Vancouver Building By-law (CBO)

What's happeningDeadline to apply for building permits under 2019 VBBL: September 14, 2025

You can still apply for a building permit under the 2019 Vancouver Building By-law (VBBL) until September 15, 2025, if your application is complete and includes a successful intake meeting.

The intake review meeting can take place on or after September 15, 2025, but it won't be accepted as a placeholder for an incomplete submission.

Review the implementation schedule under the 2025 VBBL for more information

The City of Vancouver is enabled under the Vancouver Charter to adopt by-laws to regulate the design and construction of buildings.

The Vancouver Building By-law regulates the design and construction of buildings, as well as the administrative provisions related to permitting, inspections, and the enforcement of these requirements.

Vancouver's ability to adopt and enforce its own Building By-law has provided the City of Vancouver the opportunity to be a leader with respect to building regulations, in the areas of:

  • Safety
  • Health
  • Accessibility
  • Alteration to existing and heritage buildings
  • Artist live and work studios
  • Energy utilization
  • Rain screen cladding system
  • Seismic and climate

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Vancouver Building By-law

The Vancouver Building By-law (CBO) is the main place to find Vancouver’s building construction regulations and information for applying the Building By-law and permit process.

This includes links to bulletins, Letters of Professional Assurance, and other information.

Questions about the Building By-law?

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