Demolition Waste Reduction Bylaw

Waste from construction and demolition represents the largest category of waste sent to disposal in our region.

The Demolition Waste Reduction Bylaw helps reduce the amount of demolition waste that gets sent to landfill through a wood salvage requirement for single-family homes built before 1950. Wood salvage reduces resource consumption and emissions and supports a shift towards a more circular economy.

New bylaw effective January 1, 2023

The Demolition Waste Reduction Bylaw applies to the demolition of single-family homes built before 1950. It requires applicants to salvage 3.5 kg (2.6 board feet) of reclaimed lumber per square foot of the finished floor space during demolition. For example, a house with 2,000 sq ft of finished floor area would have a wood salvage requirement of 7,000 kg.

What does "salvage" mean?

For the purposes of this bylaw, salvage means removing materials in a way that they are protected from damage and kept intact so that they can be reused. This can be carried out through deconstruction, which involves carefully taking apart a structure and its components to maximize the salvage of valuable materials such as old-growth lumber.

Review the Demolition Waste Reduction Bylaw

How to comply

When submitting a demolition application for single-family homes built before 1950, you must include:

  • a one-page wood salvage plan
  • a non-refundable $262.50 administration fee (2024 rate)
  • a $15,000 waste diversion security deposit, which is fully refundable based on the amount of salvaged wood

After the demolition is complete, submit the following documents to building@dnv.org within 90 days:

More information

On June 27, 2022, Council adopted the Demolition Waste Reduction Bylaw. For more background information, review our June 27, 2022 Council report

Have questions?

For questions related to the Demolition Waste Reduction Bylaw, contact us at building@dnv.org.

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