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

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

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

**Short answer:** In Belcarra you need a Village building permit to build, repair, alter, move or demolish a building or structure. Accessory buildings under 10 m² that meet zoning setbacks are exempt. Use the Building Permit Application Package and contact the Village Office at 604-937-4100.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Belcarra, https://belcarra.ca)  
**Cost:** Based on the value of the work, starting at a $102 application fee. See the building-permit-fees answer. Payment is by cash or cheque only.  
**How long:** The bylaw and the application package do not state a processing time. An application expires 180 days after a complete application is received.  
**Where:**
- In person: Municipal Hall, 4084 Bedwell Bay Road, Belcarra, BC V3H 4P8 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed statutory holidays).)
- Phone: Village Office, 604-937-4100
- Email: Village Office, belcarra@belcarra.ca

## Key facts

- **Needed for:** A permit is needed before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure, moving one, demolishing one, building a masonry fireplace or installing a wood-burning appliance or chimney, installing a commercial cooking system or fire alarm, or changing a building's occupancy classification.
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), s. 76](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure" … "before moving a building or structure" … "to demolish, before demolishing a building or structure" … "for a change of occupancy classification of a building or compartment within an existing building"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Not needed for:** The bylaw does not apply to a fence permitted under the Zoning Bylaw; an accessory building under 10 m², a trellis, an arbour or a retaining structure under 1.22 m high (on a parcel zoned for simple buildings, meeting setbacks); non-structural repair and maintenance; replacing hot water tanks, roofing or deck membranes, cabinets, floor coverings or cladding.
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), s. 14](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw does not apply to" … "a fence permitted to be constructed under the Village" … "an accessory building with a floor area less than 10 square metres, a trellis, an arbour, a retaining structure less than 1.22 metres height" … "non-structural repair and maintenance of lawfully conforming structures in all zones" … "replacement of hot water tanks"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to apply:** Use the Building Permit Application Package from the Building Department page. Contact the Building Department at 604-937-4100 or belcarra@belcarra.ca (Village Office, 4084 Bedwell Bay Road). Payment is by cash or cheque only, payable to the Village of Belcarra. The package does not say how to submit.
  - Source: [Building Department, Building Department page](https://belcarra.ca/services/building-department/)
  - Official wording: "or call 604-937-4100 to connect with someone from the Building Department"
  - Source: [Building Permit Application Package 2024, Application checklist and Schedule A](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/07/Building-Permit-Application-Package-2024.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Payment is to be made by cash or cheque only, payable to the Village of Belcarra." … "Tel: 604-937-4100/ Fax: 604-939-5034/ belcarra@belcarra.ca"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **What to submit:** 3 copies of design drawings and 3 copies of site plans; the application fee; proof of ownership (title dated within 30 days); sewage disposal approval and proof of potable water where applicable; letters of assurance; Homeowner Protection Certification for new dwellings; a Traffic Management Plan for construction over $250,000.
  - Source: [Building Permit Application Package 2024, Checklist items 1-16](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/07/Building-Permit-Application-Package-2024.pdf)
  - Official wording: "3 copies of design drawings including any structural drawings." … "3 copies of site plans." … "Proof of Ownership (Certificate of Title). Must be dated within 30 days of application." … "Copies of required Letters of Assurance." … "Traffic Management Plan (for construction over $250,000.)" … "Homeowner Protection Certification (new dwellings)."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Processing time:** Not confirmed. The Village does not state how long a permit takes.
- **Inspections:** For simple buildings, the owner must give at least 2 business days notice when requesting an inspection. For complex buildings, at least 3 business days notice for a pre-construction meeting and a pre-occupancy site review.
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), ss. 108, 112](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "For all work in respect of simple buildings the owner must give at least 2 business days notice to the Village when requesting an inspection" … "give at least 3 business days notice to the Village when requesting a pre- construction meeting with the building official prior to the start of construction"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Contact:** Building Department, Village of Belcarra: 604-937-4100 or belcarra@belcarra.ca, 4084 Bedwell Bay Road.
  - Source: [Building Department, Building Department page](https://belcarra.ca/services/building-department/)
  - Official wording: "or call 604-937-4100 to connect with someone from the Building Department"
  - Source: [Building Permit Application Package 2024, Schedule A header](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/07/Building-Permit-Application-Package-2024.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Tel: 604-937-4100/ Fax: 604-939-5034/ belcarra@belcarra.ca"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Village of Belcarra Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), title page](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING AND PLUMBING CODE REGULATION BYLAW No. 355, 2003"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The Village of Belcarra's Building Department reviews applications under the [Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf). A permit is needed before constructing, repairing or altering a building or structure, moving or demolishing one, building a masonry fireplace, installing a wood-burning appliance or chimney, installing a commercial cooking system or fire alarm, or changing a building's occupancy classification.

The bylaw does not apply to a fence permitted under the Zoning Bylaw, non-structural repair and maintenance, or replacing hot water tanks, roofing, deck membranes, cabinets, floor coverings or cladding. On a parcel zoned for simple buildings it also excludes an accessory building under 10 m², a trellis, an arbour or a retaining structure under 1.22 m high, if they meet setbacks.

## Steps

1. Contact the Building Department at 604-937-4100 or belcarra@belcarra.ca to confirm what your project needs.
2. Fill in the [Building Permit Application Package](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/07/Building-Permit-Application-Package-2024.pdf) and gather the items on its checklist, including 3 copies of drawings and site plans and a title dated within 30 days.
3. Add sewage disposal approval and proof of potable water where they apply. Work within 30 m of a watercourse or the intertidal zone may need environmental reviews.
4. Pay by cash or cheque payable to the Village of Belcarra. The permit fee is due before the permit is issued; the security deposit is due with the application.
5. Request inspections as the work proceeds.

## Good to know

- For simple buildings, give at least 2 business days notice when requesting an inspection. For complex buildings, give at least 3 business days notice for a pre-construction meeting and a pre-occupancy site review.
- The package does not say whether it can be submitted by email, or how to book inspections. Phone the Village Office.

## What you'll need

- 3 copies of design drawings and 3 copies of site plans
- Application fee
- Proof of ownership (title dated within 30 days)
- Sewage disposal approval and proof of potable water, where applicable
- Letters of assurance
- Homeowner Protection Certification, for new dwellings
- Traffic Management Plan, for construction over $250,000

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Department, Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/services/building-department/)
- [Building Permit Application Package (PDF)](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/07/Building-Permit-Application-Package-2024.pdf)
- [Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF)](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Belcarra building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Belcarra permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Belcarra fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/fence-rules.md)
- [Belcarra zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Belcarra secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/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)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/building-permit.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/building-permit.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/building-permit.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/building-permit.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/building-permit.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/building-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Department, Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/services/building-department/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permit Application Package 2024 (PDF), Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2024/07/Building-Permit-Application-Package-2024.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building and Plumbing Code Regulation Bylaw No. 355, 2003 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Belcarra](https://belcarra.ca/assets/media/2020/09/Bylaw-355-Building-and-Plumbing-Regulation-Consolidated.pdf) (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 Village of Belcarra. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/building-permit/_