Coquitlam building permits: when you need one and how to apply
Do I need a building permit, and how do I apply?
Short answer
In Coquitlam, a building permit is generally needed for any work on a building: new buildings, additions, suites, decks, retaining walls over 1.2 m, pools and demolition. A storage or garden shed of 10 m² or less is exempt. Apply online through Coquitlam QFile or at the City Hall counter.
Key facts
| Needed for | Generally any work on a building: new buildings, additions, new living space, secondary suites, coach houses, structural changes, basement finishing, decks, balconies, awnings, retaining walls over 1.2 m, pools or hot tubs, demolition and house moves.Building Bylaw No. 3598 (PDF, consolidated September 2026), s. 21.1; Building Projects - Homeowner/Residential, Do I Need a Permit? · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga building permit is required for any work that relates to a building or temporary building A Permit is generally required for: Accessory buildings, additions, new living space, secondary suites, coach houses. Decks, balconies, awnings, retaining walls over 1.2 m. Full or partial demolition, house moves. |
|---|---|
| Not needed for | A storage or garden shed of 10 m² or less that meets Building Code and bylaw construction standards and all City bylaws, including Zoning Bylaw siting. Heating systems: no building permit for routine maintenance, repairs not replacing material components, or a stand-alone window-mounted air conditioner.Sources differ: The bylaw says the shed 'does not exceed 10 m2'; the web page says 'under 10 square meters'. Bylaw followed. Plumbing and other trade permits are separate.Building Bylaw No. 3598 (PDF, consolidated September 2026), s. 21.2; Building Projects - Homeowner/Residential, Did You Know · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA building permit is not required for work in respect of a building intended or actually used for a storage or garden shed and is in compliance with all applicable bylaws of the City does not exceed 10 m² and otherwise meets the construction standards of this Bylaw routine maintenance of a heating system; the installation of a stand-alone, window-mounted air conditioner. Building permits are not required for storage or garden shed structures under 10 square meters in area |
| How to apply | Online: send the application package as PDFs through the City's file transfer service, Coquitlam QFile. In person: Building Permit counter at City Hall, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., except statutory holidays. Applications cannot be couriered or mailed in.Building & Construction, Building Permit Applications; Permit Application Review, Step 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe City accepts electronic applications for all permit types. Permits can be submitted from 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, except Statutory Holidays. the Building Permits Division does not permit applications to be couriered or mailed in. Do not use other cloud storage services (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) to submit files. |
| What to submit | A completed Permit Application Form, the applicable checklist (e.g. Residential Single Family / Two Family, Demolition, Plumbing), and drawings: site plan, floor and roof plans, elevations, sections, foundation, construction and servicing details. Each document as its own PDF.Permit Application Review, Step 1; Building Projects - Homeowner/Residential, General Drawing Requirements · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingComplete a Permit Application Form (PDF) in full. Include applicable checklist(s) in the application package: Prepare individual PDFs in separate files. Drawing packages must include: Floor and roof plans Property servicing details |
| Processing time | For minor projects, the average time to first review of a residential permit application is typically 15-20 business days, varying with volumes. Applications are pre-screened within three to five business days of submission.Building Projects - Homeowner/Residential, Processing Time for Minor Projects; Permit Application Review, Step 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe average processing time to the first review of a residential permit application is typically 15–20 business days The average processing time to the first review of a residential permit application is typically 15–20 business days, though timelines may vary based on application volumes. The application will be pre-screened within three to five business days from the time of the application submission. |
| Inspections | Book online through the City's Inspections system (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), before 4:15 p.m. the day before. The bylaw requires at least 24 hours' notice and sets stages that must be inspected.Building and Plumbing Inspections, Book a Building or Plumbing Inspection; Building Bylaw No. 3598 (PDF, consolidated September 2026), s. 27.1-27.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBook an Inspection through the Inspections system, available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. Please schedule the Inspection before 4:15 p.m. the day prior to the day of the Inspection. giving the City not less than 24 hours notice when An inspection must be requested at each of the following stages of construction: |
| Contact | Building Permits Division, City of Coquitlam, 3000 Guildford Way; phone 604-927-3441. City Hall hours Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Building & Construction, Building Division Important Information · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingor call 604-927-3441 3000 Guildford Way Hours: Mon to Fri, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. |
| Bylaw | City of Coquitlam Building Bylaw No. 3598, 2003 (consolidated September 2026)Building Bylaw No. 3598 (PDF, consolidated September 2026), title page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBUILDING BYLAW NO. 3598, 2003 Consolidated September 2026 |
How it works
The City of Coquitlam's Building Bylaw 3598 requires a building permit for any work that relates to a building or temporary building. The City's homeowner page lists new buildings, additions, new living space, secondary suites, coach houses, structural changes, basement finishing, decks, balconies, awnings, retaining walls over 1.2 m, pools or hot tubs, demolition and house moves. Check with Building Permits before you start any project.
The one exemption is a storage or garden shed of 10 m² or less that meets the Building Code, bylaw construction standards and all City bylaws, including Zoning Bylaw setbacks. Heating work such as routine maintenance, or a window-mounted air conditioner, also needs no building permit. Plumbing and other trade permits are separate.
Steps
- Check zoning and whether a Development Permit is needed first. Some single-family or duplex projects need one; the Permit Application Review page explains.
- Fill in the Permit Application Form and the checklist for your project. Drawings include a site plan, floor and roof plans, elevations, sections, foundation, construction and servicing details. Drawings from a Registered Professional need a digital seal, signature and Permit to Practice number.
- Send the PDFs through Coquitlam QFile, or bring them to the counter at City Hall.
- Staff pre-screen the package and email an invoice for the application fee. The permit is issued after the remaining fee is paid.
- Book inspections at each stage, and keep a full-size printed copy of the approved drawings and the permit on site.
Good to know
- Book inspections online, any time, before 4:15 p.m. the day before. The bylaw requires at least 24 hours' notice. Inspectors can be reached at City Hall 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Monday to Friday. Electrical and gas inspections go through Technical Safety BC.
- The City's page says a shed "under 10 square meters" is exempt; the bylaw says 10 m² or less. The bylaw is followed here; confirm for a shed near that size.
- Building Permits: 604-927-3441. City Hall is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What you'll need
- Permit Application Form, filled in fully
- The checklist that fits your project (for example Residential Single Family / Two Family, Demolition or Plumbing)
- Drawings the checklist lists, each document as its own PDF
- Agent Authorization Form, if you are not the owner
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Port Coquitlam · Port Moody · Belcarra · Anmore · New Westminster · Burnaby
Building permits in British Columbia: how to apply, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Projects - Homeowner/Residential, City of Coquitlam (read 2026-11-05)
- Permit Application Review, City of Coquitlam (read 2026-11-05)
- Building & Construction, City of Coquitlam (read 2026-11-05)
- Building and Plumbing Inspections, City of Coquitlam (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Bylaw No. 3598 (PDF, consolidated September 2026), City of Coquitlam (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.