Further information about assessment records is available in the City Record Series descriptions. When using tax assessment rolls it is useful to have the legal description of the property. Old and new legal descriptions are similar only in lot number. The directories can also provide a rough guide as to the age of a building, by the date the address first appears in the directories. It wasn't until the 1890s that another section listing by street was added.
Some directories cover only the city, others cover Vancouver Island and British Columbia.
The street numbering system changed in 1905 and street names often changed. City directories are not always very accurate. Building permits are available from 1907 to 1958. They are listed by building permit number but can be useful for establishing an approximate date of construction. They also include owners' name, legal description, number of storeys, construction material and cost of the building.