---
title: "Barriere building permits: when you need one and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a building permit in Barriere, and how do I apply?"
place: Barriere, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/barriere
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Barriere
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/building-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/building-permit.json"
---

# Barriere building permits: when you need one and how to apply

**Question:** Do I need a building permit in Barriere, and how do I apply?

**Short answer:** In Barriere you need a District building permit for a new home, an addition, a sundeck, interior work, an accessory building over 20 m², a retaining wall over 1.2 m, or to move or demolish a building. Apply in person at the District Office; the Building Inspector sees applicants by appointment.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Barriere, https://www.barriere.ca)  
**Cost:** Based on the value of the work. See the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** The District's guide, application package and bylaw do not state a processing time. Ask the Building Inspector.  
**Where:**
- In person: District Office, 4936 Barriere Town Road, Barriere, BC V0E 1E0 (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Forms are available here.)
- Phone: Building Inspector (Tuesday to Friday, by appointment), 250-214-3508
- Email: Building Inspection, inspection@barriere.ca
- Phone: District Office, 250-672-9751

## Key facts

- **Needed for:** A permit is required for work regulated by the Building Regulations Bylaw. The guide lists new homes, accessory buildings over 20 m² (215 sq. ft.), additions, sundecks, interior work, retaining walls over 1.2 m (4 ft), moving or demolishing a building, and a change of use.
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 128, s. 6.1](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=211d9f63-a68b-4b0d-ad78-53d0fa10838b)
  - Official wording: "A permit is required whenever work regulated by this bylaw"
  - Source: [Guide to Building Permits and application package, Guide to Building Permits, "When a Building Permit is required"](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=7bb846f5-3abe-404e-afbd-52c1727e3d21)
  - Official wording: "Construct a new home;" … "Construct a new accessory building" … "greater than 20 square metres (215" … "Construct a sundeck;" … "Undertake any interior work such as" … "Construct a retaining wall more than 1.2 metres (4ft) in height;" … "Demolish a building;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Not needed for:** Single-storey accessory buildings under 20 m² (215 ft²), and unroofed decks beside one- and two-family homes if the deck surface is 600 mm (24 in) or less above the ground. Buildings and structures exempted by Part 1 of the BC Building Code are also outside the bylaw.
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 128, s. 1.3.2](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=211d9f63-a68b-4b0d-ad78-53d0fa10838b)
  - Official wording: "Single-storey accessory buildings less than 20 m² (215 ft²) in" … "Unroofed decks attached to or adjacent to single and two-family" … "Buildings or structures exempted by Division A"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to apply:** In person at the District Office (4936 Barriere Town Road), not at the TNRD in Kamloops. Application forms are available at the District Office or can be printed from the District's website. The Building Inspector meets applicants by appointment. No online portal is described.
  - Source: [Building Inspection and Development Permits, Building Inspection Services](https://www.barriere.ca/p/building-inspection-development-permits)
  - Official wording: "Property owners within the District of Barriere boundaries obtain Building Permits and request Building Inspections directly with the District office" … "Building Permit Application forms are available at the District Office" … "as arranged by appointment by calling his direct number below."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **What to submit:** A completed Building Permit Application, two sets of building plans (site plan, foundation, floor, cross-section and elevation plans, specification details), the application fee, a copy of the current state of title, and the Owner's Undertaking Letter. A checklist also lists a covenant waiver, HPO registration and water and wastewater connection approvals.
  - Source: [Guide to Building Permits and application package, Application procedures and Building Department Checklist](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=7bb846f5-3abe-404e-afbd-52c1727e3d21)
  - Official wording: "two (2) sets of building plans are to be submitted" … "COPY OF CURRENT STATE OF TITLE FOR THE" … "Two (2) sets of Drawings" … "Covenant Waiver 5. Permission to Act for Owner" … "7. HPO Registration 8. Copy of Certificate of Title"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Processing time:** Not confirmed. The District does not state how long a permit takes.
- **Inspections:** The owner or contractor must give at least 24 hours' notice to Building Inspection Services (the bylaw says a minimum of one business day's notice) and quote the permit number. The permit placard must be posted on site. An incomplete inspection costs a re-inspection fee before another one is done.
  - Source: [Guide to Building Permits and application package, Guide to Building Permits, "Inspections"](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=7bb846f5-3abe-404e-afbd-52c1727e3d21)
  - Official wording: "give minimum 24 hours notice to Building" … "The Permit Number must be quoted when" … "IF AN INSPECTION IS REQUESTED AND INCOMPLETE"
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 128, s. 15.4](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=211d9f63-a68b-4b0d-ad78-53d0fa10838b)
  - Official wording: "shall give a minimum of one"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Contact:** Building Inspector 250-214-3508 (Tuesday to Friday, by appointment), inspection@barriere.ca. District Office 250-672-9751.
  - Source: [Building Inspection and Development Permits, Building Inspection Services](https://www.barriere.ca/p/building-inspection-development-permits)
  - Official wording: "PLEASE NOTE - INSPECTOR CELL PHONE # CHANGE - 250-214-3508" … "Email inquires: inspection@barriere.ca" … "contacting the District Office at (250) 672-9751"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Barriere Building Regulations Bylaw No. 128
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 128, title and s. 1](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=211d9f63-a68b-4b0d-ad78-53d0fa10838b)
  - Official wording: "District of Barriere Building Regulations" … "BYLAW No. 128"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The District of Barriere's Building Inspector reviews plans against the BC Building Code and the District's [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 128](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=211d9f63-a68b-4b0d-ad78-53d0fa10838b), then inspects the work. Zoning rules (setbacks, height, lot coverage) still apply, even to buildings that need no permit.

A permit is required for work the bylaw regulates. The District's guide lists new homes, accessory buildings over 20 m² (215 sq. ft.), additions, sundecks, interior work, retaining walls over 1.2 m (4 ft), moving or demolishing a building, and a change of use. Single-storey accessory buildings under 20 m² and unroofed decks 600 mm (24 in) or less above the ground beside one- and two-family homes are outside the bylaw, as are buildings the BC Building Code exempts.

## Steps

1. Call the Building Inspector (250-214-3508) or the District Office to book an appointment and confirm what your project needs.
2. Gather the application form (from the District Office or printed from the District's website), two sets of plans, a current state of title and the Owner's Undertaking Letter.
3. Bring them to the District Office at 4936 Barriere Town Road with the application fee. The District does not describe an online application.
4. The Building Official may also ask for a professional's letters of assurance or a survey.
5. Pay the permit fee before the permit is issued, and post the permit placard on site.
6. Give at least 24 hours' notice for each inspection and quote the permit number.

## Good to know

- The bylaw asks for a minimum of one business day's notice for inspections. An incomplete inspection costs a re-inspection fee before another one is done.
- The application is cancelled and the application fee forfeited if the permit is not issued and the fee paid within six months of notice that it is ready.
- The permit is handled by the District, not by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District in Kamloops.
- The guide does not mention carports. Ask the Building Inspector.

## What you'll need

- Completed Building Permit Application
- Two sets of building plans (site plan, foundation, floor, cross-section and elevation plans, specification details)
- Copy of the current state of title
- Owner's Undertaking Letter
- Application fee

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Inspection and Development Permits, District of Barriere](https://www.barriere.ca/p/building-inspection-development-permits)
- [Guide to Building Permits and application package (PDF)](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=7bb846f5-3abe-404e-afbd-52c1727e3d21)
- [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 128 (PDF)](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=211d9f63-a68b-4b0d-ad78-53d0fa10838b)

## Related questions

- [Barriere building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Barriere permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Barriere fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/fence-rules.md)
- [Barriere zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Barriere secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/secondary-suite.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Building permits in British Columbia: how to apply, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit.md)
- [Sun Peaks](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sun-peaks/building-permit.md)
- [Chase](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chase/building-permit.md)
- [Clearwater](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/building-permit.md)
- [Kamloops](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/building-permit.md)
- [Sicamous](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/building-permit.md)
- [Cache Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cache-creek/building-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Inspection and Development Permits, District of Barriere](https://www.barriere.ca/p/building-inspection-development-permits) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Guide to Building Permits and application package, District of Barriere (PDF)](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=7bb846f5-3abe-404e-afbd-52c1727e3d21) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 128 (PDF)](https://www.barriere.ca/Home/DownloadDocument?docId=211d9f63-a68b-4b0d-ad78-53d0fa10838b) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Barriere. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/building-permit/_