At their meeting on April 14th, Council received a report for information that provides an update on the work of the Development Approval Process Improvement Task Force. In the April 1, 2025 meeting, the Task Force reviewed and confirmed the key issues discussed to date and provided a status update, as detailed in the staff report.  

Additional information can be found in the  full report by City staff.  

October 22, 2024 

As mentioned in previous updates, on October 7th, Council approved the establishment of a Development Approval Process Improvement Task Force following the motions passed on September 23, 2024. This initiative aims to further streamline the land development process and reduce permitting timelines in the City of Surrey. The task force will include three members from the development community, representing a variety of built forms in Surrey. Additionally, two Council members will be appointed to serve as Chair and Co-Chair: Councillor Pardeep Kooner and Councillor Gordon Hepner. 

The Development Approval Process Improvement Task Force is intended to undertake a comprehensive review of existing land development processes — including rezoning and other development processes. The analysis will include a comprehensive review of established processes and practices, as well as an assessment of our current timelines in order to establish benchmarks for performance. The review process will involve engagement with stakeholders both internally and externally. A review of current practices from other Lower Mainland municipalities will also be undertaken. The goal is to identify policy and procedure changes that could reduce timelines. 

Additional information can be found in the  full report by City staff. 

September 26, 2024 

At their meeting on September 9th, Council approved a motion pertaining to the transformation and modernization of the city’s development and permitting process.  

The notice of motion directs staff to: 

• Streamline Rezoning and Development Processes: Conduct a comprehensive review of the rezoning and development processes and present recommendations that would significantly reduce these timelines.
• Innovate and Automate: Continue enhancing the city’s digitization efforts, including further automating processes with new technologies such as the Automated Rule-Based Zoning Bylaw Compliance Tool, to remove administrative hurdles.
• Develop a Model for Best Practices: Establish a framework that positions Surrey's development and permitting processes as a model of best practice for other municipalities to aspire to—incorporating sustainable practices, efficient timelines, cost-effectiveness and a facilitative approach.

The corresponding staff report with recommendations is expected to be presented for Council’s consideration prior to the December break.  

More information can be found in the City of Surrey’s Media Release.