Commercial Building Permits
Find Surrey's commercial, industrial, institutional and multi-family building permit applications.
How to apply
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, review the digital submission guide. You will be contacted once we have reviewed your submission.
Requesting hard copies for digital application submissions
Hard (physical) copies of drawings and documents may be requested throughout the permitting process. If you submit your application digitally, hard copies may be requested depending on the scope of work and project size.
Staff will communicate directly with the applicant if hard copies are required. If you submit digitally, do not send in hard copies unless requested to do so by staff.
View your permit
For multi-family and complex building permits, you can view your permit using the online permitting service.
After you've applied for your permit, you can use the service to:
- View your permit details
- Check the status of your permit
- View and pay for eligible fees
- Download and view your deficiency list
- This feature applies only to applications submitted after November 19.
- Request for inspections online
To access the online portal, you are required to have a MySurrey account. Review the online portal registration guide before you get started.
BC Building Code
To better align with regulations and business operations, applications received prior to March 8, 2024 may continue under the 2018 BCBC beyond March 8, 2025 provided deficiencies are actively being resolved. Applications that are inactive with no progress for 180 days may be cancelled. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
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 Charges, School Site Acquisition Charges, GVS&DD Sewer Charges, GVWD Water Charges, TransLink 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.
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 Development Inquiry (ODI) tool to check on the status and view the details of your building permit.
Addressing
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 Addressing Clerk at addressingrequests@surrey.ca or 604-591-4448 for zoning information and address 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 – 2018 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
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 $642 each.
Alternative Solutions Information Sheet
Alternative Solutions Information Sheet - 2018 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 - 2018 BCBC
Building Information Sheet
Building Permit Application Form
Bylaw and Licensing Inquiry Form
Damage Deposit Form
Landlord Improvement Building Permit Application Checklist
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.
