• Plumbing Permit
  A Plumbing Permit is included with a Building Permit when required. A separate Plumbing Permit is required when no Building Permit is needed (see "When Do I need a Permit" section). This is required to install plumbing services and fixtures.
• Building Permit
  A Building Permit is required as stated in the paragraph on the right.
• Occupancy Permit
  An Occupancy Permit is included with the Building Permit when required. In most instances, it is required from the Regional District Building/Plumbing Officials, before occupying the building.
• Agricultural Land Commission
  Approval from the Agricultural Land Commission is required for the non-agricultural use of land or for additional dwellings to be located on a parcel of land within the Agricultural Land Reserve, prior to the issuance of a Building Permit. Please check with the Planning Department of the Regional District to determine if a Development Permit is required. For information on how to contact the Agricultural Land Commission see Related Agencies.
• Electrical and Gas Permits
  A Permit is required for all electrical and gas work and must be obtained from the electrical and gas inspectors. (see Related Agencies)
• Zoning
  Contact the Building Officials or the Planning Department at the Regional District in the Grand Forks or Trail offices to determine if the land is zoned and if it is, the types of uses and number of dwellings permitted, setback distances and other regulations.
• Development Permits
  A Development Permit is required for any building construction at Christina Lake, Big White and certain other areas in the Regional District. Please check with the Planning Department to determine whether a Development Permit is required in your area.
• Appeals to the Board of Variance
  Where a building site does not comply with the Zoning Bylaw with respect to size, dimensions, or location on the parcel, the applicant may appeal to the Board of Variance for a variation from the Bylaw requirement.
  
  It must be shown that compliance with the Bylaw is unreasonable and causes undue hardship. Where the topography of a building site has unusual features such as bedrock or very steep slopes, it may be considered an undue hardship to comply with the siting requirements of the zoning bylaw. Hence, an appeal to the Board of Variance for a variance may be appropriate.
  
  It takes approximately three to four weeks to process a Board of Variance appeal. Contact the Planning Department.
   
• Restrictive Covenant
  Governing setback distances for buildings from the natural boundary of lakes, rivers and/or streams in areas subject to flooding are sometimes required to be placed on the title of a parcel of land prior to a building permit being issued.
• Contaminated Sites Legislation - Before building on a contaminated site you must first contact BC Environment. See Related Agencies.
• Worksafe BC
  In order to protect the employer and employee, the construction employer should register with WCB.

  Related Links

  Home Protection Office
  
  Building Officials Association of BC (BOABC)
  
  BC Ministry Housing and Social Development
  (policy and code information)

  Canadian Construction Materials Centre (CCMC)

When do I need a Permit?

A Building Permit is required to:

• construct a new home; 
• construct a new accessory building such as a carport, garage or storage shed;
• construct a farm building;
• construct a commercial, industrial or public use building;
• renovate existing buildings;
• undertake any structural work such as interior partitions;
• enclose a porch or roof over a sundeck;
• move a building;
• locate a mobile home;
• roofing and re-roofing a structure;
• reconstruct after damage (i.e. fire);
• exterior finish, such as stucco or siding.

Plumbing Permits are:

• included with new houses, additions, renovations when drawings indicate fixtures;
• required when a plumbing system is constructed, extended, altered, renewed, or a connection made to a sewer or sewage disposal system.

Building Permits are not required when you do non-structural work like:

• Painting;
• Landscaping, sidewalks, driveways
• Fencing (fence height must comply with Regional District/Municipal zoning bylaws where applicable);
• Cupboards.

A Plumbing Permit is not required:

• When a fixture, valve or faucet is repaired or replaced, a stoppage cleared or a leak repaired if no change in the piping is required.