Find Surrey's commercial, industrial, institutional and multi-family building permit applications.

Building Permit Applications

For an overview of Building Permit applications for commercial, industrial, institutional, and multi-family buildings, view or print the Guide to Applying for a Building Permit or the Guide to Applying for a Tenant Improvement Building Permit.

Planning & Development permits can be submitted by email to permitapplication@surrey.ca. Before submitting your application, please review the Digital Submission Guideline. You will be contacted once we have reviewed your submission.

All permit application processes will remain the same, apart from receiving the physical document copies. Hard copies of permit application submissions may be necessary and requested depending on the scope of work and project size, upon completion of the digital submission.

Building Permit Fees

The Building Permit Fees will be based on the value of construction (building value). Value of construction means the complete worth of all construction related to a development, including, but not limited to, foundations, structural members, framing, finishes, roofing, electrical, plumbing, drains, heating, air-conditioning, fire extinguishing systems, elevators, all plans and specifications, labour and fees for design, testing, consulting, management, contractors' profit and overhead, sales taxes, and insurance, all contributed labour and materials, and site works and improvements not included in other permits.

The declared value of construction will be validated using Marshall & Swift Valuations during the plan review process prior to building permit issuance.

Use the Building/Sign Permit Fee Estimator to calculate the fee required at the time of application. A non-refundable plan processing fee, equal to 35 percent of the estimated building permit fee, is required at the time of each building permit application for a new building, addition or building envelope remediation.

For all tenant improvement and landlord improvement building permits, the full building permit fee must be paid at the time of building permit application.

Where applicable, payment of Development Cost ChargesSchool Site Acquisition Charges, GVS&DD Sewer Charges, GVWD Water ChargesTransLink Charges and Community Amenity Contributions are required prior to the issuance of a building permit.

Fees can be paid by cash, cheque or debit. Credit card payments are accepted up to $15,000. 

 

Building Permit Timelines

The timeline for all building permits depends on the completeness of the application, how quickly the City's comments are responded to, and volume of applications to be reviewed by each review group. 

Use the Online Building Permit Application Inquiry to check on the status of your building permit and find out which Plan Reviewer it has been assigned to.

 

Building Permit Address

Existing civic addresses are rarely retained for new development. Prior to preparing any documents or drawings, ensure that the new civic address(es) of a subject property have been established by an Addressing Clerk. The correct civic address shall be displayed in an obvious location on each drawing sheet. Drawings will not be reviewed with incorrect or missing addresses.

Contact the Area Planning Division at addressingrequests@surrey.ca or 604-591-4448 for zoning information and verification.

 

New Buildings & Additions to Existing Buildings

Guide to Applying for a Building Permit 
Building Permit Application Form 
Building Permit Revision Application Form 
Building Permit Application Checklist 
Authorization Form 
Building Code Checklist 
Building Code Checklist - 2012 BCBC 
Building Information Sheet 
Damage Deposit Form 
Development Data Sheet 
Development Permit Compliance Checklist 
On-Site Services Installation Application 
Soil Deposition Letter

Building Envelope Remediation

Guide to Applying for a Building Envelope Remediation Building Permit

Tenant and Landlord Improvements

Guide to Applying for a Tenant Improvement Building Permit 
Tenant Improvement Building Permit Application Checklist 
Tenant Improvement Electrical Drawing Requirements
Landlord Improvement Building Permit Application Checklist 
Child Care Facility
Converting an Existing Single Family Dwelling to a Commercial Building 
Increasing the Occupant Capacity of an Existing Assembly Occupancy 
Outdoor Seating for an Eating or Licensed Beverage Establishment 
Bylaw and Licensing Inquiry Form

British Columbia Certified Professional Program

British Columbia Certified Professional Program Practice and Procedure Manual

City of Surrey Certified Professional Program

The Certified Professional Program provides an alternate process to the building permit process in which an owner can retain a Registered Professional who is certified by the City to represent the City for verifying substantial compliance with the BC Building Code requirements, thus greatly simplifying and expediting the building permit application process.

City of Surrey Certified Professional Program Insert

Mechanical

Dust Producing Processes
Emergency Power for Fire Pumps 
Fire Extinguishing Systems for Commercial Cooking Equipment 
Freeze Protection of Standpipes and Sprinkler Piping 
Grease-Laden Vapour Confirmation Letter 
Omega Sprinkler Recall Information 
Spray Coating Facilities 
Sprinkler System Zoning

Fire Sprinklers

Fire Sprinkler Permit Process 
Fire Sprinkler Permit Fees 
Fire Sprinkler/Plumbing Application Form
Fire Flow Information Release Form
Backflow Preventer Permit Application Form
Sprinkler Submission Undertaking Letter 
Sprinkler System Zoning 
Sprinkler System Zoning Confirmation Letter 
Owner's Information Certificate
Omega Sprinkler Recall Information

Sign Permit

Sign Permit Application Guide and Form
Sign Permit Fees 
Authorization Form

City Bylaws

Building Bylaw 17850 
Surrey Zoning Bylaw 12000 
Surrey Zoning Bylaw 12000 Schedules
Sign Bylaw 
Development Cost Charges Bylaw
District Energy System Bylaw
Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) Bylaw 
Soil Conservation and Protection Bylaw 
Tree Protection Bylaw 
Public Safety Radio Building Amplification System Bylaw

Additional Forms, Guidelines & Information

Alternative Solutions The Alternative Solution review fee is $620 each.
Alternative Solutions Information Sheet 
Alternative Solutions Information Sheet - 2012 BCBC
Change of Coordinating Registered Professional (CRP) or Registered Professional (RP)
Construction Fire Safety Plan 
Construction Site Health and Safety Expectations
Demolition Permit for a Building or Structure
Energy Efficiency
Energy Step Code for Part 9 Multi-Family Buildings
Finishing a Townhouse Basement or Renovating a Condominium or Townhouse 
Fire Damage Repair
Flammable and Combustible Liquid Storage Tanks 
Installing or Upgrading a Fire Alarm System
Portable Buildings
Residential Unit Above Another Unit 
Restrictive Covenant Process 
Revision to Issued Building Permit
Solar Panel Installations
Temporary Tents
Truck Parking Facility 
Vertical Storage Systems
Antenna Systems Permit

Authorization Form 
Bi-Directional Amplification (BDA) Letter of Undertaking
Building Code Checklist 
Building Code Checklist - 2012 BCBC
Building Information Sheet 
Building Permit Application Form 
Bylaw and Licensing Inquiry Form 
Damage Deposit Form 
Landlord Improvement Building Permit Application Checklist 
Letters of Assurance (Schedules)
Soil Deposition Letter 
Temporary Tent Application Form
Tenant Improvement Building Permit Application Checklist 
Tenant Improvement Electrical Drawing Requirements

Building Permit Fees 
Development Cost Charges 
GVS&DD Sewer Charges
GVWD Water Charges
Letter of Credit Information
Community Amenity Contributions
Public Art Policy
School Site Acquisition Charges 
Sign Permit Fees 
TransLink Charges

Contact Information

New Buildings/Additions: 604-591-4160
Tenant/Landlord Improvements: 604-591-4523
New Buildings/Additions & Signs: UCCommercialSection@surrey.ca
Tenant/Landlord Improvements: Tenant.Improvements@surrey.ca 
Radio Amplification Bylaw: 604-543-6780
Fax: 604-591-2680

Commercial Section, Building Division
Planning & Development Department
City of Surrey
13450 - 104 Avenue
Surrey, BC V3T 1V8

Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 4:30pm

*The information presented on this website is not warranted to be error-free. The website is constantly monitored and the brochures and forms regularly updated to ensure the accuracy of the information they contain. In the event of an inconsistency between the information presented and the City of Surrey's established bylaws, policies and procedures, the established bylaws, policies and procedures take precedence.