The permit research challenge
For anyone buying property in Vancouver, understanding nearby permit activity can reveal a lot about what's happening in a neighbourhood. Are there major renovations underway? New construction projects? Demolitions that might signal redevelopment?
The data exists—it's all public. But finding it? That's where things get complicated.
Where permit data lives
Vancouver's permit information is scattered across multiple city portals, each with its own interface and quirks:
Development and Building Permit Portal
This is the City of Vancouver's main hub for permit searches. You can look up building permits, development permits, and various trade permits by address, permit number, or date. It shows application status, issued permits, and some historical data.
The challenge: The interface can be clunky, search results don't always show everything, and older permits may not appear at all.
VanMap
VanMap is the city's geographic information system. It visualizes property data, zoning, and infrastructure on a map. While it's excellent for understanding a property's context—its zoning, lot size, and nearby features—it doesn't provide a comprehensive permit feed.
The challenge: VanMap is great for spatial context but limited for detailed permit history.
Open Data Portal
The city publishes datasets on issued permits, which can be downloaded and analyzed. This is useful for citywide trends or bulk research, but not particularly user-friendly for checking a single address.
Why it's harder than it should be
- Multiple portals: There's no single source that combines all permit data in one place
- Data lag: Information may take days or weeks to appear in public portals
- Historical gaps: Older permits may not be digitized or easily searchable
- Interface complexity: Each portal has a learning curve
- No radius search: Most tools let you search by address, not by radius (what's happening nearby)
What permit activity tells you
When you do find permit data, what can it tell you?
- Renovation activity: High permit counts might indicate an area in transition
- New construction: Development permits signal what's being built
- Demolitions: Can indicate redevelopment pressure or neighbourhood change
- Code compliance: Some permits relate to bringing properties up to code
Remember: Permit data is just evidence. A high permit count isn't inherently good or bad—it depends on your preferences and what you're looking for in a neighbourhood.
A practical approach
If you're researching permit activity yourself:
- Start with the Development and Building Permit Portal for the specific address
- Use VanMap to understand the zoning and spatial context
- Check multiple sources if the address is near municipal boundaries
- Document your findings with screenshots (data can change)
- Note the date of your research (permit data is a snapshot in time)
Or, if you'd rather have the research done for you, get a RadiusDossier that compiles permit activity and other municipal evidence into a clear, source-linked report.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice.