A vacant Downtown Eastside storefront: could temporary occupancy fit your plan?

1. Check the property and proposed use first

As checked on October 10, 2026, the City’s Downtown Eastside Temporary Occupancy Permit Pilot is operating as an initiative launched in January 2026. It targets eligible vacant, street-facing ground-floor suites within the Downtown Eastside Local Area Plan. The City’s criteria include a single suite below 300 square metres and permitted zoning. Both the proposed and last known use must fall within the City’s six listed categories. Read the source.

The City offers an inspection to identify life-safety requirements and a dedicated application route. Qualifying spaces can avoid a development permit under the pilot, but temporary occupancy still depends on meeting the relevant requirements. Ask City staff to confirm the address, use and current conditions before relying on this route. The official page contains the complete criteria and enquiry link.

2. Test whether temporary use suits both parties

For an owner, start with the reason for considering a short-term arrangement. Is the aim to generate some income while deciding the property’s future, assess demand for a particular use or find an occupier whose plans fit the space? Compare the proposal with the actual alternatives available to the property.

For a tenant, identify what the trial needs to establish: customer response, operating costs, suitability of the premises or the practicality of a location. Set decision measures you can track. A low initial rent does not make a location useful if the business requires extensive alterations or cannot operate as intended.

3. Build the full cost picture

List the proposed work, equipment, insurance, utilities, setup and eventual removal costs. Separate items that remain with the premises from those the business expects to take away. Ask qualified advisers which work and approvals are necessary, then obtain quotes before deciding how much to commit.

Illustrative example: a retailer testing a location could compare a modest, removable fit-out with more permanent custom work. The useful question is how much of the investment remains valuable if the trial ends, not simply which option looks better on opening day. This example does not establish that a particular retailer or suite qualifies for the pilot.

4. Make the agreement match the plan

Have the proposed occupancy arrangement reviewed before signing. Discuss the permitted activity, access, work approvals, payment responsibilities, insurance, signage, maintenance and the condition in which the space must be returned. Record who is responsible for obtaining each approval and what happens if it is not obtained.

Separate permission from the City from rights under the agreement with the owner. Neither should be assumed to provide the other. Discuss the proposed start and end arrangements with your advisers rather than assuming the word temporary creates an easy right to cancel, extend or recover improvements.

5. Plan the next move before opening

Agree what information the owner and occupier will review as the trial progresses, such as actual operating costs, space requirements and unresolved building issues. Keep property records, inspection findings and the agreement together so later decisions are based on the same information.

To remain beyond 24 months, the City says to apply for permanent occupancy before the temporary permit ends, using the regular process and completing required upgrades. Do not assume continuation will be approved. Compare continuing, relocating and handing back the space while there is still room to plan. Recheck the City’s current program conditions when making that decision.

Sources and further reading

• City of Vancouver: Downtown Eastside Temporary Occupancy Permit Pilot

General information for commercial property decisions in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Confirm property-specific requirements with the appropriate legal, financial and technical advisers.