🏪 Commercial TI: Business Building Permits Explained

About This Video

Opening or renovating a business space? Here’s what a TI (tenant improvement) permit involves, when a change of use applies, occupancy limits, fire separations, and how to avoid costly surprises.

Planning to open a new business or renovate a commercial space in British Columbia (BC)? This video is an essential guide before you get started! At Canadian Blueprint, we know that Tenant Improvement (TI) projects can be complex. A single misstep, like an unplanned "Change of Use"—for example, shifting from offices to a retail store or a daycare—can result in costly, mandatory upgrades to the building's fire separations and safety systems. In this video, Edward Vega explains everything you need to know to launch your commercial project successfully: When additional professional involvement may be required based on criteria from organizations like the AIBC, including building size (e.g., over 4,950 sq ft), height (more than 3 storeys), or a change in occupancy. The Importance of "Change of Use" by discovering why verifying the building's previous use classification (e.g., Group A like a Daycare, Group B like a Hospital) is the critical first step to avoid expensive surprises. The "As-Built Measuring" Process showing how we use advanced LiDAR scanning technology to create precise measurements when no original drawings are available. Key First Steps to properly define your scope of work, request the correct drawings from the city, and determine the employee and customer capacity for your business. Don't let building permit complexities delay your grand opening. At Canadian Blueprint, we help you navigate the process efficiently!