1. Registration
The first step toward earning LEED certification is project registration. Registering during the early phases of project design will ensure maximum potential for achieving certification. Registration is an important step that establishes contact with the CaGBC and provides access to essential information, software tools and communications. Upon registration, project contacts receive an orientation letter and access to resources that explain and facilitate the formal LEED application process. For more information, visit the LEED Registration page.

Calculate your LEED^® Canada registration and certification fees now

2. Documentation
Once a project is registered, the project team begins to prepare documentation and calculations to satisfy the prerequisite and credit submittal requirements. It is helpful to have a LEED Accredited Professional as the project contact and team member responsible for coordinating the LEED process. Documentation should be compiled electronically. Refer to the Certification section below for application details.

3. Credit Interpretations
In some cases, project teams may encounter difficulties applying a LEED prerequisite or credit to a specific project. LEED has an established review process for registered project inquiries, called credit interpretation requests (CIRs), to ensure that rulings are consistent and available to other projects. If a question arises, project teams should consult the appropriate LEED Reference Guide in regards to credit intent, requirements and calculations.

If a similar credit interpretation has not been logged, or does not answer the question sufficiently, submit a new CIR using the online form. The inquiry should be succinct and based on information found in the Reference Guide, with emphasis on the intent of the prerequisite or credit. The applicant should summarize their question after providing background details. To ensure confidentiality, project names should not be used. The first two CIRs are included with registration payment. Each additional CIR is $310 CND. Note that only the main contact for a project can request a CIR for a given project. The CIR must relate to the project in question.

Reviewing published CIRs is a benefit of membership. The CIR database is accessible to all main contacts for registered projects.

4. Certification
To earn LEED certification, the applicant project must satisfy all of the prerequisites and a minimum number of points to attain a LEED rating level.

The certification review process is initiated by submitting the required documentation. Send one copy of the CD for the entire submission, along with the certification cheque, to:

LEED Program Coordinator
Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC)
310 - 319 West Pender Street
Vancouver BC V6B 1T3

The documentation required is outlined in the applicable Reference Guide and the LEED Letter Templates, except all files should be provided electronically. The certification fee can be calculated here; the cheque should be made payable to the Canada Green Building Council. Projects should ensure that the certification fee is based on the final project floor area. The Project Floor Area is defined as:

The total area in square metres of all conditioned rooms including corridors, elevators, stairwells and shaft spaces that are within the LEED project boundaries. This is also referred to as ‘Building Area’ or ‘Project Area’ for registration purposes.

The files on the CD should be organized by folder. The following structure is recommended.

• General:

  • Excel version of the LEED Letter Template
  • The narrative, to provide the certification review team with an understanding of your project. Please note the overall narrative should be approximately 2 pages long and highlight general information on the project as well as a few key highlights. Specific by-credit narratives should not be included here but rather with the credit information, where necessary.
  • Any other general information 

• LEED Submittals - organized into category subfolders.

  • All documents related to a given credit can be stored together in one file, marked by the credit number (e.g., EQc4.3). Or, if having multiple files per credit, please organize these by credit subfolders.
  • Use numbering or acronyms for folder and file names where possible (e.g., SS, SSc3, etc.).
  • Do not use French accents on folder or file names as they cause problems in file transference.
  • Originals should be PDF's from the electronic versions where possible to ensure readability, unless it is a signed declaration in which case it should be scanned in. 

• Project Drawings:

  • Create PDF's of all drawings from the electronic versions rather than the scanned ones, where possible.
  • Organize into subfolders (i.e., Arch, Elec, Mech, Landscape).
  • Include a drawing list to ensure no drawings are missed.
  • Drawings should include:  
    • site, context and landscaping plans
    • typical floor plans, building sections and elevations
    • schematic diagrams of major electrical and mechanical systems
    • window, lighting and HVAC equipment schedules and tables
  • Note that drawing packages are not required for LEED Canada for Commercial Interior (CI) projects. Instead applicants should provide the relevant drawings under the specific credits. Applicants are welcome to submit additional drawings.

• Project Photos:

  • Jpeg's or PDF's are acceptable.
  • Ensure that photos fully illustrate the project including building elevations and the primary entrance to the building.
  • Interior photos are required for LEED Canada-CI projects and are strongly encouraged for all other projects.
  • These photos will be used to assist the review team on the certification of your project and do not need to be professional photos. Once your project is certified, we will contact the project team for media quality photos if you wish to provide them.
  • For LEED Canada-CI projects, applicants can chose to include the required photos under the General folder rather than as a separate folder.