Currently, the government has changed the regulations around short-term vacation rentals (STVR) – AKA rentals under 30 days – in Hawaii. Therefore, each property owner listing a short-term vacation rental in Hawaii County will now need to register as a short-term vacation rental and get a permit number. You will need this permit number to be in place by September 28th. Other Islands and...
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...
Development and Building Permits are vital if you are planning a custom home design in Vancouver, or any City really. In the past, we have discussed many aspects of Development and Building Permits and the permitting process. We have never, however, focused solely on how long it can take to get a Building Permit approved. Today, we are remedying that by having this frank...
The City of Vancouver recently enacted its new requirements for short-term rentals, including Airbnb properties. If you list your property on Airbnb, you’ve likely asked yourself whether you should comply with the City’s new regulations, or if it’s worth continuing to rent it out. There are a few key considerations before making any decision. We go into more detail below, but in short: A business licence...
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:...
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...
As Building Codes are available to the public, many people believe that they do not need professional guidance regarding renovations, and attempt to do it themselves. Individuals with some knowledge of Building Codes may also believe they have enough information to handle Vancouver renovations on their own. However, not working with a Vancouver Home Designer can land you a Stop Work Order. This article...
When creating the look for your house, you have a choice between stock plans and custom home design. Stock plans are general and pulled from a bank of options, while a custom home design is created for you by an expert builder or developer. Before discussing the reasons for getting a custom home design over using stock plans, there is one other thing we...
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...
Legalizing a secondary suite can be complicated and may not be the right step for you, even if you have an illegal suite in your home. If you are considering converting your illegal secondary suite into a legal one, this checklist will help you prepare for the process and decide whether legalizing makes sense for your property. Check the zoning requirements for your property. Some...
Stop work orders on residential construction in Vancouver became quite prominent in 2015, when building was booming. At the time, homeowners were either unaware of the permits required for these structures, or were skipping the permit application process altogether, in order to complete the project faster. A stop work order will likely be issued if you do not have a permit to build a house...
If you’re looking at buying property, but the price is marked as “land value only” – what do you need to know? We’ll go over what “land value only” property sales mean, and help you navigate buying this type of property with a convenient checklist. What does land value only mean? Buying a land value only lot means that the price you pay is truly for the...
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...
We’ve had quite a few requests lately from medical marijuana and cannabis clinics in Vancouver, asking about how to get the permit sets they need to operate in the city. We wrote a blog about it not long ago, and we’re still getting more questions and orders. In April, the City of Vancouver announced it would start enforcing the requirements it set out for medical...
The set of drawings that appear after your cross sections in your permit set are called Construction Details. For new construction, including custom home designs and new builds in Vancouver, Construction Details are an essential part of the package of drawings that is submitted to Building Officials during the Building Permit application phase. What are Construction Details? Construction details are like zoomed-in images that show the...
Building a custom home takes planning, patience and some great connections. Building a house in the BC Lower Mainland can never really be done “on the cheap”, but there are some great solutions for cutting costs in order to get the most out of your design and construction budget. If you have a tight budget for your custom home design… Custom home design doesn’t have to...