What should the demolition quote include?
Before removal
Permit documents, a hazardous-materials survey, service disconnections, site protection and the plan for separating waste.
Taking it down
Labour, equipment, access, removal sequence, protection of retained structures and any specialized abatement.
Getting material away
Bins, loading, haul distance, accepted disposal facilities, tipping charges and diversion records.
Leaving the site ready
Clarify whether foundations, slabs, buried material and service pipes are removed, capped or retained. Define the final ground condition.
Give contractors the building’s size, age, construction, access and photos. Mark what comes out and what stays so both quotes cover the same work.
Check for hazardous materials before removal
WorkSafeBC requires a qualified person's hazardous-materials survey before renovation or demolition work. Potential asbestos, lead and other materials must be identified and addressed in the work plan.
The District's posted residential checklist specifically requests proof of hazardous assessment and remediation for buildings built before 1990. That dated permit checklist is not a blanket exemption from workplace safety requirements for newer buildings.
Leave suspect materials undisturbed. Have a qualified assessor arrange sampling and the contractor confirm the disposal route before removal.
What should the hazardous-material quote cover?
Abatement, testing, transport and accepted disposal. Ask which items will be priced after the survey.
The District’s refundable waste deposit
DISTRICT WASTE DIVERSION DEPOSIT
$20 / m²
A refundable amount paid with the demolition permit application. The District states it is refunded when at least 80% of waste is diverted by volume, with evidence of diversion.
CAD · Source checked October 3, 2026. This is a waste-diversion deposit, not the demolition price, permit fee, tax allowance or disposal charge.
See a deposit example
If the District confirms 100 m² is chargeable: 100 × CAD $20 = CAD $2,000. This is a refundable deposit only; confirm the assessed area and rate with the District.
Keep scale tickets, recycling receipts and the diversion report. Budget for the deposit upfront, and agree on sorting and disposal before the bins arrive.
Ask these questions before accepting a quote
Before accepting: check responsibilities and price changes
- Name who handles permits, utility disconnections and diversion records.
- List buried items, including tanks and abandoned pipes, and how discoveries will be priced.
- Separate fixed work from allowances and unit rates for extra removal, hauling or restoration.
Add the defined removal quote to your complete project budget.
CHECK THE SOURCE
Sources for this guide
District · Construction and demolition wasteWorkSafeBC · Before your building projectDistrict · Application guides, forms and resourcesDistrict · Residential permit checklist (dated February 2022; still linked)Last updated October 3, 2026. Requirements can change and depend on your property. Use these sources with your designer and the District to confirm the surveys, advice and approvals needed. Concept drawings simplify construction details.