Building Permits

• Building Permit Application
• Building Permit Checklist
• Single Family Dwelling Checklist
• Owners Authorization of Agent Form
• Building Permit Amendment Form
• Carriage House Application
• Secondary Suite Application
• Secondary Suite Construction Requirements
• Sign Permit Application
• Blasting Permit Checklist
• Cold Weather Construction

• Building Permit Fees
• Demolition Permit - Fire Safety Plan
• Required Information - New Commercial Buildings (PDF) * Please contact office to arrange pre-application meeting
• Required Information - New Residential Buildings and Additions (PDF)
• Permit Holders Information (PDF)
• Sign Bylaw
• Single Family Dwelling Application Checklist

Information Bulletins for the following can be found on the Bulletins and Forms webpage.

• Sign Permits
• Building Permit Requirements

It is the owner's responsibility to obtain a building permit when required. You may authorize your contractor or designer to apply for a permit but as the owner you must ensure that they have the permit prior to starting any work.

Permits ensure that construction projects meet all zoning requirements, fire and structural safety standards and other building standards required by the British Columbia Building Code (BCBC). Failure to obtain building permits can result in costly construction delays, legal action and/or the removal of work already completed.

The City’s Building Regulations Bylaw requires you to obtain a building permit for most projects on private property, including the construction of any structure with an area of more than 10 square metres (107.6 square feet) or that contains plumbing. 

Other permit-required projects include, but are not limited to:

• Additions
• Altering/renovating the interior of a building including finishing a basement
• Building/structure demolition
• Installation of solid fuel burning appliances (i.e.: wood inserts, stoves, pellet stoves, etc.)
  • Learn more about which wood stove appliances are eligible for exchange rebates.
• Plumbing – additions, alterations and new installations
• Retaining walls 1.2 metres high or higher
• Sewage systems and site services
• Solar Panel Installation
• Swimming pools and swimming pool fences

You do not require a building permit for a detached accessory structure that measures 10 square metres (108 square feet) in area or less and does not contain plumbing. Although you may not require a building permit, you must still meet the requirements of the Bylaws for Development Services and the British Columbia Building Code.

Some typical projects that don't require a building permit include:

• Fences, other than for swimming pools
• Deck or patios which are less than 0.6 metres from the ground and do not have a roof
• Roof shingling
• Eaves troughs
• Air conditioning units or heat pumps added to existing forced-air systems
• Kitchen or bathroom cupboards without plumbing
• Replacement of existing forced-air furnace
• Replacement of siding or windows, provided you do not change the windows in size
• Painting and decorating including replacement of flooring
• Landscaping or other surfacing of land, except retaining walls over 1.2 metres (3.9 ft.) in height

View our Fees and Charges Bylaw, Schedule 2- Building Permit Fees.

After you have an approved permit in place, a building inspector must inspect each major phase of construction to ensure the work conforms to the approved plans. Find out more about Inspections.

At this time you cannot apply for a building permit online. You must make an application in person as you can only pay the application fee with cash, debit or cheque. 

However, you are able to register and create a user account through the CityView portal so that you can keep track of your application status, upload any further documents that are requested and view inspection reports once construction has started.

All permits require you to submit:

• A completed building permit application form
• Two sets of detailed drawings including (if applicable) foundation and floor plans, cross sections, elevation, dimensions, location of all plumbing fixtures and all rooms labeled according to their use
• If a secondary suite is being constructed, an application to legalize the secondary must be submitted as well

You many also be required to submit any of the following dependant on the scope of your project:

• Owner's Authorization of Agent
• Strata Council Letter of Approval
• Site Plan certified by BC Land Surveyor and must include all structures on property including setbacks and dimensions
• Current State of Title Certificate no older than 3 months. If property is owned by a corporation then a corporate title search will also be required 
• Copies of any Covenants, Easements, Statutory Right of Ways listed on title document
• Roof Truss Layout/Beams
• Floor Joist Layout/Beams
• Homeowner Protection Office Approval (Builder Registration or Owner/Builder Declaration)
• Septic Approval from Interior Health Authority
• Water/Well Log
• Geotechnical - Schedule B
• Structural - Schedule B and Sealed Drawings
• Other Professional Engineering Schedules (Architectural, Mechanical, Electrical)