Condo Renovation Costs & Strata Planning
A condo renovation budget needs two plans: the work inside the unit and the arrangements that allow it to happen in the building. For North Vancouver and West Vancouver owners, gathering the actual strata rules is more useful than assuming every building accepts the same flooring, work hours or insurance limit.
Prepared by Sunify Group Inc. · Sources reviewed
Published cost examples — compare the scope
Published contractor planning examples, not Sunify prices, quotes, a market average, or directly comparable packages. Amounts are Canadian dollars. Each source defines its own scope; unless expressly stated, tax treatment, appliances, design, permits and other inclusions have not been independently reconciled. Confirm them in a project-specific written quote.
| Published scope | CAD range | Source and limits |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver complete condo-unit renovation | $75,000–$150,000+ | Domicile’s published complete-unit estimate; ask how size and finishes are defined. Domicile Construction — Condo renovation cost examples |
| Vancouver full condo: kitchen, bathroom, flooring and finishes | $90,000–$200,000+ | ReVISION’s separate scope, not a statistical average for North Shore buildings. ReVISION — Vancouver renovation cost guide |
Sources can describe very different projects. We do not average these ranges, promise to match them or apply a universal West Vancouver surcharge.
Request the building package first
Ask the property manager for current bylaws and renovation instructions, the application process, required drawings, contractor documentation, work hours, delivery arrangements and any alteration agreement. Record who must approve the proposal and which documents are still outstanding.
BC’s guidance explains that common-property alterations require written approval under the Standard Bylaws, which can be amended. Your building’s current requirements matter. Municipal permits and strata permission are different decisions; neither should be presented as automatically covered by the other.
Official guidance: Province of BC — Common and Limited Common Property
Whole-unit renovation or a coordinated room package?
Identify whether the work is a kitchen, a bathroom, flooring and paint, or a complete interior. List any areas deliberately left untouched. Two quotes can both say full renovation while treating doors, wardrobes, lighting, appliances and floor preparation differently.
For an occupied unit, note the bathroom or kitchen facilities that must remain usable and the protected path through the property. A vacant unit and a phased occupied project should not be assumed to have identical setup and scheduling costs.
Separate finishes from shared-system changes
Before choosing a new layout, identify whether it would affect plumbing stacks, shared ventilation, sprinklers, slabs, structural walls or other common systems. The necessary professional review and building permissions belong before the affected construction is priced as feasible.
For flooring, obtain the building’s actual acoustic and installation requirements before selecting an underlay or finish. Do not rely on a single advertised sound rating as proof that the proposed assembly will be accepted in your building.
Build a logistics line into the comparison
Ask whether estimates include elevator reservations, protection and cleaning of common areas, delivery handling, approved work windows, parking arrangements, disposal and coordinated shutoffs. Record refundable deposits separately from non-refundable fees and construction costs.
For an Ambleside, Dundarave or Lonsdale condo, use the actual building’s information rather than a generic city surcharge. Limited delivery access may change a construction plan, but it does not justify an unexplained percentage added to every quote.
What a contractor can and cannot decide
A contractor can describe proposed work and provide agreed documentation. Strata and municipal decision-makers determine their approvals. Ask who submits each item, responds to questions and schedules work only after the required permissions are in place.
When requesting a Sunify discussion, send your unit size, rooms involved, intended layout changes and building instructions. We identify the construction scope and dependencies before a final quote. This guide is planning information, not a determination of your building’s bylaws.
Official guidance: District of West Vancouver — Building Permits and Inspections
Prepare a useful project brief
- Approximate unit size and rooms included
- Building renovation instructions and approval status
- Current layout and proposed changes to shared services
- Flooring and acoustic requirements provided by management
- Access, occupancy, elevator and delivery restrictions
- Finish level, owner-supplied items, timing and optional budget
Start with photos and a description. Do not send identity documents or sensitive property records through a public comment. Our website form does not upload files; photos can be texted or emailed through the contact options.
Sources and how to use this guide
Municipal and provincial links are the starting point for checking requirements. Contractor examples are their own published estimates, not Sunify projects or independently audited market data. This guide is not an approval, legal opinion or fixed quotation. Check current requirements for the actual property and proposed work.
- Published contractor example: Domicile Construction — Condo renovation cost examples
- Published contractor example: ReVISION — Vancouver renovation cost guide
- Official guidance: Province of BC — Common and Limited Common Property
- Official guidance: District of West Vancouver — Building Permits and Inspections