Demolition permit with recycling and deconstruction requirements

Responsible demolition

We want demolition materials to be dealt with in a responsible manner:

Reusing as much as possible
Recycling as much as possible
Disposing of hazardous materials properly

We strongly encourage all projects to consider full house relocation where possible.

We’ve partnered with The Rebuild Hub to make it as easy as possible for you to deconstruct and salvage materials, which can reduce disposal costs significantly.

Salvage (deconstruction)

A minimum salvage (deconstruction) requirement applies when you demolish a heritage-listed house or a house built before 1910.

Reuse and recycling

Minimum reuse and recycling requirements apply when you:

Demolish a house built before 1950
Voluntarily choose to meet minimum reuse and recycling requirements if your house was built in or after 1950

Steps to getting a permit

Step 1: Review requirements
A. 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).

B. Determine if you home is a character house

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

Applications with no potential conditionality (generally, those in R1-1) 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.

C. 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
D. Review deconstruction requirements

The minimum wood salvage requirement is 3 metric tonnes for houses:
- Listed on the Vancouver Heritage Register
- Built before 1910
Step 2: Prepare and submit permit application
Are you wanting to demolish or deconstruct a building as part of building a new house or laneway house? If so, submit your demolition permit application with your building a new house application.

A. Prepare your application package

Refer to the Demolition Checklist (153 KB)

B. Complete the application form

Development/Building Permit Application Form (340 KB)

C. Send your application package and form

Include the application form and all required drawings and documents so we can accept your application.

Send your application

D. Pay fees

After we intake your application, we will notify you to pay the permit application fees and any deposits. Pay the fees online, in person, or by mail.
- Online by credit card (Important note Only the permit holder/applicant can make online payments toward a permit.)
  - Need help? Refer to the building permit online account guide (4 MB).
- In person at the Development and Building Services Centre, 515 W 10th Ave:
  - Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 8:30am to 4:30pm
  - Tuesday and Thursday: 8:30am to 4pm
  - Holidays: closed
  - There is a $200 maximum for cash payments.
- Mail by cheque to:
  City of Vancouver
  Development and Building Services Centre
  515 West 10th Avenue
  Vancouver, BC V5Z 4A8
  Make sure the permit number is noted on the cheque and the payee is made out to "City of Vancouver".
E. We approve your permit(s)

When we issue your permit(s), we will send you an email with instructions to download and print your permit(s) and approved drawings.
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.

Keep your receipts.

B. Complete and upload report
1. Have a qualified professional complete the Hazardous Building Material Report Form (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
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 (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, review how we review recycling and reuse compliance reports (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 By-law (1 MB).
Step 5: Receive your demolition permit(s) and begin demolition
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

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:
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.
How to turn salvaged materials into money
We have partnered with Habitat for Humanity to create The Rebuild Hub , 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.

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
How to dispose, salvage, and reuse materials
How to dispose of specific materials
How to salvage and reuse materials

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

Find local contractors and facilities
- Metro Vancouver Recycles
- Recycling facilities (Recycling Council of BC database)

Related policies

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.
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
Metro Vancouver initiatives
Metro Vancouver's Integrated Solid Waste and Resource Management Plan :
- 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

Contact the Development and Building Services Centre

Contact us online

Location and mailing address
Development and Building Centre
515 West 10th Avenue, Ground Floor
Vancouver, BC V5Z 4A8

Opening hours for in-person payments and scheduled appointments
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 8:30am to 4:30pm
Tuesday, Thursday: 8:30am to 4pm
Closed holidays

Did you find what you're looking for?

Demolition permit with recycling and deconstruction requirements

Responsible demolition

Salvage (deconstruction)

Reuse and recycling

Steps to getting a permit

Step 1: Review requirements

Step 2: Prepare and submit permit application

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

Step 4: Pay all deposits and fees

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

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

What you need to know

What is deconstruction

Why we want you to reuse, salvage, and recycle as much as possible

How to turn salvaged materials into money

How to dispose, salvage, and reuse materials

Related policies

Where the rates are set

Zero Waste Vancouver

Metro Vancouver initiatives

Contact the Development and Building Services Centre

Did you find what you're looking for?

Contact information, partner agencies, and website policies