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. 

• Temporary Outdoor events signage
• Exterior Signage Standards and Guidelines 
• Interior signage: contact Karen Abel-Co at karen.abel-co@ubc.ca or 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.