Paving contractor pricing in Vancouver
What paving contractors charge in Vancouver (typically C$45-C$95/hr), the local factors that move the rate, and a sample quote you can use as a starting point.
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Vancouver paving contractor pricing
What paving contractors should charge in Vancouver
Vancouver paving work is dominated by Shaughnessy/Point Grey/Kerrisdale estate driveways with PNW natural stone (basalt, granite, Squamish stone), suburban tract concrete driveways, permeable paver installations (City of Vancouver Integrated Stormwater Management), and commercial parking lots. WorkSafeBC mandatory. BC Housing builder licence for new home work. City of Vancouver stormwater rules mandate permeable surfaces. PNW 1,200mm rainfall + slope drainage drives drainage spec.
Hourly rate
C$45-C$95
per hour, weekday daytime
Call-out fee
C$31-C$68
within standard radius
After-hours
1.5-2x
evening, weekend, holiday
Job pricing
What to charge for common paving contractor jobs in Vancouver
Real-world price ranges for the jobs local tradies quote every week. Use the table as a starting point for your own quotes and adjust for parts, access, and your overheads. All figures in CAD.
Site visit and measure
What's included
Most paving contractors measure free for jobs over $2,000. Detailed scope and drainage plans may be charged.
Concrete pavers (per sqm, installed)
What's included
Standard 60mm interlocking concrete pavers. Includes excavation, sub-base, sand bed, and laying. Edging extra.
Permeable pavers (per sqm)
What's included
Allow water through to reduce runoff. Often required by council for new driveways. Higher unit cost, lower drainage cost.
Porcelain pavers (per sqm)
What's included
Premium look, ultra-low maintenance. Includes 20mm porcelain on concrete or screed bed. Pedestal install for rooftops extra.
Natural stone (per sqm)
What's included
Bluestone, travertine, sandstone, or granite. Includes stone, screed bed, grout, and labour. Premium for honed or sawn finishes.
Residential driveway (40-60 sqm)
What's included
Depends on paver choice and site difficulty. Includes excavation, sub-base, drainage if needed, and edging.
Patio (20-30 sqm)
What's included
Depends on paver choice. Includes excavation, base, and laying. Excludes pergola, lighting, and furniture.
Garden path (per linear m, 1m wide)
What's included
Includes excavation, sub-base, paver or stepping stone, and edging. Curved paths cost more.
Repointing existing paving (per sqm)
What's included
Removes failed joint sand, sweeps polymeric sand, seals. Refreshes a 10-year-old patio without full relay.
Vancouver quote factors
What to factor into your Vancouver paving contractor quote
Local context that should shape what you quote as a paving contractor in Vancouver. Marine west coast (Mediterranean-influenced). Mild wet winters (rarely below 0°C, occasional non-sticking snow), cool summers (rarely above 28°C historically; 2021 heat dome hit 49°C in BC interior), very high rainfall (~1,200mm/year, most Oct-Apr). Mild climate makes heat pumps highly efficient year-round. Moss, mildew, and rot constant trade concerns. Wildfire smoke August-September from interior BC fires drives HEPA filtration. Cascadia subduction zone seismic risk.
WorkSafeBC + BC Housing + municipal
WorkSafeBC coverage mandatory; print account number on every quote. BC Housing builder licence required for paving tied to new home work. Municipal business licence required (Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, North/West Vancouver). City of Vancouver permits driveway work over CAD $5,000 or affecting boulevard.
Premium tier PNW natural stone
Shaughnessy (V6H), Point Grey (V6R), Kerrisdale (V6N), Dunbar (V6N/V6S), Coal Harbour (V6C/V6E), West Vancouver British Properties (V7S), Caulfeild customers favor PNW natural stone: BC basalt (CAD $285-$725/sqm installed), Squamish granite (CAD $385-$925/sqm), Kettle Valley sandstone (CAD $285-$725/sqm), and imported Pennsylvania bluestone (CAD $385-$925/sqm). Quote stone origin, finish, and cutting explicitly. Premium designer projects CAD $550-$1,650/sqm.
City of Vancouver stormwater permeable surfaces
City of Vancouver Integrated Stormwater Management Plan strictly enforces permeable surfaces on most renovations and new construction. Quote permeable paver work (CAD $165-$435/sqm installed) at premium. Native plant integration qualifies for additional stormwater credits. Adjacent municipalities (Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, North Vancouver) have similar rules under Metro Vancouver Liquid Waste Management Plan.
Suburban tract concrete driveway
Standard Vancouver (Kits V6J/V6K, Mount Pleasant V5T/V5V, Main Street V5V/V5W, Marpole V6P) and suburban Lower Mainland tracts (Burnaby, Richmond V6V/V6W/V6X/V6Y, Surrey V3R/V3S/V3W) drive concrete driveway volume. Quote per-sqm installed: standard concrete CAD $85-$165; asphalt CAD $45-$110; permeable concrete CAD $165-$325; permeable pavers CAD $165-$435. Build relationships with 5-10 production builders.
PNW rain + slope drainage
Vancouver 1,200mm annual rainfall + hilly topography (North Shore, West Vancouver, parts of West Side) drives constant drainage demand. Quote drainage design (French drains CAD $35-$70/LM, dry wells CAD $1,800-$6,500, swales, downspout extensions) as separate line. Most Vancouver hilly driveways need drainage as standard spec. City of Vancouver and Metro Vancouver enforce.
Commercial parking lot + accessibility
Downtown Vancouver, Burnaby Metrotown, Richmond, Surrey commercial parking lot work drives volume. Quote per-sqm installed: standard asphalt CAD $55-$130; concrete CAD $85-$165; commercial-grade with markings, lighting, drainage CAD $265-$595/sqm. BC Building Accessibility Handbook compliance (van-accessible parking, curb cuts, detectable warning surfaces) at premium CAD $265-$595/sqm.
Sample quote
A real Vancouver paving contractor quote you can copy
Residential driveway, 55sqm, premium concrete pavers, charcoal. Replace the line items and rates with your own; the structure stays.
Site excavation (200mm depth), debris removal to landfill
150mm CBR-tested crushed rock sub-base, compacted in 75mm lifts
30mm screed bed (sand)
Adbri Euro Stone Driveway Charcoal pavers (200x100x60, stretcher bond)
Concrete haunch edging (perimeter, 28 linear m)
Drainage connection to existing stormwater (2 linear m)
Polymeric joint sand, brush and water-set
Project labour (4 days, 2-person team, including site clean)
FAQ
Vancouver paving contractor pricing questions, answered
Common questions about paving contractor pricing in Vancouver, with answers framed for tradies pricing their own work.
Per-sqm installed: standard concrete driveway CAD $85-$165; asphalt CAD $45-$110; standard concrete pavers CAD $150-$325; BC basalt CAD $285-$725; Squamish granite CAD $385-$925; Kettle Valley sandstone CAD $285-$725; Pennsylvania bluestone CAD $385-$925; permeable pavers CAD $165-$435 (City of Vancouver stormwater compliant). Premium tier 25-40% above standard. State WorkSafeBC + BC Housing + City of Vancouver stormwater compliance on every quote.
BC has no specific paving licence, but WorkSafeBC coverage mandatory; BC Housing builder licence required for paving tied to new home work. Municipal business licence required (Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, North/West Vancouver). City of Vancouver permits driveway work over CAD $5,000 or affecting boulevard. State all relevant numbers on every quote.
Yes, on most major projects. City of Vancouver Integrated Stormwater Management Plan strictly enforces permeable surfaces on most renovations and new construction. Quote permeable paver work (CAD $165-$435/sqm installed) at premium. Native plant integration qualifies for additional stormwater credits. Adjacent municipalities (Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, North Vancouver) have similar rules under Metro Vancouver Liquid Waste Management Plan.
Typical 50-90sqm driveway runs CAD $7,500-$45,000 depending on material. Quote separately: excavation and disposal, sub-base (150-200mm Class B base for freeze-thaw), sand bedding, pavers/concrete, edging restraints, drainage (mandatory for Vancouver hilly sites), jointing and sealing. Premium PNW natural stone driveways CAD $25,000-$185,000+. GST 5% + BC PST 7% on separate lines.
Shaughnessy V6H, Point Grey V6R, Kerrisdale V6N, Dunbar V6N/V6S, Coal Harbour V6C/V6E, West Vancouver British Properties V7S favor PNW natural stone: BC basalt (CAD $285-$725/sqm installed), Squamish granite (CAD $385-$925/sqm), Kettle Valley sandstone (CAD $285-$725/sqm), and imported Pennsylvania bluestone (CAD $385-$925/sqm). State stone origin, finish, and cut on the quote; premium clients compare by spec.
Per square metre rates are $80 to $280 installed in the US, depending on paver type. Hourly rates ($45-95) only apply for repairs and small remediation work. Most paving contractors quote fixed-price per sqm with adders for pattern, edging, and drainage.
Concrete is cheaper ($25/sqm material), softer, may need re-sealing every 3-5 years, and weathers over time. Porcelain is more expensive ($80/sqm+), harder, requires no sealing, and looks like-new at year 20. Concrete dominates driveways; porcelain dominates patios and pools.
A driveway over poor sub-base sinks 30-100mm over 5 years, cracks pavers, and pools water. Quality sub-base (100-150mm of CBR-tested crushed rock, compacted in lifts) keeps the surface flat for 20+ years. Most failed paving traces to sub-base, not the pavers.
Yes, 2-3 quotes for any paving over $3,000. Compare paver brand, sub-base depth, edging spec, and drainage approach. The cheapest quote almost always cuts sub-base or skips edging, both of which fail within 3-5 years.
If the driveway connects to a public road or changes a council kerb crossing, almost always yes. Council layback permits are $250-1,200 depending on region. The paving contractor should include this in the quote, not hide it.
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