Heavy Lifting in Burnaby, BC: Plan Your Move

Choose lifting only, transport or removal

Describe the whole job: move a dresser between floors, load a container, unload a rental truck or carry a sofa to a collection spot. Name the starting point and final position. Ask the contractor to list the tasks included in the quote, including disassembly, reassembly, protective wrapping and cleanup.

For a piano, safe, stone tabletop or other difficult item, ask whether the contractor accepts that item and what equipment it proposes. Supply the manufacturer’s weight if you have it; flag an unknown weight rather than guessing. Ask for an access assessment when photos and measurements leave the handling plan uncertain.

For disposal, check the City program before requesting private hauling. Burnaby accepts items including couches, dressers and large kitchen or laundry appliances, but excludes pool tables and building, demolition and renovation materials. Confirm your item against the City list and specify who will carry it to the assigned collection location. [2]

Give the crew an access plan

Send photos of the item, doorways, stair flights, landings and the outdoor loading route. Measure the item and the narrowest openings. Include handrails, low ceilings and turns in your description. Ask the crew to confirm whether it plans to remove furniture legs or doors, and agree who will restore them.

For an apartment or condo, ask building management about elevator reservations, move hours, loading access and required floor protection. Confirm the available window before booking. Tell the crew the distance between the loading position and the entrance, and identify a fallback if the planned entrance is unavailable.

Clear the agreed route before arrival and keep children and pets away from the work area. Arrange appliance disconnection as a separate task and ask the lifting crew to confirm whether it accepts the appliance’s prepared condition. Agree who will protect floors, doorframes and shared areas.

Compare written quotes and coverage

Request the crew size, booked hours or fixed scope, minimum charge, travel charges and overtime terms in writing. Ask whether the quote includes a vehicle, dollies, straps, wrapping and disposal. Have the contractor explain how it will price a change if the item cannot fit through the agreed route.

Ask for evidence of liability coverage and an explanation of how the contractor handles damage to your belongings and building. Check workers’ compensation standing through WorkSafeBC’s clearance application. You can search a registered business by its precise legal or trade name, or its account number. Check the validity date in the letter and save a copy. [4]

Treat disposal as a separate quote line. Metro Vancouver publishes facility charges, including weight-based garbage fees and minimum load charges. Ask the hauler to identify the destination, explain any disposal markup and provide the facility receipt. These published fees do not establish the contractor’s lifting or transport price. [5]

Coordinate the container and transport schedule

For a moving container on a street, roadway, boulevard or other public property, Burnaby requires a placement permit and allows street storage for a maximum of five days, with possible extensions. The City does not require a container permit for placement on private property. Choose the location before coordinating container delivery and loading labour. [1]

Ask the transport provider to check its vehicle against Burnaby’s rules. Vehicles weighing more than 11,800 kg must use designated truck routes, with the shortest connection between an off-route destination and the closest truck route. The City prohibits overnight street parking for vehicles weighing over 3,600 kg. [3]

For exceptionally large transport, Burnaby requires a permit when the vehicle exceeds 20 m in length or 2.6 m in width. Oversize trucks cannot travel from 7 to 9 am or 3 to 6 pm, Monday to Friday. Ask the carrier to confirm the permitted route and travel window before setting the crew’s arrival time. [3]

Metro Vancouver garbage minimum load charges

Choose the scope for your heavy-item job

Your hiring checklist

1. List each item, its dimensions and its known weight or unknown-weight status.
2. Photograph the complete route, including stairs, landings and loading access.
3. Confirm whether you need lifting only, transport, disposal or a combination.
4. Ask building management to confirm access arrangements before booking.
5. Assign responsibility for container paperwork when using public property.
6. Get the handling plan, charges and damage process in writing.
7. Check WorkSafeBC clearance status and request evidence of liability coverage.
8. Clear the route and confirm the destination before the crew arrives.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I budget for lifting help?

Request a written quote based on the item, route and exact scope. The supplied official sources establish permit and disposal charges, but provide no lifting-labour price range. Ask for minimum hours, crew size, travel, equipment and disposal charges so you can compare offers on the same basis. [1] [5]

Can I leave a moving container in the lane?

Burnaby prohibits container placement in lanes. For another public-property location, submit a permit request at least five working days ahead and wait for City approval. Private-property placement does not require the City’s container permit. [1]

Can lifting help take my mattress to City pickup?

Ask the crew to include carry-out to the assigned collection spot. First confirm household eligibility and schedule the pickup with the City. Burnaby accepts mattresses thicker than four inches and requires you to wrap and seal them in plastic. [2]

What does a WorkSafeBC clearance letter confirm?

It describes the firm’s clearance status. WorkSafeBC honours an active-and-in-good-standing letter through the date shown for satisfied assessment remittance requirements. Check that date for your job. Ask separately about liability coverage and protection for your belongings. [4]