Surrey Slashes Permit Timelines to Speed Up Housing
The City of Surrey has taken a major step toward faster housing delivery, reducing residential building permit timelines by a remarkable 75 percent. What once took up to 16 weeks now takes just four, a move city officials say will help projects launch sooner and move ahead with greater certainty.
City staff shared the update with council on Monday, outlining changes designed to simplify approvals, cut costs, and reduce paperwork. For residential builders, the shorter and more predictable timelines remove delays that often slow down construction at critical stages.
Strong Results Already Showing
Mayor Brenda Locke pointed to last year’s progress as proof that the strategy is working. She said the city reduced permit processing times, lowered costs for builders, and delivered real results, including 4,280 net new homes and more than two billion dollars in construction value.
As Surrey continues to grow quickly, she emphasized the city’s commitment to increasing housing supply across every neighbourhood while making it easier to build.
Faster Return of Security Deposits
Another key improvement is the turnaround time for returning security deposits. Builders are now receiving their deposits back in an average of six weeks, compared to the previous wait of up to six months.
These deposits are held by the city to ensure work such as roads, utilities, and landscaping is completed. Faster refunds help builders keep projects moving, especially as construction and financing costs continue to rise.
Quicker Reviews and Permanent Task Force
The city has also streamlined smaller approvals. Minor tenant improvement permits are now typically reviewed within one day, a change that significantly reduces downtime for businesses and property owners.
In addition, the Development Approvals Process Improvements Task Force has been made permanent, recognizing its role in simplifying and modernizing city approvals.
Focus Shifts to Continuous Improvement
Ron Gill, Surrey’s General Manager of Planning and Development, credited city staff for driving the improvements and said the work is not stopping here. With timelines now below target, the focus will shift to ongoing refinements that support faster home delivery.
City officials say the momentum built in 2025 sets the stage for further gains in 2026 as Surrey continues to address housing demand.
Residents and builders can find updates on development and permitting improvements at surrey.ca/development.
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