Demolition permit with recycling and deconstruction requirements

Steps to getting a permit

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  Step 1: Review requirements

  A. Apply for your building or development permit first

  Review the steps to a building or development permit.

  B. Review permit fees

  The cost of a demolition permit has four components:

  1. Demolition permit fee
  2. Building permit fee
  3. Cost-of-work fee, based on the estimated retail cost of the demolition work
  4. Demolition waste compliance fee

  Important note These amounts only apply to the demolition permit itself. Other permits or licenses must be paid for separately, at the appropriate counter or department. The fees schedule has more information.

  Important note Our staff will advise you when fees associated to your permit application are required to be paid. You can pay fees using your online permit account, or in person by cash, cheque, debit, or credit.

  Review the schedule of fees and permits PDF file (791 KB)

  C. Plan to recycle and reuse materials

  You will be required to complete a:

  • Recycling and reuse plan when you apply for your building or development permit
  • Recycling and reuse compliance form when demolition is complete
  • A wood salvage report for demolition of heritage listed, or pre-1910 houses

  You will not be able to request a building inspection(s) until a recycling compliance report has been submitted if your project includes a requirement to recycle material from the demolishing of an existing building(s).

  D. Determine if you home is a character house?

  Homes located in zones with the possibility of conditional floor area need a character assessment done to determine the recycling rate, even if the development application is outright.

  Applications with no potential conditionality (generally, those in RS1) don't currently need a character assessment—they'll have a 75% recycling and reuse requirement applied.

  Still unsure? Contact the Development and Building Services Centre.

  E. Review minimum reuse and recycling rates

  The minimum reuse and recycling rates are measured by weight. For houses built:

  • Before 1950, a minimum of 75% of materials by weight must be reused or recycled, excluding hazardous waste
  • Before 1950 and deemed as a character house by us, a minimum of 90% of materials by weight must be reused or recycled, excluding hazardous materials

  F. Review deconstruction requirements

  The minimum wood salvage requirement is three metric tonnes for houses:

  • Listed on the Vancouver Heritage Register
  • Built before 1910
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  Step 2: Prepare and submit documents 

  A. Prepare your application package

  Item	Notes
  Demolition checklist PDF file (153 KB)	Application checklist for all required plans and documents. Find required forms

  B. Submit documents

  Include your application package with your submission.

  Submit application

  C. Application reviewed

  We review your development or building permit application for environmental considerations and impact on trees (both on City and private property).

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  Step 3: Receive salvage and abatement permit and complete hazardous material report

  A. Receive your salvage and abatement permit

  Start removing non-structural salvageable building materials and hazardous building materials.

  Track all work related to reuse, recycling, or disposing of building materials.

  Important note Keep your receipts.

  B. Complete and upload report

  1. Have a qualified professional complete the Hazardous Building Material Report Form PDF file (209 KB)
  2. Submit the Hazardous Materials Report Form and documentation that confirms the removal and disposal of hazardous building materials by:
     1. Logging into your online account 
     2. Selecting the permit you want to update
     3. Selecting under Next Action ‘Provide Additional Information’
     4. Uploading the report and submit
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  Step 4: Pay all deposits and fees

  Our staff will advise you when fees and deposits associated to your permit application are required to be paid. You can pay for fees and deposits using your online permit account.

  1. Log into your online account 
  2. Select the permit you want to update
  3. Under Next Action select ‘Pay Fees’
  4. Pay for any outstanding fees by credit card

  You can also pay in-person any outstanding fees by cash, cheque, debit, or credit at the Development and Building Services Centre.

  View the schedule of fees and permits PDF file (791 KB)

  Green demolition deposit

  A $14,650 deposit will be required when you apply for a demolition permit with minimum reuse and recycling requirements.

  The deposit will be refunded if the reuse and recycling requirements are met. To learn more, read how we review recycling and reuse compliance reports PDF file (380 KB).

  If the requirements aren't met, some or all of the deposit won't be returned in accordance with Appendix C of the Green Demolition Bylaw PDF file (243 KB).

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  Step 5: Receive your demolition permit(s) and begin demolition

  A. Receive permit

  Receive your demolition permit(s).

  B. Begin demolition and track work

  Track all work related to reuse, recycling, or disposing of building materials.

  C. Keep your receipts and complete report

  Complete the recycling and reuse compliance report PDF file (280 KB) with receipts that show where all the materials were taken.

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  Step 6: Submit recycling and reuse compliance report for review and receive refund

  A. Submit report

  Submit the Recycling and Reuse Compliance Report by:

  1. Logging into your online account
  2. Selecting the permit you want to update
  3. Selecting under Next Action ‘Provide Additional Information’
  4. Uploading the report and submit

  B. Receive refund

  We verify, calculate, and return the appropriate refund.

  • The refund is automatically returned by mail to the person who paid it.
  • Make sure we have an up-to-date address on file (particularly if you used the address of the now-demolished house).
  • If you haven't received your refund within four weeks of your building permit being issued, email: environmentalprotection@vancouver.ca.

What you need to know

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  What is deconstruction

  Deconstruction involves the stripping and dismantling of the building to maximize salvage for reuse. Salvaged materials can be sold or donated (which may generate tax credits).

  Fully deconstructed projects can achieve a 95% or higher diversion rate, which is critical in helping move towards a Zero Waste world.

  Typical steps of deconstruction

  1. Assessment and quote
  2. Salvage and abatement
  3. Interior stripping to the studs
  4. Exterior/structure deconstruction
  5. Excavation and site cleaning

  Proof that it works

  What deconstruction can look like with these Vancouver case studies:

  • Dunbar PDF file (490 KB)
  • Grandview Woodland PDF file (22 MB)
  • Riley Park PDF file (1.3 MB)
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  Why we want you to reuse, salvage, and recycle as much as possible

  • The material still has value, particularly irreplaceable old growth lumber.
  • Landfills are filling up.
  • The materials may have significant value in resale or as a tax credit if donated to a registered charity.
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  How to turn salvaged materials into money

  We have partnered with Habitat for Humanity External website, opens in new tab to create The Rebuild Hub External website, opens in new tab, which offers Metro Vancouver residents a place to donate and source high quality salvaged materials. The Rebuild Hub also coordinates free appraisals of your house contents before you begin demo/deconstruction to help you understand the value you can capture by choosing deconstruction over demolition.

  If the appraiser identifies materials of value and you are interested in donating them, the Rebuild Hub will:

  • Confirm in advance which materials they can accept
  • Issue a tax receipt documenting the value of the items that you can use against your income tax bill

  After the appraisal, there is no obligation to donate items. You may want to explore selling items to private buyers instead.

  Alert If you have a large donation, the Hub may be able to pick the items up from your site (once removed from the house).

  Contact Habitat for Humanity

  Ask for The Rebuild Hub:

  • Phone: 604-681-5618
  • Email: info@rebuildhub.ca
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  How to dispose, salvage, and reuse materials

  How to dispose of specific materials

  • Construction industry waste toolkit, case studies, and regulations (Metro Vancouver) External web site, opens in new tab
  • 2020 construction and demolition waste reduction and recycling toolkit (Metro Vancouver) External web site, opens in new tab
  • Hazardous waste resources (BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy) External web site, opens in new tab
  • Lead-containing paints and coatings: preventing exposure in the construction Industry (WorkSafeBC) External web site, opens in new tab
  • Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation (WorkSafeBC) External web site, opens in new tab
  • Safe Work Practices for Handling Asbestos (WorkSafe BC) External web site, opens in new tab

  How to salvage and reuse materials

  Salvage and reuse guide for green home renovations PDF file (1 MB)

  Find local contractors and facilities

  • Metro Vancouver Recycles External web site, opens in new tab
  • Recycling facilities (Recycling Council of BC database) External web site, opens in new tab

Related policies

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  Where the rates are set

  Minimum reuse and recycling rates for houses are set by the Green Demolition By-law (created July 22, 2014, and amended on February 23, 2016, and May 16, 2018). The by-law supports our Greenest City Action Plan and Zero Waste 2040 Strategy.

  • Read the Green Demolition By-law
  • Read the 2015 update and report to Council on program changes PDF file (190 KB)
  • Read the 2018 update and report to Council on program changes PDF file (730 KB)
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  Zero Waste Vancouver

  We are building a zero waste strategy as an extension to the Greenest City Action Plan. Our goal is to become a zero waste community by 2040.

  Using traditional demolition methods, approximately 40-50% of materials are recycled from houses. The recycling requirements applied to demolition permits are important for moving Vancouver towards becoming a zero waste city.

  • Learn about Zero Waste Vancouver
  • Learn about the Greenest City Action Plan
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  Metro Vancouver initiatives

  Metro Vancouver's Integrated Solid Waste and Resource Management Plan External website, opens in new tab:

  • Requires municipalities to improve recycling rates of demolition and construction waste, which makes up more than 36% of material going to the landfill
  • Targets 80% diversion of construction and demolition waste from the landfill or incinerator by 2020

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