Custom Home Builder in Surrey, BC

Yes. BC Housing puts it directly: if you are a general contractor, developer or building envelope renovator and want to build a new home in B.C., you must first become a licensed residential builder. The licence is renewed every year, and Continuing Professional Development is a mandatory part of renewing a general contractor licence. Kyrax Developments Ltd. is based in Surrey and holds Residential Builder Licence #57802, in good standing, as a General Contractor and Developer. Sources: BC Housing, Builder & Developer Licensing, and the BC Housing Licence Registry, verified September 2026.

Yes, unless an exemption applies. BC Housing says a new home project must be registered and enrolled in home warranty insurance, or have an applicable exemption, and that all new homes built by licensed residential builders in B.C. must carry 2-5-10 home warranty insurance, which it calls the strongest construction defect insurance in Canada. The insurers are approved by the BC Financial Services Authority, and there is a rental exemption with its own criteria and a restrictive covenant registered on title. Source: BC Housing, New Home Registration & Warranty, verified September 2026.

The building permit comes first. The City says a residential building permit is usually required for work such as building a house, and that separate plumbing and electrical permits are required for any plumbing and electrical work — but that those may be applied for only after the building permit has been issued. Before any drawings are even prepared, the new civic address for the property has to be established by an Addressing Clerk, and the City says drawings will not be reviewed with incorrect or missing addresses. Source: City of Surrey, Residential Building Permits, verified September 2026.

The City publishes the figure. On its permitting timelines page, last updated September 14, 2026, a residential building permit — which it defines as new single family and duplexes — was running at 5.7 weeks against a 10-week target. The City is clear that the clock does not start when you submit: for a single-family dwelling it starts after referrals and a complete site servicing review, and the current figure is an average of permits processed in the last 30 days, so it moves. Source: City of Surrey, Permitting Timelines, verified September 2026.

In the R3 zone, yes — Surrey calls them houseplexes. The City defines a houseplex as a residential building with three to four principal dwelling units, permits them only in the R3 zone, and requires an eligible lot to have lane access or be served by two roads, as a corner or through lot, and to sit outside a Transit Oriented Area. The minimum building width is 15 metres, which the City says typically needs a lot at least 18 metres wide; parking has to come from the lane or, on a corner lot, the lower-classification street, and must sit in a detached garage or parking pad rather than an attached garage or carport. Secondary suites are not permitted in a houseplex. Source: City of Surrey, Houseplexes, verified September 2026.

In most residential zones, yes. Surrey defines a coach house as an accessory dwelling above or attached to a detached garage and a garden suite as a separate accessory building, and says every residential zone that allows detached houses, duplexes and houseplexes also allows one. They run from a minimum of 35 square metres to a maximum of 75 and are excluded from floor area ratio, except for the garage portion of a coach house; where the existing house or duplex sits below the maximum FAR, the size can rise to 120 square metres on RA, R2, R2-O and R3 lots. A coach house or garden suite may count as a dwelling unit and need registration. Source: City of Surrey, Coach Houses & Garden Suites, verified September 2026.

A demolition permit, and more site work than most people expect. Surrey requires a permit to demolish any building or structure. A Registered Professional is required for a partial demolition; a pest management company may be required where the building is derelict or has been used for agricultural purposes, and may have to confirm a rodent control program; and a certified arborist may be required on site during the demolition. Before it issues, Engineering requirements include arranging and paying for the water shut-off by City staff, capping the existing sanitary and storm connections and marking them with a 2x4 within two metres of the property line, and completing a pre-damage form. Work affecting City roads, sidewalks or boulevards needs its own authorization. Source: City of Surrey, Demolition Permits, verified September 2026.

Only with a tree cutting permit if the tree is protected, and many are. Surrey's Tree Protection Bylaw protects every tree with a trunk diameter of 30 centimetres or more at breast height, along with replacement trees, trees planted or kept as a condition of a building or demolition permit, trees in riparian areas, significant trees and several listed species. The City's permit page lists allowing for construction among the reasons a permit can be issued, and says you may be required to plant two replacement trees for every tree you remove. Cutting or damaging a tree contrary to the bylaw carries a fine of up to $20,000 per offence. Sources: City of Surrey, Tree Protection Bylaw No. 16100, sections 2, 6 and 10, and Removing Trees, verified September 2026.

Between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., and not on a Sunday if the work is paid. Surrey's Noise Control By-law bars construction, alteration or repair work that disturbs the neighbourhood before 7 a.m. or after 10 p.m. on any day, and bars such work on a Sunday when it is done for profit or gain. The City can give written approval for necessary work at other hours where compliance is impossible or impractical. Source: City of Surrey, Noise Control By-law No. 7044, Part C, verified September 2026.

The BC Energy and Zero Carbon Step Codes, at whatever level applies on your building permit date. The Province says Step Code requirements are based on the building permit date of the project and where it is located: the Province sets the minimum energy efficiency requirements, and local governments have the authority to require higher steps through bylaw if they choose. The Province describes the path as net-zero energy ready new buildings by 2032 and zero carbon new buildings by 2030, and publishes a Part 9 checklist for demonstrating compliance on a house. Sources: Province of British Columbia, BC Energy and Zero Carbon Step Codes and Step Code requirements, verified September 2026.

On our projects, a custom home runs 12 to 18 months from permit to handover. That is our own clock and it starts once the permit is in hand; the City's clock is separate and published — 5.7 weeks against a 10-week target for a new single family dwelling as of September 14, 2026, counted from after referrals and a complete site servicing review rather than from submission. Sources: City of Surrey, Permitting Timelines and Residential Building Permits, verified September 2026.

Yes to both, from a Surrey base. Kyrax Developments Ltd. holds BC Housing Residential Builder Licence #57802, in good standing, as a General Contractor and Developer, the classification BC Housing requires to build a new home; verify it on the BC Housing Licence Registry. Renovation work across the city is covered on our Surrey home renovations page, and custom homes in the Langleys on our Langley custom home page.