The Ultimate Building Permit Checklist for Surrey & Burnaby

Date Published: April 18, 2026

If you are searching for a City of Surrey building permit checklist or a City of Burnaby building permit checklist, you already know that BC municipalities run a tight ship. Since the province rolled out centralized digital submission portals, both cities have moved to fully paperless reviews. That means your application must be complete before you click Submit. One missing signature or incorrectly scaled drawing triggers an automatic hold.

In 2026, permit reviewers in both Surrey and Burnaby are cross-checking submissions against three layers simultaneously:

Local Zoning Bylaws (lot coverage, height, setbacks, tree protection)
BC Building Code & Step Code (energy targets, airtightness, thermal bridging)
SSMUH & Multiplex Rules (if converting single-family to multi-unit)

What Surrey Looks For

Surrey’s ePermit system prioritizes site servicing and environmental overlays. Common requirements include:

A completed Zoning Confirmation Letter (ZCL) from City Planning.
Tree protection plans if any trunk exceeds 60 cm DBH on-site.
Grading and drainage plans showing how runoff will be managed, especially near the Nicomekl or Serpentine floodplains.
Utility capacity confirmation for added suites or laneway homes.

What Burnaby Looks For

Burnaby is highly structured around energy compliance and geotechnical stability:

Proof of BC Energy Step Code 3 or 4 compliance (energy models or prescriptive compliance forms).
Geotechnical reports if your lot has slope grading >15% or is in the Burnaby Mountain corridor.
Heritage screening if the property falls within a designated Character Area.
Signed professional engineering for structural, mechanical, and electrical systems.

1
Confirm Zoning & Site Eligibility
2
Compile Architectural & Site Drawings
3
Gather Engineering & Energy Compliance Docs
4
Upload, Pay, & Track via Municipal Portal

The Complete Permit Document Stack

Whether you are in Surrey or Burnaby, your submission folder must include:

Application Form & Fees — calculated via the city's online estimator.
Site Plan — scaled 1:200, showing property lines, setbacks, existing/proposed structures, and drainage paths.
Architectural Drawings — floor plans, elevations, sections, and door/window schedules.
Structural & Mechanical Drawings — foundation, framing, HVAC layout, and HRV sizing.
Energy Compliance Package — Hot2000 output, airtightness testing plan, and Step Code checklist.
Professional Seals — CEA or PE stamps where municipal bylaws require them.

Missing any of these items triggers a "Request for Further Information" (RFI) status, pausing your review clock. The average delay for an incomplete submission in 2026 is 14–21 business days.

Why Stock Checklists Fail

Free checklists online rarely account for municipal nuances. Burnaby requires metric-only submissions with specific title block headers. Surrey demands a separate arborist report for retained trees over a certain diameter. Our checklist bundles both city requirements into a single, pre-submission workflow.

Surrey & Burnaby Permit Checklist: What Matters Most

A quick homeowner's guide to the most important permit requirements and common pitfalls in Surrey and Burnaby.

Focus Area	What It Means for You	Key Considerations
Surrey Requirements	Surrey requires tree protection plans, grading and drainage details, and floodplain compliance for many lots. Zoning confirmation is mandatory.	Check for tree protection bylaws, confirm site grading, and ensure all utility and zoning documents are included.
Burnaby Requirements	Burnaby enforces Step Code 3/4, requires geotechnical reports for sloped lots, and may need heritage screening. All plans must be metric and digitally submitted.	Prepare energy compliance docs, check if your lot needs a geotechnical report, and use the city's digital checklist.
Common Rejections	Applications are often rejected for missing title blocks, unsigned engineering, or incomplete site grading info. Each rejection adds weeks to your timeline.	Double-check all signatures, seals, and document formatting before submitting.

Download the Free BC Permit Checklist

Don't risk a 3-week review delay because of a missing signature or incorrect form. Enter your email below to receive our Surrey & Burnaby Building Permit Checklist (PDF) — updated for 2026 municipal portals and BC Building Code revisions.

Download the Checklist or Contact Canadian Blueprint to have us prepare your submission package.

FAQ: Stop Guessing. Start Submitting.

How long does a building permit take in Surrey or Burnaby?

Complete residential applications typically take 4–8 weeks for review, depending on project complexity and reviewer workload. Incomplete submissions reset the clock each time an RFI is issued.

Do I need an engineer for a single-family home?

Yes. While we provide the permit-ready construction drawings, the BC Building Code requires a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) to sign and seal the structural, geotechnical, and complex mechanical components of your project. We handle the design and municipal coordination, but we bring in licensed P.Eng. partners to provide the necessary Letters of Assurance (Schedules) for the city.

Can I submit my permit application by mail or in person?

No. Surrey and Burnaby operate fully digital submission portals as of 2024. All plans, forms, and supporting documents must be uploaded as single-page PDFs with clear file naming conventions.

Stop Guessing. Start Submitting.