Get a gas permit

Who can apply for a gas permit

To apply for a gas permit, you must:

• Have a valid City of Vancouver or inter-municipal business licence, AND
• Be a licensed gas contractor or homeowner

Get a business licence

Exception to being a licensed gas contractor

You don't need to be licensed gas contractor if you are doing gas work on a single family detached home that you own and live in.

Note You cannot get homeowner permits if you own a strata, non-strata duplex, and operate a business from your home. You must hire a licensed contractor. 

What we issue gas permits for

• All residential houses, regardless of meter load
• Other buildings with total meter loads not greater than 120kW (409,600Btuh), and the pressure is not greater than 14kPa (2psig)

A. Review fees

Fees will be payable at the time of permit submission: Review the schedule of fees and permits PDF file (791 KB)

B. Submit forms and pay fees 

Note All trades permit applications are processed in the order they are received.

Note Most gas permits are auto-issued electronically on the same day you apply. If you are application requires review by staff, it will typically be completed and issued within 2 business days.

Submit and pay fees:

1. Register for an online account (If you don't have an account.)
2. Submit your application
3. Pay fees

Register and submit application

Need to withdraw your permit?

How to withdraw a permit

1. Log into your online account.
2. Select the permit you want to withdraw.
3. Select “request permit amendment”.
4. Provide your reasons for withdrawing the permit and request a refund in the amendment description.

Note  If your project requires a building permit, a gas permit may not be issued until after your building permit has been issued. 

When your permit is issued:

• You will receive an email notification that it has been issued
• You are able to begin work

Note After completing each phase of the gas system, the permit holder must:

• Immediately ask for an inspection
• Perform the regulated work according to the Safety Standards Act and its regulations

Book an inspection

Need to make a change to your issued permit?

We understand that things change and that you may need to make changes to the scope of your permit after it has been issued.

To request a change to an issued permit:

1. Log into your online account
2. Select the permit you want to change
3. Select “request amendment” under the permit you want to change
4. Submit change request

Note All gas installations must comply with by-laws, codes, regulations, and manufacturers installation requirements. 

• Vancouver Building By-law External website, opens in new tab
• The Safety Standards Act External website, opens in new tab
• Safety Standards General Regulation External website, opens in new tab
• Gas Safety Regulation External website, opens in new tab
• Variations for BC Natural Gas and Propane Code to the National Code External website, opens in new tab
• Gas Fitting By-law No. 3507 External website, opens in new tab
• Natural gas installation code, CSA B149.1:20
  • Newest editions of CSA B149:20 @ CSA Group External website, opens in new tab

Section 10.2 Energy Efficiency External website, opens in new tab

• In a building required to comply with this Article, domestic boilers providing heat, or heat and domestic hot water, shall be electric. 

Renovation projects in detached 1-2 dwelling homes, with a construction value over $250,000, are required to electrify their existing space heating and hot water systems to the same requirements in the Building By-law for new construction.

VBBL Sentences 10.2.1.1.5)&6) External website, opens in new tab

• Except as permitted by Sentence (6), a balcony, including those that are enclosed, shall be designed and constructed as unconditioned ambient space, exterior to the building envelope, without the provision of heating, cooling, or gas connection. 
• A building with not more than 2 principal dwelling units may be provided with a gas connection serving a balcony that is not enclosed.