Who issues the permit?
Every closure on a public road in BC needs someone's permission. This guide covers whose — the part contractors most often get wrong.
The two-authority rule
Roads in BC answer to one of two authorities. Municipal streets — most of what you work on in a city — are permitted by the municipality. Provincial highways and their rights-of-way belong to BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI), even where the highway runs straight through town.
Getting this wrong costs real time: an application sitting in the wrong queue is not being processed, and lead times vary from days to weeks depending on the closure, the road, and the season. Build permit time into the schedule — or have us carry it.
Our traffic management plans are prepared to MoTI, TAC, and municipal requirements, and we submit them on your behalf as part of the work.
Requirements and lead times change and vary by closure type. Confirm current rules with the issuing authority — or hand the whole thing to us.
Provincial highways — MoTI
Provincial highways and their rights-of-way, anywhere in BC — including where a highway runs through a municipality.
Province of BCMunicipal authorities we work with
Communities from our service areas and the authority that permits work on their streets. Links go to the authority’s official site.
| Community | Issuing authority | Our area page | Official site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | City of Vancouver | Lower Mainland | vancouver.ca |
| Surrey | City of Surrey | Lower Mainland | surrey.ca |
| Burnaby | City of Burnaby | Lower Mainland | burnaby.ca |
| Richmond | City of Richmond | Lower Mainland | richmond.ca |
| Coquitlam | City of Coquitlam | Lower Mainland | coquitlam.ca |
| Delta | City of Delta | Lower Mainland | delta.ca |
| Langley (Township) | Township of Langley | Lower Mainland | tol.ca |
| Maple Ridge | City of Maple Ridge | Lower Mainland | mapleridge.ca |
| New Westminster | City of New Westminster | Lower Mainland | newwestcity.ca |
| North Vancouver (City) | City of North Vancouver | Lower Mainland | cnv.org |
| Abbotsford | City of Abbotsford | Lower Mainland | abbotsford.ca |
| Chilliwack | City of Chilliwack | Lower Mainland | chilliwack.com |
| Victoria | City of Victoria | Victoria | victoria.ca |
| Saanich | District of Saanich | Victoria | saanich.ca |
| Langford | City of Langford | Victoria | langford.ca |
| Nanaimo | City of Nanaimo | Victoria | nanaimo.ca |
| Kelowna | City of Kelowna | Kelowna | kelowna.ca |
| West Kelowna | City of West Kelowna | Kelowna | westkelowna.ca |
| Vernon | City of Vernon | Vernon | vernon.ca |
| Prince George | City of Prince George | Prince George | princegeorge.ca |
Permits are part of the plan.
Our traffic management plans are prepared to MoTI, TAC, and municipal requirements — and we submit them on your behalf.