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Building Permit Updates

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This year, the City has been facing delays in issuing building permits. We are committed to being transparent about our progress in addressing this issue, and this page will keep you informed about the steps being taken to get back on track for what might be the busiest building season on record. We'll post news in the Updates section and stats will be posted on Friday afternoons, below.

Quick Stats – As of August 30, 2024

Permits issued August 23 to 30: 11

Permits complete in 2024 to date: 264

Applications received in 2024 to date: 407

Applications received in 2023: 401

This year, the City has been facing delays in issuing building permits. We are committed to being transparent about our progress in addressing this issue, and this page will keep you informed about the steps being taken to get back on track for what might be the busiest building season on record. We'll post news in the Updates section and stats will be posted on Friday afternoons, below.

Quick Stats – As of August 30, 2024

Permits issued August 23 to 30: 11

Permits complete in 2024 to date: 264

Applications received in 2024 to date: 407

Applications received in 2023: 401

  • City no longer facing building permit backlog

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    As of mid-August, the City is no longer facing a building permit backlog.

    Permits for complete building permit applications for single-family and townhouses are now being issued within 2-3 weeks. These are permits that are reviewed by Building Officials before being approved (unlike permits for oil tanks, for example).

    Permits for complete building permit applications for renovations and commercial permit applications are now being issued in 3-4 weeks. This is within seasonal norms.

    Over the past several weeks, the City has taken a number of steps to expedite the permitting process and address staff shortages at Land and Building Services.

    The City continues to work diligently to address one of the busiest building seasons on record. To date in 2024, we have received 407 permit applications, compared to 401 received in 2023.

    So far this August, the City has issued 94 building permits, more than were issued in June (30) and July (33) combined.

  • Update on building permits: Foundation-only permits and support for new lot owners

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    The City continues to take steps to improve the building permit process and reduce the backlog of permit applications.

    New Foundation-only Permits for residential projects

    Foundation-only Permits are now available for eligible residential projects. This will allow builders to apply for permits for excavation, servicing, footings, and foundation work for new residential buildings and, once issued, allow work to begin while an applicant’s Building Permit is processed.

    To be eligible, applicants need to meet certain conditions. Visit www.whitehorse.ca/business-in-whitehorse/zoning/new-builds-renovations for more information to see if your project qualifies.

    Support for New Lot Owners

    The City has received confirmation from the Government of Yukon that new lot owners can apply for an extension on the building commitment term in their sale agreement if they are impacted by the City’s current Building Permit backlog. An extension may provide additional flexibility for lot owners who are required to build within a specified period of time but have experienced delays in receiving a Building Permit.

    Lot owners can request an extension by contacting the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources. The City will continue to work in collaboration with the Government of Yukon to support lot owners and alleviate pressures facing the local building industry.

    The City will continue to provide updates on efforts to speed up the building permitting process on our Engage Whitehorse page.

    Contact:
    Matthew Cameron
    Manager, Strategic Communications
    City of Whitehorse
    matthew.cameron@whitehorse.ca
    (867) 689-0515

  • Shrinking Wait Time for New Building Permits

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    The City’s expanded Land and Building Services (LBS) department is currently at a five-week turn-around for processing new building applications requiring a plan review by a Building Official. This is down from an eighth-week wait from earlier this year.

    The added staff and consultant support has enabled the City to gain ground on the backlog of applications it faced this building season, which is expected to be one of the busiest in history. We’ve already received 92% of the number of submissions in all of 2023.

  • City makes progress on Building Permit backlog

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    Our Land and Building Services (LBS) team started extended Saturday hours today – one of many measures being taken to address the delay in issuing Building Permits. This is an update on we got here, what the City is doing about it.

    How the City got here
    This year’s Building Permit delay was significantly affected by several factors including the 2023 and 2024 Land Lottery building applications being received at the same time, as well as two unexpected departures from within our Building Inspections team in March and May, just as permit application volume increased.

    What the City is doing about it
    • With the loss of two Building Officials, local job recruitments went unfilled, so the City is currently undertaking a Canada-wide search to backfill the unanticipated vacancies.
    • The City reached out to the Government of Yukon Building Safety to determine if they have any available staff who might be able to assist.
    • LBS identified three external consultants to conduct plan reviews.
    • Other City departments are providing administrative assistance.
    • Former Building Officials have been brought in from other departments to assist.
    • The City has initiated an application pre-review to inform applicants sooner if their application is incomplete, before a full plan review is carried out.
    • We've initiated Remote Virtual Inspections for select projects. This initiative involves the remotely-located building official being on-site virtually with the builder to conduct the site inspection, saving on travel time and providing more timely inspections.
    • This fall, the City intends on providing informational sessions to the local building community on how plan reviews are conducted, what Building Officials do, and how we all might enhance permit application timelines.
    • This City has sent a letter to Government of Yukon advocating for an extension to the building commitment timeline for lots sold pursuant to Land Lotteries.

  • New Remote Building Inspection Pilot Launched

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    The City of Whitehorse is piloting a new Remote Virtual Inspection system to allow for more timely building inspections.

    The new system will use video conferencing technology to allow a Registered Building Official to conduct a building inspection off-site by working with an on-site contractor or builder who is using their phone or tablet. Inspection reports will be completed by the Building Official and sent digitally to the contractor.

    The Remote Virtual Inspection system will be implemented this week for select projects. Once the process has been tested over the coming weeks, the City will be working to expand this initiative.

    Remote Virtual Inspection services are available in several Canadian municipalities, including Edmonton, Calgary, and Pemberton.

    Introducing Remote Virtual Inspections is one of the steps the City is taking to expedite the permitting process and address staff shortages at Land and Building Services. The City has also contracted external help to review building plans and permit applications, redeployed staff to assist in addressing permit applications, and engaged specialized recruitment consultants to hire more Building Officials.

    Contact:
    Matthew Cameron
    Manager, Strategic Communications
    City of Whitehorse
    matthew.cameron@whitehorse.ca
    (867) 689-0515

Page last updated: 23 Sep 2024, 03:59 PM