The Province of British Columbia is taking significant steps to accelerate the approval and construction of new homes by developing a cutting-edge digital building permit tool. This initiative aligns with the government’s commitment to position British Columbia as a North American leader in digital permitting and construction. The Minister of Housing, Ravi Kahlon, expressed enthusiasm for this effort, emphasizing the importance of speeding up the delivery of new homes to address housing needs.

Presently, many jurisdictions in B.C. rely on a paper-based application process for housing developments, leading to delays and slow approval times. The new digital building permit tool will streamline the process, making it quicker and more straightforward for builders and developers to submit permits digitally. It will also automatically review submissions for compliance with the BC Building Code, reducing delays.

This digital permit tool is the first step in modernizing the housing development process, embracing innovation and digital technologies like building information modeling (BIM). The Ministry of Housing is collaborating with the National Research Council of Canada to make construction codes machine-readable, which will enable automated and faster permit reviews in the future.

The tool is being developed through a pilot partnership involving the Province, 16 local governments, and one First Nations government. Testing is expected to begin in partner communities by March 2024, with plans to expand it to other areas.

To ensure the broader vision of becoming a North American leader in digital permitting and construction is achieved, a digital advisory council has been established. It includes representatives from various housing development organizations, and its regular meetings will commence in the near future.

The government’s efforts build upon the digitization of the BC Building Code and the establishment of a single-application portal for provincial housing permits and authorizations. This initiative aims to make housing permitting processes more transparent and accessible for homebuilders and developers.

Ultimately, this digital permitting and construction advancement is a part of the Province’s new housing plan, “Homes for People,” which seeks to expedite the delivery of new homes, increase the supply of middle-income housing, combat speculation, and support those in need. The collaboration between the government and local communities is crucial in addressing the housing crisis and providing affordable housing options for diverse needs.