Burnaby building permits: when you need one and how to apply
Do I need a building permit, and how do I apply?
Short answer
In Burnaby you need a City building permit to build, enlarge, alter, remove or demolish a building or structure, including accessory buildings. Minor work such as painting or replacing flooring, fences, and accessory buildings under 10 m² that create no hazard do not need one. Apply online through My Permits Portal.
Key facts
| Needed for | Any construction that excavates, erects, enlarges, alters, removes, repairs after fire or demolishes a building or structure, including accessory and temporary buildings. The bylaw also requires a permit for a masonry fireplace, wood burning appliance or chimney, and for a forced air heating system in a home.Home Improvement Permits, Home Improvement Permits page, "When do you need a permit?"; Building Bylaw 2016, No. 13658 (consolidated PDF), s. 9(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAny construction project that includes the excavation, erection, enlargement, alteration, removal, fire repair or demolition of any building or structure including accessory and temporary buildings requires a permit. The owner shall apply for and obtain a permit: prior to the construction of a building or structure, or part thereof; prior to the construction of a masonry fireplace or the installation of a wood prior to the installation of a forced air heating system in a single-family dwelling, |
|---|---|
| Not needed for | Minor works such as replacing fixtures, cabinets and flooring, painting inside, or minor non-structural exterior repairs. Fences and screening walls need no building permit; retaining walls over 1.2 m (and some others) do. Accessory buildings under 10 m² that create no hazard are exempt from the BC Building Code, so the Building Bylaw does not apply to them.Home Improvement Permits, Home Improvement Permits page, "When do you need a permit?"; Fences and Retaining Walls Informational Guide, Fences and Retaining Walls guide, "Permit and Inspection"; BC Building Code 2024, Province of BC, BC Building Code 2024, Division A, s. 1.1.1.1(2)(e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingMinor works such a replacing fixtures, cabinet and flooring, painting the inside of your home or doing minor non-structural repairs to the outside of your home do not need a permit. Building Permits are not required for the construction of fences and screening walls. greater than 1.2 m (3.94 ft.) in height; or accessory buildings less than 10 m2 in building area that do not create a hazard, This Code does not apply to the following: |
| How to apply | Online through the My Permits Portal for all residential and new commercial building permits; paper applications are no longer accepted. Restoration (fire or flood repair) and commercial tenant improvement permits are applied for in person at City Hall.General Building Information, General Building Information page, "Online Applications"; Home Improvement Permits, Home Improvement Permits page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAll Residential Building Permit applications and new Commercial Building Permit applications must be submitted online through the My Permits Portal Restoration and commercial tenant improvement permit applications are excluded and must be applied for in-person at City Hall. Paper applications are no longer accepted. Applications for alteration or addition permits are made online via My Permits Portal, while restoration permit applications must be submitted in person. |
| What to submit | For a home addition or alteration in R1: Schedule F Owners Undertaking signed by the owner, Agent Authorization if not the owner, restrictive covenants, architectural drawings, structural drawings with Letter of Assurance if structure changes, Land Title search, records of existing City permits, and the non-refundable application fee.Building Permit Application Requirements for Home Improvements in the R1 Zoning District, Building Permit Application Requirements for Home Improvements in the R1 Zoning District, "Application Requirements"; Building Bylaw 2016, No. 13658 (consolidated PDF), s. 9(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingSchedule "F" Owners Undertaking signed by the property's registered owner Architectural drawings. Non-refundable application fee. Land Title Search Records of existing City of Burnaby permits and drawings. be accompanied by the owner's acknowledgement of responsibility and |
| Processing time | Not confirmed. The City's pages do not state how long review takes. |
| Inspections | Call the inspections line at 604-294-7130 between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. to book for the next available business day; some inspections can be booked online in My Permits Portal. The bylaw requires at least 24 hours' notice.General Building Information, General Building Information page, "Inspection bookings"; Building Bylaw 2016, No. 13658 (consolidated PDF), s. 21(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingInspections can be booked by calling the inspections line at 604-294-7130 between 8:30 am-3 pm for the next available business day. Select inspections can also be booked online on My Permits Portal. shall give not less than 24 hours' notice to the City when requesting an inspection |
| Contact | Building Division: 604-294-7130, building@burnaby.ca (general inquiries) or permits@burnaby.ca (building permits).Secondary Suite Program, Secondary Suite Program page, "Have questions?"; Laneway Homes, Laneway Homes page, "Have questions?"; General Building Information, General Building Information page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBuilding General Inquiries building@burnaby.ca Phone 604-294-7130 Building Permits permits@burnaby.ca Phone 604-294-7130 please contact the Building Division at 604-294-7130. |
| Bylaw | Burnaby Building Bylaw 2016, Bylaw No. 13658Building Bylaw 2016, No. 13658 (consolidated PDF), title page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBurnaby Building Bylaw 2016 Bylaw No. 13658 |
How it works
The Building Bylaw 2016 (No. 13658) requires the owner to get a permit before building a structure or any part of one. The City says this covers any work that excavates, erects, enlarges, alters, removes, repairs after fire or demolishes a building or structure, including accessory and temporary buildings. The bylaw also requires a permit for a masonry fireplace, wood burning appliance or chimney, and for a forced air heating system in a home.
No permit is needed for minor work such as replacing fixtures, cabinets and flooring, painting inside, or minor non-structural repairs outside. Fences and screening walls need none, but retaining walls over 1.2 m (and some others) do. The bylaw does not apply to buildings the BC Building Code exempts, which includes accessory buildings under 10 m² that create no hazard. Call the Building Department if you are unsure.
Steps
- Confirm what you need. Since July 1, 2026 a Development Permit may be needed before a Building Permit can be submitted or issued for some projects, so check the City's Home Improvement Permits page.
- Apply online through My Permits Portal. Paper applications are no longer accepted for residential and new commercial permits.
- For a home addition or alteration in R1, include the signed Schedule F Owners Undertaking, an Agent Authorization if you are not the owner, restrictive covenants, architectural drawings, structural drawings with a Letter of Assurance if the structure changes, a Land Title search, records of existing City permits, and the non-refundable application fee.
- Pay the fees. The permit is issued digitally once all fees are paid.
- Book inspections by calling 604-294-7130 between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. for the next available business day. Some can be booked in My Permits Portal. The bylaw requires at least 24 hours' notice.
Good to know
- Restoration (fire or flood repair) and commercial tenant improvement permits are applied for in person at City Hall.
- Other project types, such as new houses and commercial work, have their own checklists on the City's pages.
- The City's pages do not state how long review takes.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
New Westminster · Richmond · Port Moody · Belcarra · Vancouver · Coquitlam
Building permits in British Columbia: how to apply, by municipality →
Sources
- Home Improvement Permits, City of Burnaby (read 2026-11-05)
- General Building Information, City of Burnaby (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Bylaw 2016, No. 13658 (consolidated PDF), City of Burnaby (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Permit Application Requirements for Home Improvements in the R1 Zoning District (PDF), City of Burnaby (read 2026-11-05)
- Fences and Retaining Walls Informational Guide (PDF), City of Burnaby (read 2026-11-05)
- BC Building Code 2024 (PDF), Province of BC (read 2026-11-05)
- Secondary Suite Program, City of Burnaby (read 2026-11-05)
- Laneway Homes, City of Burnaby (read 2026-11-05)
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. How answers are checked.