Start Burnaby New Multifamily Housing Construction Projects Today
This page helps you plan and start a New Multifamily Housing Construction project in Burnaby (NAICS 236116, excluding For-Sale Builders). It lays out a practical, step-by-step path from concept to groundbreaking, highlighting the six essential requirements you’ll need to prepare. You’ll also get a reality check on permits, development costs, and a realistic timeline so you can budget with confidence.
Key learnings include the six requirements you’ll need to meet before breaking ground, how to navigate Burnaby’s permit process, and where to plan costs such as development charges, construction, and professional fees. You’ll also see a practical project timeline—covering design, approvals, and construction—so you can set milestones, reduce delays, and keep stakeholders aligned.
Burnaby’s growing neighborhoods, easy transit access to Vancouver, and supportive local planning environment make it a strong market for new multifamily housing. With a steady demand for rentals and a backlog of development-ready sites, Burnaby offers practical opportunities to turn plans into completed buildings on a realistic timeline.
Requirements Overview
The most critical requirement for operating a multifamily housing construction business in Burnaby is BC Residential Builder Licence. This license is legally required to perform residential construction work in British Columbia, and you cannot legally operate without it. It is non-negotiable and must be in place before you start any project.
For daily operations, focus on mandatory health and safety and permits. Ensure you have WorkSafeBC coverage and registration for your workers, with a solid safety program and proper training in place. In addition, you’ll need the usual construction permits and approvals from the City of Burnaby as you begin and progress each project, with inspections as required. These operational and safety steps keep workers protected and projects compliant.
Business Registration & Tax are the next essential steps. You’ll need a federal Business Number (BN) for tax accounts, plus BC Business Name Registration if you’re operating as a sole proprietorship or partnership. Plan for GST/HST registration if your turnover meets the threshold or you choose to register voluntarily, and set up Payroll Deductions Registration to handle employee withholdings. These registrations keep your finances and payroll compliant with federal and provincial rules.
You’re on the right track by listing these needs. Next steps: confirm your BC Residential Builder Licence, set up safety and site-permit plans, and tackle the registrations in a practical order (BN and payroll setup, then BC name registration if applicable, followed by GST/HST). If you’d like, I can help build a simple action checklist and timeline to keep you on track.
Detailed Requirements
Here are the specific requirements for starting a new multifamily housing construction (except for-sale builders) in Burnaby:
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Business Number (BN) Registration RequiredA 9-digit Business Number is required for most businesses operating in Canada. It is used to interact with the Canada Revenue Agency and other federal programs. Required for GST/HST, payroll, corporation income tax, and import/export accounts. Register FREE online through Business Registration Online (BRO) at canada.ca. Takes 15-30 minutes. As of November 3, 2025, online registration is MANDATORY for new BNs - phone registration no longer available. You'll need: business name, address, owner SIN, business type, and start date. BN (9-digit number) issued INSTANTLY online. Available 21 hours/day, 7 days/week (closed 3-6am ET for maintenance).
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BC Business Name Registration (Sole Proprietorship/Partnership) RequiredRegistration of sole proprietorship or partnership business names with BC Registries Register sole proprietorship or partnership at bcregistry.gov.bc.ca. Name reservation: $30 (standard) or $100 (priority 1-2 days). Registration fee: $40. Total: ~$70. Name reserved for 56 days after approval. Registration is continuous (no renewal required). No name protection for sole proprietorships. Personal names operating under own name do not require registration. Contact BC Registries: 1-877-526-1526.
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BC Residential Builder Licence RequiredLicence required for general contractors, developers, and building envelope renovators constructing new residential homes in British Columbia Apply through BC Housing Licensing & Consumer Services. New licence application: $600. Annual renewal: $500. Per-unit registration: $40/home. Must complete qualifying training. Owner-builder authorization: $425. Processing: 2-4 weeks for complete applications. Contact: 604-646-7050 or 1-800-407-7757.
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GST/HST Registration ConditionalRequired if annual taxable revenue exceeds $30,000 (small supplier threshold). Taxi/ride-share drivers must register regardless of revenue. Businesses with gross revenues over $30,000 in any single quarter or over four consecutive quarters must register for, collect, and remit GST/HST. Small suppliers (under $30,000) may register voluntarily. Register FREE online through Business Registration Online (BRO) when your revenue exceeds $30,000 in any 4 consecutive quarters (small supplier threshold). Takes 15-30 minutes. You MUST register within 29 days of exceeding threshold and start charging GST/HST immediately on the sale that made you exceed it. Need your BN (or get one simultaneously). As of Nov 3, 2025, online registration is mandatory. Voluntary registration available anytime for input tax credits.
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Payroll Deductions Registration ConditionalRequired if you pay salaries, wages, or other remuneration to employees. Must register before first pay period. Required if you have employees. You must withhold Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Employment Insurance (EI), and income tax from employee wages and remit to CRA. Register FREE online through Business Registration Online (BRO) when you hire your first employee. Takes 15-20 minutes. You'll need your Business Number (BN) or can get one simultaneously. Payroll account (RP) added to your BN instantly. Register BEFORE your first pay date. Required to deduct CPP, EI, and income tax from employee wages. For 2025: CPP rate 5.95%, EI employee rate $1.66/$100 insurable earnings.
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WorkSafeBC Coverage and Registration ConditionalRequired if you have workers in BC. Workers compensation insurance coverage through WorkSafeBC for employers in British Columbia WorkSafeBC coverage required for most BC employers. Average base premium rate: 1.55% of assessable payroll ($1.55 per $100). Register online at worksafebc.com. Apply 30 days before starting business or hiring workers. Processing: ~10 business days. Premium rates vary by industry classification (514 classification units). COR certified employers eligible for 10% rebate. Contact: 604-276-3100 or 1-888-967-5377.
Funding & Grants
Available funding programs that may apply to your new multifamily housing construction (except for-sale builders):
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The ATTC provides qualifying Ontario employers with a refundable tax credit equal to 25% of eligible expenditures (30% for small businesses) incurred during the first 36 months of a qualifying apprenticeship, up to a maximum of $5,000 per qualifying apprentice per year. The credit applies only to apprenticeship programs that …
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The Labour Mobility Deduction (LMD), enacted via Bill C-241, provides tradespeople and indentured apprentices in construction with a personal income tax deduction of up to $4,000 per year for eligible temporary relocation expenses. The worker must temporarily relocate more than 150 km from their ordinary residence within Canada for at …
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$50M two-year initiative (2024–2026) delivered by Canada's regional development agencies. Provides repayable contributions to businesses and non-repayable to non-profits and governments, covering up to 50% of eligible costs. Projects from $200K to $5M. Applicants must have been in business at least 2 years.
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ACLP offers low-interest construction and permanent financing for new purpose-built rental apartment projects. Loans are interest-only during construction, then convert to a 10-year term with up to 50-year amortization. Previously known as the Rental Construction Financing Initiative.
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A $595 million program (Budget 2021) plus $90 million additional (Budget 2024, for housing trades). Since its launch in 2022, the program has funded 11,459 employers to create 17,208 apprenticeship placements. Provides $5,000 per first-year apprentice hired in one of 39 eligible Red Seal designated trades. An additional $5,000 is …
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