At the Standing Committee on Policy and Strategic Priorities on November 27th, staff were directed to bring forward amendments on 2025 fee increases for rezoning, development, building and other related permits to take effect on January 1st, 2025. Given increasing costs of labour and other program expenditures, the base cost of administering the permitting program is expected to increase by 6% in 2025. However, this inflationary pressure is offset by efficiencies that have been realized within the permitting program by City staff. As a result, staff recommend a 3% fee increase to address cost escalation not offset by program efficiencies. 

City staff are implementing various process improvements which contributed to the offset in fee increases: 

• Advancing a user-centered, digital foundation for the design and delivery of permitting services; 
• With the introduction of a fast-track process for eligible sprinkler permits in January 2024, more than 90% of sprinkler permits are now issued within 24 hours of permit application; 
• A risk-based approach to reviews on low-density housing permits (i.e. single detached house, duplex, laneway) has reduced the scope of staff reviews by 64%; 
• Reviews of combined development and building permit (DB) applications have been simplified through the establishment of review time standards and reduction of review cycles related to utility connection upgrades and insurance requirements; and 
• 66% of permit conditions attached to complex development permits have been eliminated or substantially simplified. 

Other recommended changes to the fee Bylaw include: 

• Clarifying the interpretation of the timing of payments; 
• To better calibrate fees proportional to the required work for rezoning applications needing additional planning, staff recommend amending the section to allow a 50% discount for projects where the full fee is not justified; 
• A revised map for the Downtown area is proposed to include the sites in False Creek North as they are considered to require the same level of processing as Downtown sites, this change will primarily affect the large development sites in the Northeast False Creek Plan area; and 
• Provide site disclosure statement fees.

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