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

# Burns Lake 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 Burns Lake you need a building permit before constructing a building or structure, changing its class of occupancy, or placing a manufactured home. The Village's bylaw sets the rules, but permits are handled by the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN) at 250-692-3195.

**Who handles it:** More than one level of government  
**Cost:** Not stated here; see the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** The Building Bylaw does not state a processing time. A permit expires if work does not start within 6 months.  
**Where:**
- Phone: RDBN building inspection, 250-692-3195 (Toll-free 800-320-3339.)
- Email: RDBN building inspection, inquiries@rdbn.bc.ca
- In person: RDBN office, Burns Lake, 37 3rd Avenue, Burns Lake

## Key facts

- **Needed for:** A building permit is needed before constructing a building or structure, changing the class of occupancy, or placing a manufactured home or factory-built modular building. Separate permits are needed to install or alter a solid-fuel stove, heater or chimney, to demolish, and to move a building.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), s. 9.1](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-943-2013)
  - Official wording: "a building permit before constructing a building or structure, changing the class of occupancy of any building or structure, or constructing, locating, or placing any manufactured home or any factory built modular building upon any land;" … "a fireplace or chimney building permit before installing or altering a stove or heater that uses solid fuel" … "a demolition building permit before demolishing a building or structure;" … "a moving building permit before moving a building or structure"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Not needed for:** The bylaw does not apply to: farm buildings on land classed as farm by BC Assessment; storage buildings of 10 m² (108 sq. ft.) or less not attached to another building; decks or patios no more than 600 mm (2 ft.) above grade; retaining structures not connected to a building; certain unstacked, unmodified freight containers up to 45 m²; clearing stoppages or fixing leaks; and anything exempted by Part 1 of the Building Code.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), s. 3 Scope and Exemptions](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-943-2013)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw does not apply to a farm building located on property, which is classified as a farm by the B.C. Assessment Authority at the time of construction." … "This bylaw does not apply to a building that is used only for storage which has a ground floor area that is 10 square meters (108 sq. ft.) or less" … "This bylaw does not apply to a deck or patio provided no part of the surface of the deck or patio is more than 600 millimetres (2 ft.) from finished grade" … "does not exceed a floor area of 45 square meters (484 sq. ft.)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to apply:** Apply in the form provided by the building official. Building permits are handled by the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN): 250-692-3195, inquiries@rdbn.bc.ca.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), s. 9.2](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-943-2013)
  - Official wording: "be made in the form provided by the building official;"
  - Source: [Planning Services](https://www.burnslake.ca/business-development/development-services)
  - Official wording: "For Building Permits, please contact the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako at 250-692-3195."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **What to submit:** Signed application with the owner's agreement; the intended use; and, when the building official requires, two copies of specifications and scale drawings, room uses and lot dimensions and zoning. Other items the official may require include a site plan or survey by a BC Land Surveyor, certificate of title, sewage and water details, and professional letters of assurance for complex buildings.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), ss. 9.2, 9.3, 11](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-943-2013)
  - Official wording: "be signed by the owner or signing officer if the owner is a corporation;" … "two copies of the specifications and scale drawings of any building or" … "a current survey of the building site by a registered British Columbia Land Surveyor;" … "a certificate of title for the property on which the building will be constructed;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Processing time:** Not confirmed. The Village does not state a processing time.
- **Inspections:** Give the building official at least one week's notice before starting work and at least 72 hours' notice for each required inspection stage (footings and forms, foundation drainage, framing, chimney, insulation and vapour barrier, occupancy). Where a registered professional provides letters of assurance, the Village relies on that professional's field reviews.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), s. 15.4](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-943-2013)
  - Official wording: "give at least one week's notice to the building official of an intention to start work on the building site;" … "give a least seventy-two (72) hours notice to the building official to obtain an inspection and acceptance of the work" … "When a registered professional provides letters of assurance in accordance with sections 10.1.9, 11.1.12, 11.2.5 and 16.1 or 16.2 of this bylaw, the Village of Burns Lake will rely solely on field reviews undertaken by the registered professional"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Contact:** Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako building inspection: 250-692-3195, toll-free 800-320-3339, inquiries@rdbn.bc.ca (37 3rd Avenue, Burns Lake).
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), Cover page](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-943-2013)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING INSPECTION CONTACT INFORMATION 37 - 3Ro Avenue Phone (250) 692-3195 P.O. Box 820 Toll-Free (800) 320-3339 Burns Lake, BC Fax (250) 692-1220" … "P.O. Box 820 Toll-Free (800) 320-3339 Burns Lake, BC Fax (250) 692-1220 i oc vru 1EO --tY -/f>B/ V0J 1E0 Email: inquiries@rdbn.bc.ca I k Phare. 2:>0"
  - Source: [Planning Services](https://www.burnslake.ca/business-development/development-services)
  - Official wording: "For Building Permits, please contact the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako at 250-692-3195."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Village of Burns Lake Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (library title: Building Permit Bylaw No. 943), amended by Building Bylaw Amendment No. 1060, 2023
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), Title](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-943-2013)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the "Village of Burns Lake Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013.""
  - Source: [Bylaws, Bylaw library](https://www.burnslake.ca/local-government/bylaws)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw Amendment | No. 1060"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The Village's [Building Bylaw No. 943](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-943-2013) requires a permit before you construct a building or structure, change its class of occupancy, or place a manufactured home or factory-built modular building. Separate permits are needed to install or alter a solid-fuel stove, heater or chimney, to demolish, and to move a building. The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN) handles building permits for the Village.

The bylaw does not apply to farm buildings on land classed as farm by BC Assessment; storage buildings of 10 m² (108 sq. ft.) or less not attached to another building; decks or patios no more than 600 mm (2 ft.) above grade; retaining structures not connected to a building; certain unstacked, unmodified freight containers up to 45 m²; or clearing stoppages and fixing leaks.

## Steps

1. Call RDBN building inspection at 250-692-3195 (toll-free 800-320-3339) or email inquiries@rdbn.bc.ca to confirm what your project needs. No online portal is mentioned.
2. Apply in the form the building official provides: a signed application with the owner's agreement and the intended use.
3. When the official asks, add two copies of specifications and scale drawings, room uses, and lot dimensions and zoning. The official may also ask for a site plan or survey by a BC Land Surveyor, a certificate of title, sewage and water details, and professional letters of assurance for complex buildings.
4. Give the building official at least one week's notice before starting work.
5. Give at least 72 hours' notice for each required inspection stage: footings and forms, foundation drainage, framing, chimney, insulation and vapour barrier, and occupancy.

## Good to know

- Where a registered professional provides letters of assurance, the Village relies on that professional's field reviews.
- The Village does not state a processing time. The permit expires if work does not start within 6 months.
- Zoning rules apply too. Planning is at 250-692-7587 or planning@burnslake.ca.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document)](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-943-2013)
- [Planning Services, Village of Burns Lake](https://www.burnslake.ca/business-development/development-services)

## Related questions

- [Burns Lake permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Burns Lake zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Burns Lake secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/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)
- [Fraser Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/building-permit.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/building-permit.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/building-permit.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/building-permit.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/building-permit.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/building-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Bylaw No. 943, 2013 (Word document), Village of Burns Lake](https://www.burnslake.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-943-2013) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Planning Services, Village of Burns Lake](https://www.burnslake.ca/business-development/development-services) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaws, Village of Burns Lake](https://www.burnslake.ca/local-government/bylaws) (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 any government. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burns-lake/building-permit/_