Commercial Contractor Vancouver

WorkSafeBC compliance on commercial renovation jobsites is a legal requirement, not a differentiator. All workers must be covered by WorkSafeBC compensation. The prime contractor (the general contractor) is responsible for ensuring all subcontractors are also covered and registered. Proof of coverage is presented to the City inspector at permit inspections.

On occupied commercial buildings, WorkSafeBC also governs the conditions of work adjacent to or above occupied space. If the renovation is in a portion of a building that remains occupied, a WorkSafeBC-compliant site safety plan is prepared before work begins, identifying the separation between the construction zone and occupied areas.

Commercial renovations in Vancouver that exceed a defined cost threshold trigger an accessible design review under Division B of the BC Building Code. Requirements apply to the path of travel from the building's accessible entrance to the renovated area, washrooms serving the renovation, and any new service counters or public-facing spaces. Compliance is reviewed during permit plan check. Drawings must show accessible routes, turning radii, and counter heights before the permit is issued.

Common accessible design requirements include a 1,500 mm turning radius in accessible washrooms, lever hardware on all doors within the renovation scope, accessible counter heights between 760 and 865 mm at service points, and a continuous accessible path of travel throughout the fit-out. In most Class A and B buildings in Vancouver's downtown core and Broadway Corridor, the base building already meets accessible design standards — the TI scope focuses on maintaining that compliance through the fit-out. In older Class B and C buildings and retail strip space, base building gaps may require upgrades that exceed what the lease or TI allowance anticipated.

Seismic considerations affect older commercial buildings in specific Vancouver corridors. The City of Vancouver's Earthquake Risk Reduction Program applies to unreinforced masonry buildings, which are common in Gastown, Chinatown, and along older commercial streets on Granville and East Hastings. A TI permit on an unreinforced masonry building may trigger a seismic assessment as a permit condition. The BC Building Code also applies a trigger when the renovation cost exceeds 25 percent of the building's replacement value. Both conditions are identified at the pre-permit consultation stage, before drawings are prepared and fees are committed.

Accessible parking obligations for commercial renovations in Vancouver are governed by the Parking By-law and the scale of the scope. Tenant improvements that stay within the existing use and do not expand gross floor area typically do not trigger a parking compliance review. A change of use from retail to restaurant, or storage to occupied office, commonly triggers the review. The City of Vancouver's pre-permit meeting confirms whether accessible parking changes are required before drawings are prepared.