City of Vancouver makes progress on clearing big backlog of new home applications

Amidst expanding criticism from housing advocates and the provincial govt that the inefficient allowing processes of municipal governments in BC are partially to blame for the housing crisis, the City of Vancouver claims it has produced some new progress in clearing its substantial backlog.

City workers explained to Vancouver Town Council in December 2021 that they have been struggling with an ingestion backlog of about 500 purposes for one-loved ones, duplex, and laneway residences, immediately after suffering from around double the selection of purposes in 2021 when compared to 2020.

But as of these days, in accordance to a launch, 450 programs are now getting processed, and the remaining programs are back with the proponents, as more details is necessary to entire the overview.

“We know firms and inhabitants be expecting our assistance with publish-pandemic economic recovery, and we are psyched to see that all the allow enhancements we have produced are obtaining a optimistic affect,” reported Andrea Law, standard supervisor of improvement, buildings, and licensing for the Metropolis of Vancouver.

“We continue being committed to improving our permitting and licensing courses by way of open up and clear collaboration with business companions and stakeholders.”

According to the metropolis, in addition to clearing the single-relatives house software backlog, metropolis personnel have also implemented various measures to increase processing occasions.

Critique time for each application for one-household, duplex, and laneway homes have been diminished by 75%, primary to a 300% improve in programs processed. Applicants are now contacted within two to a few organization times from software submission — a drastic advancement that is 15 to 16 weeks more quickly, which offers immensely higher certainty that the application is in-stream to be reviewed. As effectively, the first prepare assessment now takes place throughout application ingestion, and is two weeks more rapidly than just before.

Other advancements include things like laneway house purposes now observing their original overview 3 months faster, and the direct-to-inspections approach now issuing permits in as minimal as two weeks for simple renovations — seven weeks faster than past.

Guided by the city manager’s process pressure and city council, the municipal governing administration states it is continuing to search at strategies to increase the effectiveness and pace of its allowing and licensing processes.

Afterwards this spring, a focused speedy-monitor on the net enquiry and application portal will be introduced to make it simpler for corporations seeking a adjust in use or occupancy.