Handyman in North Vancouver
North Vancouver is really two municipalities. The District and the City have separate permit offices, different fence limits and different green waste rules, so the first question on any North Shore job is which one your house is in. Both get far more rain than the city across the inlet. The North Vancouver waterfront station records about 1,725 mm a year against 1,189 mm at Vancouver airport, and it has more than twice as many days of heavy rain.
City or District, and why it matters
The District of North Vancouver surrounds the City and covers Lynn Valley, Deep Cove, Seymour, Upper Lonsdale, Edgemont and the Capilano areas. The City covers Lower and Central Lonsdale, Moodyville and the area around Marine Drive. Upper Lonsdale is in the District even though Lonsdale runs through both.
The District permit desk is at 355 West Queens Road and the City permit desk is at 141 West 14th Street. When a job needs a permit, it goes to whichever one your address belongs to.
Wet, steep and slippery stairs
Heavy rain days are where North Shore wood suffers. Water sits on treads and in the joints between boards, and on hillside lots the stairs are often long and shaded. The District's own deck bulletin, quoting the BC Building Code, says exterior stairs need a slip resistant finish.
I pressure wash moss and grime off treads, replace soft boards, repaint with a non slip finish and can add anti slip strips. While I am there I check that railings are solid, because the same bulletin lists guard heights of 36 inches over 2 feet and 42 inches over 6 feet, and a handrail where a stair has four or more risers.
Deck permits on the North Shore
In the District, a building permit is needed for any deck higher than 2 feet, attached or not. The City has its own permit checklist for new decks and deck renovations. Neither municipality publishes a rule that names board or tread replacement as permit free.
Repainting and small repairs are my work. If your deck needs structural rebuilding or new framing, I will say so early so the permit question gets settled before the job starts.
Older houses on sloped lots
Almost half of District homes are single detached houses, compared with about 15 percent in Vancouver, and 58 percent were built in 1980 or earlier. Many sit on slopes, and the District has a Slope Hazard Development Permit Area for the steepest land.
Houses of that age usually need upkeep rather than rebuilding. Long exterior stairs, decks and railings on 1960s and 1970s homes in Lynn Valley, Edgemont, Upper Lonsdale and Seymour are typical North Shore jobs. For bigger renovation work on a house built before 1990, the District notes that WorkSafeBC requires a hazardous materials inspection before work begins.
Fences and yard waste, City versus District
District fences need no permit and can be up to 6 feet in the first 25 feet from the front and 8 feet behind that. In the City, fences can be 4 feet anywhere, 6 feet behind the front face of the house.
Yard waste differs too. The City lets you set out up to six Green Cans, kraft bags or bundles a week, with bundles no longer than 1 metre. The District takes only what fits in your green cart, and extra goes to the North Shore Recycling and Waste Centre. I size and bag cleanup debris to whichever rules apply to you.
Services in North Vancouver
Neighbourhoods and places I cover in and around North Vancouver: Lonsdale, Lynn Valley, Deep Cove, Edgemont, Upper Lonsdale, Lower Lonsdale, Seymour, Capilano, Moodyville, Maplewood.
Common questions
Am I in the City or the District of North Vancouver?
Check your property tax notice or the municipality on your address search. Lower and Central Lonsdale are in the City. Lynn Valley, Deep Cove, Edgemont, Seymour and Upper Lonsdale are in the District.
Do I need a permit for deck work in the District of North Vancouver?
A building permit is needed for any deck higher than 2 feet. Repainting does not need one. If your job turns into structural work, we deal with the permit before starting.
How tall can my fence be?
In the District, up to 6 feet in the first 25 feet from the front and 8 feet behind, with no permit. In the City, 4 feet anywhere and 6 feet behind the front face of the house.
My outdoor stairs are slippery all winter. What helps?
Pressure washing off the moss, replacing soft treads, a non slip paint and anti slip strips. The BC Building Code calls for a slip resistant finish on exterior stairs.
Do you cross the bridge for small jobs?
Yes. Send photos first so I can bring the right materials and do the job in one trip.
Nearby areas
Where these local facts come from
- District of North Vancouver, Renovation, addition or deck
- District of North Vancouver, Building decks in single family zones
- District of North Vancouver, Fences
- District of North Vancouver, Slope Hazard Development Permit Area
- District of North Vancouver, Carts, containers and limits
- City of North Vancouver, Deck permit checklist
- City of North Vancouver, Accessory structures and fences handout
- City of North Vancouver, Green Can limits
- Environment Canada climate normals, North Vancouver Wharves
Have a job in North Vancouver?
Call or text Alex with a short description and a few photos. You will get an honest answer about what it needs and what it costs.