Surrey businesses report losing 300-plus hours a year to government paperwork
The Surrey and White Rock Board of Trade's 2026 Red Tape Survey finds 68 percent of respondents say compliance has a moderate or major impact on their business.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on surreynowleader.com.
Nearly half of businesses in Surrey and White Rock lose more than 300 hours each year to government compliance, according to the Surrey and White Rock Board of Trade's ninth annual Red Tape Survey, released in October 2026.
The Surrey Now-Leader reported October 30 on the survey's findings. The 35-page report, available at swrbot.com, was based on a survey conducted from mid-July to early October 2026.
How much time it takes
The report found that 46 percent of respondents spend six or more hours per week on compliance activities. Of those, 16 percent spend more than 20 hours per week. Another 29 percent spend one to five hours weekly, and 22 percent spend less than an hour.
The most time-consuming tasks, according to respondents: understanding requirements (60 percent), completing applications and forms (58 percent), gathering documents (56 percent), and waiting for approvals (51 percent).
The overall impact
A combined 68 percent of respondents said regulatory compliance had a moderate or major impact on their business or household, according to the report's own figures. Two-thirds, 67 percent, said municipal processes had affected their ability to operate, invest or grow. Only 20 percent said they had not been affected.
In Surrey specifically, building permits were rated the highest municipal burden, with 50 percent of respondents giving them a high red tape rating. Development and amenity cost charges followed at 48 percent, development applications and engineering services each at 46 percent, and development approval timelines at 43 percent.
The board of trade's policy advisor, Aman Parmar, said the survey results show that 41 percent of respondents did not know whether they needed to report the same information to multiple agencies, the Surrey Now-Leader reported. The report describes this as "highlighting the need for better coordination and clearer processes."
What the report recommends
The board of trade makes four recommendations: establish clear service standards and predictable approval timelines; improve guidance and engage industry before changing requirements; reduce duplication and coordinate requirements across departments and levels of government; and simplify digital services and make processes easier to use.
What this means for Surrey businesses
The new Surrey City Council, led by Mayor-elect Doug McCallum, takes office on November 2, 2026. The board of trade says it is sharing its findings with all levels of government.
Business owners in Surrey can read the full 35-page report at swrbot.com or contact the Surrey and White Rock Board of Trade. The council's first meeting is on November 2 at Surrey City Hall.
Questions this story answers
What did the Surrey and White Rock Board of Trade find in its 2026 survey?
The Surrey and White Rock Board of Trade's ninth annual Red Tape Survey found that 68 percent of respondents said government compliance had a moderate or major impact on their business or household. The survey was conducted from mid-July to early October 2026 and the 35-page report was published in October 2026. The figures come from the report itself.
How much time do Surrey businesses spend on compliance each week?
According to the SWRBOT 2026 Red Tape Survey report, 46 percent of respondents said they spend six or more hours per week on compliance activities. Of those, 16 percent spend more than 20 hours per week. Another 22 percent spend six to 10 hours and 7 percent spend 11 to 20 hours per week.
Which city processes cause the most trouble for Surrey businesses?
The SWRBOT 2026 report says building permits were rated the highest municipal red tape area in Surrey, with 50 percent of respondents giving them a high rating. Development and amenity cost charges followed at 48 percent, development applications and engineering services each at 46 percent, and development approval timelines at 43 percent.
What are the top compliance tasks businesses find hardest?
According to the survey report, the activities most often called costly or time-consuming were understanding requirements (60 percent), completing applications and forms (58 percent), gathering documents (56 percent), and waiting for approvals (51 percent).
Did Surrey businesses say municipal processes delayed their operations?
The SWRBOT report found that two-thirds of respondents, 67 percent, said municipal processes or requirements had affected their ability to operate, invest or grow their business. Only 20 percent said they had not. Comments pointed to permits, business licences, inspections, development approvals, signage, zoning and property taxes.
What does the board of trade recommend the City of Surrey do?
The Surrey and White Rock Board of Trade makes four recommendations in its 2026 report: establish clear service standards and predictable approval timelines; improve guidance and engage industry before changing requirements; reduce duplication and coordinate requirements across departments and governments; and simplify digital services and make processes easier to use.
How were the survey respondents connected to Surrey?
The 2026 survey broadened participation beyond business owners. According to the report, 62 percent owned or operated a business in Surrey and 9 percent in White Rock. A further 40 percent worked in Surrey and 7 percent in White Rock. About 36 percent lived in Surrey and 5 percent in White Rock. Nearly 20 percent identified as a property owner, developer or investor. Respondents could select multiple categories.
What can a Surrey business owner do with this report?
Business owners in Surrey can read the full 35-page report at swrbot.com and contact the Surrey and White Rock Board of Trade directly. The new Surrey City Council takes office on November 2, 2026, and the board is sharing its findings with all levels of government to push for process changes.
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