City Simplifies Major Development Applications with Online Complex New Building Permits 

Maple Ridge, B.C., Oct. 28, 2026 – The City of Maple Ridge has reached a major milestone in its ongoing work to streamline development approvals with the launch of online applications for Complex New Building Permits. This process improvement makes it easier for developers and builders to navigate some of Maple Ridge’s largest and most technically complex building projects.

Complex New Building Permits are the tenth permit application process now available through the City’s Online Permit portal. They are required for multi-unit residential buildings with more than six units, mixed-use developments, commercial and industrial buildings, and institutional facilities. These projects often involve multiple professionals, technical drawings, reports, supporting documents, and approvals across multiple City departments. 

“Major development projects have many moving pieces, and our goal is to make navigating the City’s part of that process as straightforward and predictable as possible,” said Mayor Dan Ruimy. “Bringing Complex New Building Permit applications online is a major step forward. It gives builders and development professionals an efficient way to manage these major applications and reduce processing time while continuing to support the housing, businesses, and investment our growing community needs.”

The online process helps applicants understand sooner if development permits, rezoning, environmental assessments, or other approvals are required for their project. By providing clear information up front and allowing supporting documents to be submitted online, the City is helping applicants to prepare more complete applications, increase certainty, reduce processing times, and provide a consistent, user-friendly experience from application to project completion.

Applicants are encouraged to engage qualified professionals early in the design process and take advantage of the City’s available web resources to help identify potential requirements. The City also intends to integrate its Certified Professional Program and phased complex applications into the online portal later this year to further support large development projects. 

“Moving Complex New Building Permitting fully online supports the City’s broader goal of making Maple Ridge an efficient and competitive place to build and invest in,” said James Stiver, Director of Planning and Building. “A complex development can involve a significant volume of plans, reports, professional disciplines, and interconnected City approvals. Creating a clear digital pathway helps applicants understand what is required, organize their submissions, and interact with a more consistent and efficient process, and supports more efficient permit processing by the City.”

For more information or to submit a Complex New Building Permit application, visit MapleRidge.ca/ComplexPermits
 
 

Continuing to Modernize Development Services 

The launch of online Complex New Building Permits builds on the City’s ongoing Development Services Optimization (DSO) program, which is focused on a digital transition, improving customer service, reducing administrative steps, and making development and building processes more consistent and predictable. Since the program began, the City has significantly reduced permit processing times, including a 77% reduction in processing times for New Home Permits, which are now targeting 10-week processing times.

Ten permit types are now available through the City’s Online Permit Portal including: