Commercial Renovation Contractor Burnaby BC: Tenant Improvements, Office Fit-Outs & Restaurant Buildouts (2026 Guide)

Burnaby is Metro Vancouver's second-largest commercial market, home to Metrotown, Brentwood Town Centre, Lougheed, the BCIT Business Park, and the Burnaby Business Park along Marine Way. Commercial tenants across Burnaby — from restaurant operators fitting out new Metrotown units to tech companies building office suites in Brentwood towers — regularly require licensed commercial renovation contractors who know the City of Burnaby permit process.

Avanta Contracting delivers commercial-only renovation services throughout Burnaby — tenant improvements, office fit-outs, restaurant buildouts, retail renovations and spa and clinic builds. Our team is familiar with Burnaby's ePlanning permit portal, the city's inspection schedule, and the strata-council approval requirements common in Burnaby's high-density commercial buildings.

This guide covers what commercial renovations in Burnaby involve in 2026, what permits you'll need, realistic cost ranges, and what to look for in a Burnaby commercial renovation contractor.

Burnaby's commercial renovation demand is driven by several distinct business districts, each with its own tenant mix and renovation profile:

• Metrotown and Brentwood: Dense retail and restaurant districts anchored by major shopping centres. High volume of retail and restaurant buildouts as national chains and independent operators occupy new strata commercial units in mixed-use towers.
• BCIT Business Park and Lougheed: Mix of light-industrial, tech offices, and health-related businesses. Strong demand for office tenant improvements and medical clinic fit-outs.
• Burnaby Business Park (Big Bend / Marine Way): Light-industrial and commercial mixed-use, demand for office TI and warehouse office conversions.
• Edmonds Town Centre: Growing community commercial node with boutique retail, professional offices, and food service operators.

Most commercial renovation projects in Burnaby are tenant improvements (TIs) — work done to the interior of an existing commercial unit, either at the tenant's expense or with a landlord improvement allowance. Typical Burnaby TI projects include restaurant and café buildouts, retail storefront renovations, office fit-outs, and medical or spa clinic builds.

The City of Burnaby processes commercial tenant improvement permits through its ePlanning portal. Commercial landlords and their contractors submit permit applications electronically, with plan review conducted by Burnaby Building Department staff. Key steps in the Burnaby commercial TI permit process:

1. Confirm occupancy classification and scope with your contractor
2. Prepare permit drawings (architectural, mechanical, electrical, structural as required by scope)
3. Submit via Burnaby ePlanning portal and pay permit fees
4. Await plan review — typically 4–8 weeks for standard commercial fit-outs; 10–14 weeks for complex restaurant or medical projects
5. Receive permit approval and commence construction
6. Book and pass all required Burnaby inspections (framing, mechanical rough-in, electrical rough-in, insulation, final occupancy)
7. Obtain final occupancy approval

Restaurant and food service renovations in Burnaby require a separate Fraser Health Authority inspection for commercial kitchen and food handling areas, in addition to City of Burnaby building department approvals. Avanta Contracting coordinates both permit streams on restaurant and café projects.

Burnaby commercial permit fees are typically $2,000–$6,000 for a mid-size commercial TI. Your contractor provides a full permit fee estimate as part of your project quote.

Commercial renovation costs in Burnaby are broadly aligned with Metro Vancouver averages, with some premium on trades in the high-density Brentwood and Metrotown areas:

• Office tenant improvement: $80–$160/sq ft (open-plan to full fit-out)
• Restaurant or café buildout: $150–$280/sq ft (commercial kitchen, hood ventilation, grease traps, Fraser Health compliance)
• Retail unit fit-out: $60–$130/sq ft (depending on storefront glass, millwork and flooring specification)
• Medical or spa clinic: $120–$220/sq ft (medical plumbing, dedicated electrical, accessible design)

These ranges include permit coordination, licensed sub-trades and project management. Avanta provides fixed-price quotes with no surprise change orders for all agreed scope items. Budget contingencies of 10–15% are recommended for heritage buildings or spaces with unknown existing conditions.

Burnaby landlord improvement allowances for new commercial leases typically range from $20–$60/sq ft for prime Brentwood and Metrotown units, and $10–$30/sq ft for secondary commercial space. Avanta can provide design-build estimates that align with your landlord allowance and help negotiate the scope.

Avanta Contracting provides the full range of commercial renovation services across Burnaby's business districts:

• Tenant improvements (TI): Complete fit-outs for new tenants in Burnaby commercial buildings — permit coordination, construction, inspections, and occupancy handover
• Office renovations: Open-plan workspace conversions, private office additions, boardroom and meeting room upgrades, reception and lobby redesigns, server room fit-outs
• Restaurant & café buildouts: Commercial kitchens, hood ventilation systems, grease interceptors, Fraser Health compliance, bar builds, dining room finishes
• Retail buildouts: Storefront improvements, display and shelving millwork, flooring, lighting, accessible entrances
• Medical & spa clinics: Treatment rooms, medical plumbing, dedicated electrical circuits, HVAC upgrades, accessible design
• Strata commercial renovations: Experience navigating Burnaby strata council approvals and landlord coordination for commercial units in mixed-use towers

Burnaby's commercial market rewards contractors who understand the city's dense, strata-heavy building stock and its ePlanning permit system. Avanta Contracting has completed 50+ commercial projects in Burnaby and brings specific experience with Burnaby Building Department requirements, strata council coordination, and Fraser Health review for restaurant projects.

What sets Avanta apart for Burnaby commercial renovations:

• Fixed-price contracts — no surprise change orders for agreed scope items
• Licensed & insured — WorkSafeBC certified, $5M general liability insurance
• Commercial-only focus — no residential projects competing for our project managers or crews
• Dedicated project manager for every Burnaby job from permit submission to occupancy
• Free site visit and estimate — call 778-322-7333 or contact us online

Ready to start your Burnaby commercial renovation? Contact Avanta Contracting for a free site visit and fixed-price estimate. You can also explore our Burnaby tenant improvement permit guide or visit our Burnaby tenant improvement services page.