Electronic permit applications

Benefits to submitting online

You will no longer need to visit the services centre with paperwork or print large drawings – more and more permit applications can now be submitted online.
Our staff will review and issue approved plans electronically.
Approved plans can be submitted online 24/7.

We're working to enable you to:

Submit permit applications electronically
Perform other functions digitally

This is a part of our work to improve customer service and reduce building and development permit wait times.

We're working on supporting existing permit types and other online services available to you. Find and review steps for specific permits

Guide to submitting your permit application electronically

Review these guidelines before submitting your permit applications electronically.

Registering and logging into your online permit account
Prepare drawings and documents
When uploading documents, please ensure all drawings:
- Are submitted separately from other non-drawing documents, such as schedules, forms, and reports
  - Combining multiple or different document types will delay the processing of your application
- Are submitted in their original format ( For example, do not upload the files combined as one ZIP file or individual ZIP files)
- Do not have passwords or document restrictions
  - This allows staff to add markups, sign digital signature fields, create template pages, and print PDFs.
- Clearly depict the scope of work related to the application
- Present in acceptable industry standards in legible scale (for example, everything on the same page must be the same scale)
- Use vector format PDF (scanned paper drawings may not be accepted and may delay the approval of your permit)
- Contain a digital seal and are signed in accordance with a professional body or association; these include:
  - The Architectural Institute of BC (AIBC), the Association of Engineers and Geoscientist of BC (EGBC), and the Association of BC Land Surveyors (ABCLS)
  - Wet seals or photocopied seals and signatures without digital authentication are not accepted.
- Do not exceed 300MB in size
  - The drawing package ideally will be submitted as one single file.
  - If the total drawing package exceeds 300MB, split the drawings by discipline (for example architectural, landscape, mechanical) so the file sizes are less than 300MB.
- Have a logical file name (for example address, drawing type, revision #)
  - Details for “Attachment Type” are available through a drop down menu.
  - “Description” (text field) can be entered upon submission.
- Provide a blank space for the City’s stamp (same location for each page)
  - The area needs to be a minimum of 5 inches wide and 5 inches tall, to the right of the drawing.
If you need to submit changes to your drawing, you must uploading a complete full set and clearly indicate any changes on the specific pages. We recommend using tracking changes for mark ups such as clouding. Do not email individual or extracted pages to staff as they won’t be accepted.
Applying professional seals and digital signatures
Before you upload drawings

Before uploading your drawings with your permit application through your online permit account, you must ensure your drawings contain both a professional seal and digital signature from your association’s endorsed signing authority.

Guidelines

Accepted documents

We accept both PDF and PDF/A documents, in accordance with your professional association’s guidelines around PDF and PDF/A documents.
- Convert PDF/A format documents before applying an electronic stamp or digital signature
- Ensure you review and are aware of PDF/A limitations (as governed by ISO 19001) before submitting them to us such as:
  - Converting to PDF/A may wipe out the text within fillable boxes
  - PDF/A does not support layered documents
  - PDF/A does not support JavaScript
Signatures
- Only 1 (one) digital signature per individual is required for a set of drawings and/or required documents. Do not digitally sign each page of a document.
- Follow the instructions outlined by your association’s endorsed signing authority. For example, if your association uses Notarius, follow their instructions to digitally stamp and sign a document.
- An image of a signature or initials does not constitute a digital signature. To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure you sign using a digital signing authority, such as Notarius.
- Do not check the “Certify” check box under “Advanced Options” in the signature dialog box when applying your digital signature with Notarius’ ConsignO software suite—this will prevent us from applying subsequent stamps or signatures.
What happens after submission
A. Application review

Following the submission of your application package:
- We will review it for completeness.
- The application fees will be calculated.
Once all required application documents have been submitted and fees paid, we will conduct a detailed review of your application. During this review:
- We may contact you, requesting that you address any conditions or deficiencies through your online permit account.
- You’ll be able to see the current status of your permit application through your online permit account. Find and review steps for specific permits (including online permit guides tailored for specific permits).
B. Permit issued

Once your plans are approved and your permit has been issued, you will receive an email from us with instructions on how to view and download your permit documents from your online permit account.

You no longer need pick up your issued permit document(s).

C. Inspections

If an inspection is required, you’ll be able to request an inspection through your online permit account.

Approved drawings for the jobsite

For your inspection, one paper set of City of Vancouver-approved drawings (full-sized and to scale), displaying the City accepted stamp, needs to be made available for viewing at the jobsite for City Inspectors.

One printed copy of the City-approved permit needs to be made available for viewing at the jobsite for City inspectors.
Questions and follow-up