the plan to ensure it:
- Meets City of Vancouver Construction Specifications and Design Manual
- Protects public safety, City assets, and the environment
- Proposes appropriate monitoring and inspection
- Addresses appropriate fees and deposits
B. Feedback and approval

We will provide you with a list of any conditions and items to be addressed as well as a notice of payment before a construction
street use permit can be issued.
Step 4: Pay fees and deposits

Make sure the applicable liability insurance forms has been submitted. All street use fees and deposits relating to your application must be paid prior to the issuance of your construction street use permit.

You will receive an email when your permit is issued. Print it and store a hardcopy on site at all times.

Ensure the contact information and mailing address on the hoarding or scaffolding street use permit is up-to-date throughout the project.

If your contact information has changed, email Engineering Client Services.
Step 5: Complete work and deposit refund

Construction street use permit

Street Traffic By-law

Steps to getting a shoring and excavation street use permit

Step 1: Determine if you need a shoring and excavation street use permit

Step 2: Submit application

Step 3: Application review

Step 4: Pay fees and deposits

Step 5: Complete work and deposit refund

Steps to getting a hoarding and scaffolding street use permit

Step 1: Determine if you need a hoarding and scaffolding street use permit

Step 2: Submit application

Step 3: Application review

Step 4: Pay fees and deposits

Step 5: Complete work and deposit refund

Steps to getting a construction street use permit

Step 1: Determine if you need a construction street use permit

Step 2: Submit a construction street use request

Step 3: Application review

Step 4: Pay fees and deposits

Step 5: Complete work and deposit refund

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