Other Permits

Community gardens are opportunities to build and strengthen community relationships on campus. While UBC Farm serves as the place where academic and market aspects of food growing are fully realized, UBC supports food growing and other community managed gardens in the academic core of campus.  

Community Garden Development Permit Application Form

When applying for a community garden permit, please review the UBC Climate-Ready Food Garden Management Plan.

Principles of Food Growing Gardens on Campus

The University supports food growing or other community managed gardens in the academic core of campus based on their capacity to build and strengthen community relationships. The farm will continue to serve as the place where academic and market aspects of food growing are fully realized.

Following are the principles to be taken into account when consideration is given to any permit application for food growing in any area of campus defined as academic:

• Any party interested in establishing a food growing garden in the academic core of campus will be required to submit an application describing the project, group members, broad support for the initiative and accountability.
• It is assumed that interested parties have an interest in creating a strategy that results in a sustainable longer term garden.  To support this objective, gardens must be designed to look like intentional and permanent components of the campus landscape.

Garden must be coherent with campus design. Inappropriate locations would include formal landscapes that are fostering a broader campus aesthetic (e.g. Main Mall). Courtyards and other areas discreet and closely related to the everyday use patterns of building occupants are appropriate for consideration. 

All exterior signage on campus is subject to review and approval by Campus + Community Planning (C+CP) prior to fabrication and installation.

The required approval process depends on the signage type, as outlined in the UBC Wayfinding Exterior Signage Standards and Guidelines, which provides guidance on permitted sign types, size, placement, materials, design, and illumination requirements.

A Signage Development Permit Application must be submitted for the following signage types:

• Dimensional Building Name Sign – Primary Entrance (B5) and Secondary Entrance (B6)
• Dimensional Tenant Name Sign (B7)
• Commercial Tenant Signage (B9) – see Commercial Signage Guidelines below for permit requirements
• Custom Building Signage (B10)
• Gateway and Boundary Signage (G2 and G3)
• Temporary banners on structures 

For all other exterior signage types, please contact Krista Falkner, Manager, Transportation Engineering at krista.falkner@ubc.ca. 

Commercial Signage Guidelines

Commercial signage on UBC campuses is governed by the Commercial Tenant Signage section of the UBC Wayfinding Exterior Signage Standards and Guidelines. Please refer to the updated Commercial Tenant Signage section available here.

Most non-academic buildings with commercial units on campus, including those in the Village Centre Academic and Wesbrook Neighbourhood, have approved Comprehensive Sign Guidelines that establish building-specific requirements for signage location, size, materials, and design. Applicants are strongly encouraged to obtain any applicable guidelines from the property manager or C+CP, Development Services before designing their signage.

Where no Comprehensive Sign Guidelines exist, signage should be designed in accordance with the Commercial Tenant Signage guidelines.

Approval Requirements for Commercial Signage

• Where a building has approved Comprehensive Sign Guidelines:
  A Signage Development Permit is not required, provided the proposed signage complies with the approved guidelines. However, the proposal must be reviewed by both the property manager and C+CP, Development Services to confirm compliance prior to fabrication and installation.
• Where approved Comprehensive Sign Guidelines do not exist, or where the proposal does not comply with those guidelines:
  A Signage Development Permit is required. In these cases, signage should be designed in accordance with the UBC Wayfinding Exterior Signage Standards and Guidelines.
   

Additional Information 

• Looking for guidance on event signage? Check out the Film and Events page
• Questions about interior signage: contact Karen Abel-Co at karen.abel-co@ubc.ca | 604-822-1211.

UBC considers permits to enable low‑impact, small‑scale, community‑serving structures and installations built and proposed by students, faculty, staff, or campus residents. This permit provides a simplified process for projects that enhance campus community life but do not require the involvement of professional architects or engineers.

Example of eligible projects include:

• Little Free Libraries, book‑sharing boxes, or similar exchange boxes
• Temporary or seasonal installations supporting campus events, programming, or activities
• Temporary placemaking projects that support community gathering, experimentation, or activation of space
• Student research projects, including pilot installations, demonstration projects, or short‑term testing of ideas

Projects that involve permanent buildings, major ground disturbance, complex structures, or life‑safety systems are not eligible under this permit process. 

Small-Scale Community Project Development Permit Application Form (coming soon)

Business licenses are required for any person(s) to conduct a commercial or home business in the local area neighborhoods as identified in the Land Use Plan.

The UBC neighbourhoods in which you need a business license are:

• Chancellor Place
• University Boulevard
• East Campus
• Hawthorn Place
• Wesbrook Place
• Hampton Place  

Types of Businesses

There are two types of commercial enterprises that fall under this category:  

• General Commercial Businesses are defined by any commercially oriented business or organization.
• Home  Businesses are defined as accessory use of a principal dwelling unit by at least one permanent resident of the dwelling to conduct a business activity or occupation, and for greater certainty, does not include bed and breakfasts or boarding or lodging houses 

 Visit the Forms and Reference Materials page for all business license related forms and materials.

To receive a Liquor License Exempt Event Permit, the event organizer must submit a request for a License Exempt Event in accordance with the approval process prior to the date of the event.  

Liquor License Exempt Event Application Form 

Transportation Network Service (TNS) companies (also known as ride-hailing services) wishing to include UBC’s Vancouver Campus within their service area are required to secure a permit from UBC and agree to the associated terms and conditions.  

Visit the Forms and Reference Materials for the permit application form and terms and condition.