The City of Burnaby is using innovative technology to get more housing built faster, by automating the review processes for residential building permits.
The new software will allow customers to conduct pre-application compliance checks against the Burnaby Zoning Bylaw any time of day, providing City staff with more time to focus on more complex aspects of permit reviews. The City has entered into a 2-year contract with Archistar to provide the new service, using funds received through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund.
“By streamlining our service and exploring new technology, our staff have drastically improved our development and building approvals process—which means shovels can hit the ground on housing projects even faster in Burnaby,” said Mayor Mike Hurley. “We’re proud to be on the leading edge as more and more cities begin to adopt this type of technology.”
Staff anticipate up to 400 R1 permits will be processed through the new technology in a year. The new software replaces a lengthy process which involved staff reviewing applications line-by-line to ensure they meet the City’s zoning requirements.
“Burnaby is leading the way in leveraging innovative technology to streamline the building permit process,” said Terry Beech, Member of Parliament for Burnaby North-Seymour and Minister of Citizens’ Services. “This is a win for developers, homeowners, and our community, accelerating the pace at which new housing can be built. The federal Housing Accelerator Fund is key to this initiative and we are excited to see Burnaby at the forefront of this progress."
This project builds on the City’s efforts to reduce processing times and create a faster, simpler and better experience for applicants through a comprehensive review launched in 2023. Earlier this year, the City received the NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association’s Most Improved Approval Timing award in recognition of the significant strides the City has made to date.
Learn More: Development Approvals Process