Building permit

When you need a permit

Building permits are usually required for building or renovating work, including:

• All new construction, including accessory buildings (garage, carport, garden shed etc.) that are permitted outright (specifically allowed) by your zoning
• All temporary buildings
• Additions or alterations to existing buildings, including:
  • Moving interior walls and partitions
  • Moving existing plumbing, electrical or gas lines
  • Installing new plumbing, electrical or gas lines
  • Making structural repairs or changes that are permitted outright (specifically allowed) by your zoning
• Some "hard" landscaping features, such as fences or retaining walls

When you don't need a permit

You do not need a permit to:

• Replace fixtures, cabinets, and flooring
• Paint the interior of your home
• Carry out non-structural maintenance or minor repairs to the exterior of your home

Before you get too far in your project planning, call us at 604-873-7611 with general questions or to book an appointment for an enquiry.

You can also walk in to our Development and Building Services Centre for general questions and advice but if you have an appointment, you will be served first.

Appointments are required for building permit application submissions

1. Call 604-873-7611 and book a pre-application appointment to discuss your proposed project. During this appointment you will find out if there are issues or changes required to your application before you submit.
2. Once you are ready to submit your application, call 604-873-7611 to book your application appointment.
3. Bring your application and all supporting documents to the appointment.
4. We will review your application and may ask for additional information or documents. The review process timelines vary between projects. We will give you a target date at your application meeting.
5. We will contact you to pick up your permit once it is issued.
6. You must start the work within 6 months, and request an inspection within that time. Otherwise, you will have to get a new permit.

Field review projects

Field review projects will continue to be processed through our Development and Building Services Centre. Learn more abouts:

The process for outright one- and two-family permits will not change, but all other building permits will now be processed through our building permit group.

Certified professional projects

Start your project application:

• Certified Professional (CP) Program

The documents (forms, plans, and so on) that you need to submit with your application will vary depending on the type and scope of your proposed project. The Application forms and checklists page has a list of project types. The appropriate checklist will tell you which documents, and how many copies of each document, you will need for your application.

View the Application forms and checklists page