Council streamlines development permit process by approving guaranteed timelines for building and rezoning permits

Surrey, BC – More than 36,000 housing units have been created in Surrey over the last decade and the demand remains high. Even during a pandemic, the City recorded a building permit value of $1.46 billion, beating the 10-year annual average. To minimize the wait time between applying and receiving a building or rezoning permit, Surrey City Council has approved a guaranteed permitting timeline.

“The guaranteed permitting timeline addresses a significant issue that builders have, which is when will they know if the permit has been approved or not,” said Mayor Doug McCallum. “Surrey has proven to be a prime destination for new residents and businesses. That’s why Council has taken this significant step to improve the speed and predictability in the land development approval process. The guaranteed timeline will result in less idle time for builders and more accurate completion dates for people looking to move into their new home or business space.”

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Demand for Single Family and Townhouse homes in Surrey remain strong. There has also been a shift to low, mid and high rise apartments. From January 2019 to December 2020, single family homes accounted for 31 of new construction, 21 for townhomes, 31 for high rise apartments and 17 for low to mid rise apartments. Source:

Communications & Media Relations Lead Office of the Mayor