New permit and service fees in effect: January 1, 2025
Because of holiday hours and service levels, applications received in December may be:
- Processed in the new year
- Subject to 2025 fees
Submit your completed application as soon as possible to be eligible for processing in 2024.
You will need an electrical permit to perform all electrical work unless you are:
- Replacing defective fuses, receptacles, switches, or bulbs with units of similar type and rating
- Making minor alterations, repairs, or additions to an installation covered by an existing annual electrical permit
Not sure if you need a permit?
Please contact the Development and Building Services Centre.
Need an annual (operating) permit? If your building has a service rated more than 500 KVA, you will need an annual (operating) permit. An annual permit authorizes the building's owner to maintain all existing operating electrical equipment. It also permits the building's owner to carry out minor electrical work. Review our annual electrical permit brochure PDF file (125 KB)
Permit for filming? All filming work in Vancouver requires an electrical permit, whether filming is done in studio or on location.
New electronic applications
Our new electronic applications allows you to submit permit applications electronically and perform other functions digitally. Currently, some permits can be submitted online and may include the payment of fees. We’re working on adding more permits online over time. Refer to your specific permit's steps for more information.
Learn more about submitting your permit application electronically
Steps to getting an electrical permit
Review the latest permit processing times
If your project requires a building permit, an electrical permit will not be issued until after your building permit has been issued. Permit processing times as of December 1, 2024
Permit processing times will depend on the completeness of your application, how long it takes you to respond to our questions, and volume of instream applications to be processed.
| Type of permit |
Target We aim to issue 95% of permit applications in: |
Current In the last 3 months, we achieved our target for these percentage of applications: |
|---|---|---|
| Simple electrical permits | 5 business days | 96% |
| Other electrical permits requiring plan review | 25 business days | 92% |
Contact the Development and Building Services Centre
The Development and Building Centre is open for in-person scheduled appointments or payments.
Location and mailing address
Development and Building Centre
515 West 10th Avenue, Ground Floor
Vancouver, BC V5Z 4A8
Resources and quick links
Online permit and licences portal
Register for an account, submit applications, view the status of applications, and book an inspection.
Steps to getting an inspection
Review the steps required to getting an electrical inspection.
Bulletins and advisories
Read our bulletins and advisories that interpret building and electrical bylaws and explain building technical and administrative regulations and processes.
Electrical By-law PDF file (116 KB)
Read the current electrical by-law.
Safety Standards Appeal Board External website, opens in new tab
The Safety Standards Appeal Board is an adjudicative tribunal created under section 43 of the Safety Standards Act.