Several municipalities in BC - including Campbell River - are partnering with the province in an effort to get more new homes built for people, faster.

“People will soon see new homes approved faster as we make good on our commitment to position B.C. as a North American leader in digital permitting and construction,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing.

“We are excited to start work together with our partners to design and then implement this new digital building permit tool, so we can speed up the delivery of new homes and create the types of housing options people need in B.C.” 

They’re working on a new digital building permit tool.

Currently, many jurisdictions in B.C. rely on a paper-based application process for new housing developments that leads to delays and slow approval times.

Once completed, the province says the new digital permit tool will make it faster and simpler for builders and developers to submit.

The Ministry of Housing is also working with the National Research Council of Canada to make construction codes machine readable, which will allow for more automated and faster permit reviews in the future.

The tool is being developed through a pilot partnership between the Province, 16 local governments, including the City of Campbell River, and one First Nations government that will implement the new digital building permit tool.

The tool is expected to begin testing in partnership communities by March 2024, following which it will be expanded into other communities.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.