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Why Most Vancouver Character House Attics Are a Code Bomb Every month, I review a Vancouver character house, listed for sale, or ready for their first reno, with a gorgeous finished attic. Bedroom, skylights , maybe a small deck with an oddly shaped door cut into the gable. The realtor photos are gorgeous. The seller's disclosure says the loft was finished decades ago, no permits. Then...
My LinkedIn feed has two themes clearly splashed all over it these days: it's a buyer's market, and everything and anything to do with AI. The AI conversation is all about speed. Move fast or die. Automate everything. Ship yesterday. But I want to talk about slowing down. Because if you're buying a home right now — in a market that's finally giving you room to breathe...
Did you know that technology like digital twins and automation is reshaping the way we create and submit building permits? At PermitSets.com, we’ve uncovered a way to take even the roughest sketches and transform them into permit-ready documents in under a week—with precision and reliability, every single time. So, how does it work? It starts with digital twins—essentially detailed virtual replicas of physical spaces. By building...
Why Accurate As-Built Drawings Matter for Your Renovation Whether you’re planning a residential remodel or a large-scale commercial renovation, accurate as-built drawings are crucial for a smooth and cost-effective project. These drawings document the precise dimensions, layout, and structure of an existing building, ensuring that architects, engineers, and contractors have reliable information before starting any work. Benefits of Accurate As-Built Drawings 1. Enhanced Project Planning Having precise as-built...
As the demand for home additions like sunrooms and deck covers continues to grow, it's crucial for homeowners and contractors to be aware of the zoning regulations that govern the construction and placement of these structures. Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to expensive consequences, including the demolition of the newly built addition. At PermitSets.com, we understand the intricacies of zoning laws...
How PermitSets.com Can Empower New Home Buyers to Uncover Unpermitted Work If you’re in the market for a new home, especially in a city like Vancouver where unauthorized renovations and basement suites are common in older properties, the last thing you want is to unknowingly inherit unpermitted work that could lead to costly repercussions down the line. Fortunately, there are companies like PermitSets.com that can...
Are you looking to start a new business or looking to renovate the space of your current business? If so, there are a number of things that should be considered. Depending on the scope of work, it is important to know what to expect when starting a Tenant Improvement Project to save both time and money. Development Permit or Building Permit Defining the scope of work...
Stop Work Orders – a boundless source of stress for homeowners. We have written a lot about Stop Work Orders in the past, covering everything from horror stories to tips for avoiding them. In spite of this, we continue to see homeowners who have received Stop Work Orders – and hear the devastating consequences of receiving them. This month, we created a three-part series about...
Stop Work Orders may be scary, but they are completely preventable. If you follow a few simple steps, you will not have to worry about Stop Work Orders at all. Not sure why you want to avoid Stop Work Orders? This month, we created a three-part series about Stop Work Orders Check out the other blogs in this three-part series: 4 Perfect Examples of Why...
Welcome to the third part in our Stop Work Orders series! This month, we created a three-part series about Stop Work Orders We have already tackled 4 Perfect Examples of Why to Take Stop Work Orders Seriously and Why Stop Orders Happen and How To Prevent Them. Today, we are wrapping up with a look at the consequences of working without the appropriate Permits. Some...
Applying for a Building Permit can be an overwhelming process. We hear a lot of horror stories from people who tried to handle applying for permits on their own. Many expressed that they were not prepared when they went into the permit application process – even if they felt prepared at the time. Often, these individuals found themselves backtracking to consult the proper experts...
With cannabis being legalized this year, the City of Vancouver is putting regulations in place around its sale. Many people know there are regulations around who can purchase cannabis – but what about those who want to build and operate a cannabis dispensary in Vancouver? A certain set of permits is required to do so. Here is a snapshot of the information that is...
Over the last eight weeks, we have covered a number of topics in our series on Stop Work Orders. We hope that we have made it clear how devastating non-permitted work can be. Why, then, do people undertake such work – and how do you avoid ending up in a similar position? Read more from our Stop Work Order series: Stop Work Order horror stories:...
A Stop Work Order may sound manageable, but it can be incredibly financially damaging. While we have touched on some of the issues we have seen over our years working in Vancouver home design, we have some true horror stories that show just how devastating getting a Stop Work Order can be. Stop Work Order horror stories We have had a number of cases...
One of the most important things to do when you are buying a property is check that the home matches the plans on file with the City. This is vital because, if the plans do not match, there are likely renovations to the house that have been conducted without a permit, meaning once you purchase the property, you are at risk of being hit...
Getting a Building Permit can feel overwhelming… but it doesn’t need to. That’s why, today, we are focusing on one of the most difficult – and, for many people, frustrating – parts of the process: Building Permit Drawings. There are three easy ways to simplify the development of your Building Permit Drawings, while also protecting yourself against future issues. The three ways to make...
The types of drawings required for submission to get a building permit vary somewhat depending in which City you are building. That said, most Cities have relatively similar lists. Below we’ve compiled a checklist of the drawings that are required for a building permit application in most Cities in the Lower Mainland. However, you may wish to check with your City Building Department, or with...