Projects that require a Building Permit

Under applicable law, a building permit is required to construct or demolish. A permit is needed for the following projects:

• New residential dwellings
• Sleeping Cabin/Bunkie (any size)
• Accessory buildings greater than 15 square metres including the deck, porch or loft
• Additions to existing buildings or structures (any size)
• Adding a bedroom
• New or replacement decks or stairs
• New or replacement piers under a building
• Finishing the basement of a house
• Creating an accessory apartment 
• Plumbing fixtures added or relocated
• Replacing or adding new water supply lines or drain pipes
• Removing a load bearing wall, column, lintel or beam
• Re-insulating walls, ceilings or floors in a residential building
• Wood stove, wood burning fireplace, or a wood furnace (interior or exterior)
• Replacement of windows or doors, when the opening size is enlarged
• Retaining wall that is greater than 1 metre (3' 3") in height, pending location
• Solar Panels that are mounted to a building and have a face area of 5 square meters (53.8 square feet) or greater
• Construction of a temporary enclosed tent to be used for human occupancy
• Crib docks or other permanent docking systems
• Changing the use of a building (example: a shed to a bunkie, or a church to a home)
• Septic systems new, altered or replaced
• Demolition of a structure greater than 10 square metres (108 square feet) in building area

Projects that do not require a Building Permit

• Accessory buildings of one storey and no plumbing not used for human habitation with a total floor area, including the deck, porch or loft, of 15 square metres or less in size
• Fences
• Replacement of interior fixtures in the same location
• Replacement of exterior siding and roofing
• Replacement of windows and doors, same size and location
• Temporary portable shelters, constructed of metal tubing and fabric (if you have structural reinforcement a building permit is required)
• Floating docks