Commercial TI: Business Building Permits Explained

Tenant improvements permitting process for tenant improvements also known as TIs. They're for businesses opening new locations or renovating existing ones. These are different than secondary suites, but don't confuse the two. If possible, contact us before signing in a lease. This ensures the location qualifies for the type of business you want to open, minimizing any unforeseen construction costs. You can also go directly to the city and ask them if the type of business you want to open

qualify or the location you want to lease. For example, if by mistake you choose a property that isn't that's classified under a different use, this can require significant upgrades to the fire separations of the building. Besides that, here's a few steps to get started with a tenant improvement. Firstly, request the original drawings from the city hall's building department. Find out what the previous use of the space was. Define your scope of work. Please include how many employees and customers

there will be at a time. This helps us determine what the code requires. For example, the more people, the more exit capacity requirement and potentially more bathroom and need a layout sketch showing all desks, all seats, all tables, and any other furniture. This is crucial for meeting the codes travel distance and fire safety requirement. The typical professional you need for tenant improvement is a mechanical engineer to provide proper heating and air circulation throughout the unit and a structural engineer if you're

modifying any loadbearing wall. Or maybe you're building a mezzanine or a second floor or you're adding any shelving over 8 ft tall. If you're adding some extra square footage or changing the business type, we'll have to look at parking as this can affect the requirements. Additionally, you'll require an Architect if any of the following items apply to your project. The building is larger than 6,460 sq ft or there's a change of use, meaning that the proposed business is different

than the last. For example, you're going from offices to retail or if you're making changes to the building next year, the building or the building is more than three stories or it's a commercial building classified as a group B like a hospital or group A like a daycare or a restaurant with a building area over 4,950 sq ft. Please note that these characteristics apply to the building itself, not just your unit. These guidelines are set by the Architects act. You can obtain more information by visiting aibc.ca.

Put the link in the video description. Don't worry if you need an Architect or we don't have a BC registered Architect in house. We collaborate closely with one to ensure all your project needs are met. Let's look at as-built measuring and why it matters. As-built measuring is needed when the city has no original drawings of your home or business or if there has been significant changes since the last building permit set of drawings. A significant change is anything that's hard to mark on existing

on an existing set of drawings. We use a lidar scanner that takes 360° photos and scans the rooms. This method is efficient, reducing what used to take me eight hours to do down just to three. It also minimizes human error. Please note as built measuring is different from a land survey. While we focus on the interior of the building, a certified land surveyor handles the exterior. The survey will measure the property's boundaries, grades, and in case of a renovation, the exact location of the house relation to

the lot. By now, you know, zoning and building codes are not an easy feat. The building code alone are two binders, 4" thick. But if you ask a carpenter, he's going to say it's only 3-1/2". Don't try to tackle this on your own. Leave it to the expert. We offer a feasibility study for every project because each one is unique and needs to have an tailored approach. Whether you're homeowner, business owner, or contractor, we're here to make sure your project runs smoothly from start to

finish. Now let's conclude the presentation with five frequently over most asked questions. One, do I need an Architect? In most cases for residential renovations or custom homes, you don't need an Architect unless your proposal has more than five dwellings for TIs, sometimes as dictated by the Architect institute of British Columbia, which is covered earlier in this video. Two, can a designer request the original drawings on my behalf? Yes, but the designer needs to prove that they have authorization from the

owner. Three, can the designer apply for the permit on my behalf? Yes, but the designer needs to be listed as the agent for your project, which means they will be responsive throughout the entire process. For both legal and practical reasons, it's usually better for the owner or contractor to apply for the building permit. As they're involved in the project from start to finish, after applying for the permit, how long will it take for me to get my permit? The typical turnaround time for a

building permit is 4 to 8 weeks after submitting your application. However, in busy periods, especially in cities like Vancouver, it can take up to 12 weeks. Five, what will my project cost be? I'll cover project costs on a future video. However, I cannot give you exact costs of your construction as prices between materials and contractors can vary widely. But I can help you understand what is required to build in 2025, which may impact your budget. And since you made it this far into the video, I'll tell

you this. The biggest cost in any construction is typically the finishes. I hope you found this video helpful. And if you have any questions specific to your project or want to learn more about our process, feel free to reach out by phone, email, or send us a text to the number on the screen. Hope this video has cleared up any uncertainties you have about getting started with a building permit. This was your host, Edward Vega.