BRITISH COLUMBIA – In an attempt to speed up the homebuilding process, the province has invested in digital permitting to make the process for the construction industry that is aimed at making the process quicker and more collaborative.
While noting that the housing sector is reliant on the paper system, the Ministry of Housing sees digitization easing some of the pressure on the housing market.
They are also digitizing the BC Building Code and the building permitting process with pilots in select local governments in 2024. The BC Building Code is currently only available in print or PDF format. The digitally enhanced code will include features that will make it easier for builders and building inspectors to understand and interpret the information. It will also allow for more automation during building permit reviews.
The building permitting process currently varies widely across local governments: some use digital tools and some rely on paper. The provincial government’s work to digitize the process will include working with local governments.
The province did preliminary consultation with local governments, builders, developers, architects and engineers on the work and will continue to engage with partners throughout the process. This project builds on the government’s work to establish a single application portal for provincial housing permits and authorizations, which will go live in 2023.
It also builds on the province’s development approvals process review, which launched in 2018 and helps local governments improve their processes. As part of this work, government created the Local Government Development Approvals Program, which is providing $15 million to help local governments create more efficient approvals processes.
Advancing digital permitting and construction is part of the Province’s new housing plan, Homes for People, which was announced on April 3.
Mark MacDonald, Business Examiner
