Oil tank removal in the City of North Vancouver
North Shore Oil Tank Removal handles buried oil tank removal throughout the City of North Vancouver, including Lower and Upper Lonsdale. Here is how the City handles it, current as we understand it.
The short version
Effective October 1, 2018, the City of North Vancouver stepped out of oil-tank regulation and no longer issues an oil-tank removal permit. The City directs owners to follow BC provincial rules: survey the property, use a qualified environmental consultant alongside a professional oil tank contractor, take soil samples after removal to confirm clean ground, report any leak, and keep all records for a future sale, financing, insurance or claim. Old references to a City permit fee are from before this change.
| Dedicated removal permit | No, since October 1, 2018. The City is no longer involved in regulating oil tanks. |
|---|---|
| Who drives the process | The homeowner, a qualified environmental consultant or engineer, and a professional oil tank contractor. |
| Open-hole inspection | Not a City function. Clean removal is confirmed by soil samples through your environmental professional. |
| Documentation | No City certificate. You keep the consultant's report and soil results. The City advises retaining all records. |
| If a leak is found | Provincial law requires certain releases to be reported, which can involve the City Fire Department and the BC Ministry of Environment. |
| Historical records | The City Fire Department maintained tank reports only up to September 30, 2018. |
What this means for a removal
In the City, a removal runs on provincial rules rather than a City permit. We carry out the removal, take soil samples to confirm the ground is clean, and make sure you end up with the consultant's documentation the City tells owners to retain. If a leak turns up, we manage the reporting and the cleanup to provincial standards.
Worth knowing: some older contractor pages still claim the City requires a small permit fee. That refers to a fee from before the October 2018 change, when the City withdrew from regulating oil tanks. We do not treat it as a current requirement, and you should not either. If in doubt, confirm with the City.
Verify with the City: requirements can change. Confirm current requirements with the City of North Vancouver Fire Department before relying on this summary.
Official sources
- City of North Vancouver, Fire Safety and Prevention (Underground Oil Tanks section): cnv.org
- City of North Vancouver Fire Department: 604-980-5021, fire@cnv.org
- BC provincial spill reporting line: 1-800-663-3456.
City of North Vancouver FAQs
Does the City of North Vancouver require an oil tank removal permit?
No. The City has stated that, effective October 1, 2018, it is no longer involved in the regulation of oil tanks and that owners should manage their own liability by following BC provincial regulations. There is no current City removal permit. Older references to a City permit fee pre-date this change.
How does the City say the process works now?
The City directs owners to have the property surveyed by an environmental consultant, hire a qualified consultant or engineer alongside a professional oil tank contractor, take soil samples after removal to confirm the ground is clean, report any leaks, and retain all records for a future sale, financing, insurance or claim.
Can the City tell me if a tank was recorded on my property?
You can ask the City Fire Department whether tank-related reports are on file for your address, but the City has said those reports were only maintained up to September 30, 2018. Anything after that is up to you and your consultant to document.
Have a tank in the City?
Send the address and we will handle the removal, the soil, and the records you need.