INDUSTRIAL RENT / FIELD GUIDEMETRO VANCOUVER · OCTOBER 2026

WAREHOUSE · INDUSTRIAL · SMALL BUSINESS

Understanding
industrial rent.

Know what your monthly budget needs to cover, how much warehouse space you actually get, and what to check before touring.

Looking for space below $3,000 a month? Smaller-budget options can exist. The useful question is whether the space, costs and business-use requirements work together.

Information checked:
All figures in Canadian dollars (CAD).

01

Start with the full monthly cost.

Industrial listings often quote rent per square foot, per year. A rate of $20 per sq. ft. does not mean the monthly payment is $20, and it may describe base rent only.

BASE RENT

The basic charge for leasing the premises.

ADDITIONAL RENT

Charges such as property taxes, building insurance, maintenance and management, as set out in the lease.

Additional rent may be an estimate and can change. Ask which costs it covers. Gross, modified gross and triple net (NNN) descriptions do not replace a written breakdown of your obligations. [4]

Monthly base + additional rent

Rentable sq. ft. × (annual base rate + annual additional rate) ÷ 12

Total occupancy spending

Start with rent, then account for applicable GST, separately billed utilities and other tenant expenses.

Commercial rents are generally subject to GST, depending on the landlord's circumstances. Confirm tax treatment. Tenant insurance, internet, repairs, parking and other charges may also need a separate allowance. [5] [6]

02

Put real numbers beside the budget.

These three researched asking-rent examples show how size and rates translate into monthly rent. They are individual properties, not typical rates for their cities.

Research snapshot · 23 October 2026 · annual CAD rates per sq. ft.
Example / total areaAnnual base + additionalMonthly calculation
Burnaby
101–4023 McConnell Court
1,041.78 sq. ft. warehouse		$25.00 + $8.501,041.78 × $33.50 ÷ 12
$2,908.30 [1]
Port Coquitlam
3–2330 Tyner Street
1,602 sq. ft. industrial unit		$19.50 + $7.001,602 × $26.50 ÷ 12
$3,537.75 [2]
Langley
107–20133 Industrial Avenue
1,648 sq. ft. warehouse/office		$20.00 + $6.50 estimated1,648 × $26.50 ÷ 12
$3,639.33 [3]

All three calculations exclude GST. McConnell expressly excludes heat and light; its additional rent includes management. Utilities and other tenant-cost inclusions for the other examples require confirmation. Langley's additional rent is a 2026 estimate. These are asking rents, not achieved lease rates; availability, areas and approvals have not been confirmed with the agents.

03

Check what the square footage includes.

Total advertised area can include offices and mezzanines. The Langley example has 1,433 sq. ft. of warehouse and 215 sq. ft. of office, rather than 1,648 sq. ft. of open warehouse. [3]

FUNCTION MATTERS

Loading, height and power

The Tyner Street brochure advertises 18-ft clear height and a 12 × 14-ft grade-level door. Check the actual door opening, vehicle access, turning space and unobstructed height against your operation. Grade loading is not the same as a truck-height loading dock. [2]

USE MATTERS

Industrial does not mean every business.

Confirm the proposed activities with the municipality, landlord and strata where applicable. A warehouse, office-heavy industrial unit, storage-only space and shared premises can have different access and operating restrictions. A zoning label alone does not confirm approval. [4]

Parking is not automatically an outdoor storage yard. Confirm exclusive yard rights, vehicle storage, hours of access and any restrictions in writing.

04

Work with the budget you have.

A smaller budget does not automatically rule out industrial space. Start with the minimum space and features your business needs, then compare those requirements with current options.

  • Separate must-haves from preferences. List the essential warehouse area, loading, height, power and parking.
  • Consider a smaller footprint. Check usable warehouse area rather than paying for office space you do not need.
  • Widen the search area. Compare locations that still work for customers, staff and deliveries; savings are not guaranteed.
  • Compare other premises types carefully. Storage-only or shared space may suit some activities, but verify operating rights, access, approvals and all charges.

The goal is a space that works for your business at a cost you can sustain. A low headline rent is only one part of that decision.

These examples do not establish a typical size or rate below $3,000 across Metro Vancouver.

05

Ask these questions before touring.

  • What will I pay? Confirm base rent, current additional rent, GST, utilities and other charges.
  • What area am I leasing? Get the warehouse, office and mezzanine breakdown and the premises plan.
  • Can my business operate here? Verify municipal requirements and landlord/strata approval for the specific activities.
  • Will the premises work? Check loading, clear height, power, fire protection, parking and any yard rights.
  • What will it take to move in? Establish improvements, permits, deposits, timing and lease commitments.
  • What can change later? Review rent increases, additional-rent adjustments, maintenance and restoration obligations.

Monthly rent and upfront spending are separate decisions. Price any required improvements before committing to a unit. [4]

06

Sources & further reading.

Original brokerage brochures and public tenant guidance. Listing evidence was checked on 23 October 2026; the examples are not a live availability feed.