THE City of Surrey on Wednesday announced it has received two significant honours in the 2024 NAIOP Awards for Municipal Excellence. The City has been awarded the titles of “Most Improved – Fees” and “Most Business-Friendly” in a survey that evaluates municipalities on their support for business development and job creation. The awards were presented in Vancouver on February 11.
The 2024 NAIOP Cost of Business Survey offers annual awards to municipalities that have implemented improvements in development costs and processing times. The survey is a tool for municipalities to use as a gauge for their own development costs and approval processes as compared to their neighbours.
“Our Council has worked hard to reduce development costs and accelerate approval timelines in Surrey,” said Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke. “Our focus on creating a more efficient and supportive environment for developers demonstrates our commitment to facilitating growth while making it easier to bring new projects to fruition. We are creating a system of facilitation over regulation, and are honoured to receive this recognition from NAIOP. Council’s commitment in providing more housing will carry into 2025, as we continue to look for improvements and efficiencies in our approval process.”
Surrey achieved the accolade for “Most Improved – Fees” by demonstrating the largest decrease in total municipal fees (4.3%) from 2022 to 2024 among other municipalities, primarily due to reduced Development Cost Charges (DCC) and Development Cost Levies (DCL). This substantial reduction underscores the City’s dedication to alleviating financial barriers for businesses.
Additionally, Surrey’s initiatives to support office development projects, coupled with expedited permitting processes and the innovative use of Artificial Intelligence in streamlining approvals, positioned the City as the “Most Business-Friendly” municipality in this year’s survey.
“Receiving the NAIOP awards is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team in Surrey’s Planning and Development Department,” said Ron Gill, General Manager of Planning and Development. “We are committed to enhancing our processes and creating a supportive environment that encourages growth and innovation. These accolades affirm our belief that by prioritizing efficiency and reducing barriers, we can drive economic development and make Surrey a leading destination for businesses.”
This recognition marks a significant milestone for the City of Surrey, reinforcing its position as a leader in fostering business development. With 2024 marking NAIOP’s 25th year of conducting the Cost of Business Survey, Surrey’s double win celebrates its commitment to enhancing the economic landscape for the future.
