Digital Transformation in Construction Permits with Corrie Okell, General Manager of Development, Buildings, and Licensing at City of Vancouver

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The City of Vancouver is revolutionizing how construction permits are approved. At BUILDEX Vancouver 2025, we had the opportunity to chat with Corrie Okell, General Manager of Development, Buildings, and Licensing at the City of Vancouver, about how digital transformation is reducing permit wait times and reshaping the builder-city relationship.

Learn how the city has implemented technologies like ePlan, which allows for 24/7 drawing submissions. While the transition was initially challenging for paper-dependent professionals, this digital shift has created unprecedented flexibility for both industry and city staff.

What’s truly groundbreaking is Vancouver’s new approach to application quality. Poor submissions have historically caused endless back-and-forth delays. Now, innovative tools like the Project Requirements Exploration Tool (PRET) help property owners understand what can be built on their lot before submitting, while the new eComply system automatically identifies non-compliant elements in drawings in real time.

These technologies support Vancouver's ambitious 3-3-3-1 Permit Approval Framework:
✅ 3 days to approve home renovation permits (including those for mobility and accessibility-related upgrades).
✅ 3 weeks to approve single-family home and townhouse permits.
✅ 3 months to approve permits for professionally designed multi-family and mid-rise projects where zoning is already in place.
✅ 1 year to approve permits for high-rise or large-scale projects.

Want to know how these permitting innovations could impact your next project? Subscribe to The Site Visit for insights from construction industry leaders shaping the future of building.

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Chapters

1. Introduction at BuildX Vancouver (00:00:00)

2. Digital Transformation in City Permits (00:01:37)

3. Fast-Track Renovation Program (00:05:21)

4. Technology and Drawing Submission Tools (00:08:52)

5. Communication Between City and Public (00:14:06)

6. Housing Challenges and Future Vision (00:19:44)