{"title":"Courtenay building permits: when you need one and how to apply","question":"Do I need a building permit, and how do I apply?","slug":"building-permit","place":{"path":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Courtenay","url":"https://www.courtenay.ca"},"short_answer":"The City of Courtenay requires a building permit before you build, demolish, repair or alter most structures, including garages, carports, decks, accessory buildings and secondary suites. Applications are online only, through the City's digital form.","aliases":["courtenay building permit","apply for building permit courtenay","do i need a permit to build courtenay","courtenay building inspections"],"cost":"Non-refundable application fee of $150 or 25% of the permit fee, whichever is highest; permit fee $150 plus 1% of the value of construction (Building Bylaw 3114, Appendix A). Staff calculate fees; they are due when the permit is issued.","how_long":"Not stated by the City. An application is cancelled if no permit is issued within 180 days (unless the delay is the City's).","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Building permit application form","value":"https://digitalsmartforms.ca/f/s/CourtenayBuildingPermitApplication"},{"type":"email","label":"Building - Development Services","value":"building@courtenay.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Building - Development Services","value":"250-703-4862"},{"type":"email","label":"Book an inspection","value":"inspections@courtenay.ca","note":"Include permit number, property address, inspection type and a contact name and phone."},{"type":"in_person","label":"City Hall","value":"830 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, BC V9N 2J7","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":["Signed online application with the application fee, owner's acknowledgement and title search","Survey plan by a BC Land Surveyor (may be waived), site plan, floor plans, cross-section and elevations","For new buildings, a site plan with final elevations at the four main corners","Registered-professional drawings and letters of assurance for complex buildings"],"forms":[{"title":"Building and plumbing permits","url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/building-services"},{"title":"Inspections","url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/inspections"},{"title":"Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025, PDF)","url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-3114-consolidated-october-2025"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit-fees","title":"Courtenay building permit fees","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/building-permit-fees/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Courtenay permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Courtenay zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/building-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/building-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/powell-river","name":"Powell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/building-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/campbell-river","name":"Campbell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/building-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-alberni","name":"Port Alberni","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/building-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/qualicum-beach","name":"Qualicum Beach","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/building-permit/"}],"topic":{"title":"Building permits in British Columbia: how to apply, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit/"},"facts":{"needed_for":{"label":"Needed for","value":"Most work to build, demolish, repair or alter a structure, including accessory buildings and structures, deck construction or alterations, garages and carports, and secondary suites. Changing a building's use or occupancy also needs a permit.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/building-services","title":"Building and plumbing permits, City of Courtenay","section":"Building permits","quotes":["A building permit is required before you build, demolish, repair or alter most structures, including:","accessory buildings and structures","deck construction or alterations","garages and carports"]},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/secondary-suites","title":"Secondary suites, City of Courtenay","section":"Secondary suites","quotes":["A building permit application must be applied for and approved by a City of Courtenay Building Official for a secondary suite prior to installation."]},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-3114-consolidated-october-2025","title":"Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025, PDF), City of Courtenay","section":"s. 4.10","quotes":["without first applying for and obtaining a building permit under this bylaw."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"not_needed_for":{"label":"Not needed for","value":"The Building Bylaw does not apply to: accessory buildings under 10 m² floor area; roofless decks or platforms less than 0.6 m above grade; retaining walls not supporting a building; and fences, trellises or arbours on a parcel zoned for single-family residential use.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-3114-consolidated-october-2025","title":"Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025, PDF), City of Courtenay","section":"s. 3.3(b), (c), (d), (f)","quotes":["an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres;","platforms or decks without roofs less than 0.6 meters above grade;","retaining walls that do not support a building or structure;","a fence, a trellis, an arbour, stairs that are not part of an egress from a building or structure"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"how_to_apply":{"label":"How to apply","value":"Online only: all building permit applications must be submitted digitally through the City's online building permit application form.","short":"Online only","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/building-services","title":"Building and plumbing permits, City of Courtenay","section":"Applying for a permit","quotes":["All permit applications must be submitted digitally using the online application form."]},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-3114-consolidated-october-2025","title":"Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025, PDF), City of Courtenay","section":"s. 10.2","quotes":["An application for a building permit shall be submitted electronically"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"what_to_submit":{"label":"What to submit","value":"Signed online application with the non-refundable application fee, owner's acknowledgement, title search, BC Land Surveyor survey plan (may be waived), site plan, floor plans, cross-section and elevations. New buildings also need a site plan with final elevations at the four main corners. Complex buildings need registered-professional drawings and letters of assurance.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-3114-consolidated-october-2025","title":"Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025, PDF), City of Courtenay","section":"ss. 10.2, 10.3","quotes":["include a copy of a title search for the relevant property","include a copy of a survey plan prepared by a British Columbia Land Surveyor","include floor plans showing the dimensions and uses of all areas","a site plan prepared by a registered professional showing the information set out in section 10.2(e);"]},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/building-services","title":"Building and plumbing permits, City of Courtenay","section":"Geodetic elevations on site plans","quotes":["must include a site plans showing the final proposed elevations at the four main corners of the building."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"processing_time":{"label":"Processing time","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_published","note":"The City's pages and bylaw do not state a processing time.","sources":[]},"inspections":{"label":"Inspections","value":"Email inspections@courtenay.ca with permit number, property address, inspection type and contact name and phone. City page: at least 24 hours ahead; Building Bylaw s. 10.35 says 48 hours for simple buildings. Inspections run Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/inspections","title":"Inspections, City of Courtenay","section":"Scheduling an inspection","quotes":["To book an inspection, email:","Requests must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance.","Inspections are conducted Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m."]},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-3114-consolidated-october-2025","title":"Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025, PDF), City of Courtenay","section":"s. 10.35","quotes":["the owner must give at least 48 hours’ notice to the City when requesting an inspection"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"contact":{"label":"Contact","value":"Building - Development Services, City of Courtenay: 250-703-4862, building@courtenay.ca. Inspection bookings use inspections@courtenay.ca.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/residential-deck-guide","title":"Guide to Residential Deck Construction, City of Courtenay","section":"Header","quotes":["CITY OF COURTENAY Building Division Guide to Residential Deck 830 Cliffe Avenue Courtenay, BC V9N 2J7 Tel: 250-703-4862 Email:","Building Division Guide to Residential Deck 830 Cliffe Avenue Courtenay, BC V9N 2J7 Tel: 250-703-4862 Email: Construction building@courtenay.ca GENERAL INFORMATION"]},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/secondary-suites","title":"Requirements for Secondary Suites (checklist), City of Courtenay","section":"Header","quotes":["Courtenay, BC V9N 2J7 Email: building@courtenay.ca \"Secondary Suite\" means a dwelling unit which is accessory to the principle use being made of the lot upon which the"]},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/contact-us","title":"Contact us, City of Courtenay","section":"Contact directory","quotes":["Building - Development Services 250-703-4862 building@courtenay.ca"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-3114-consolidated-october-2025","title":"Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025, PDF), City of Courtenay","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited as “Building Bylaw No. 3114”."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\n[Building Bylaw No. 3114](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-3114-consolidated-october-2025) requires a permit before you build, demolish, repair or alter most structures, or change a building's use or occupancy. Stand-alone plumbing work needs a separate plumbing permit; if the project has a building permit, the plumbing is part of it. The bylaw does not apply to some small work (see Good to know).\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check your zoning with the City before you design (see the zoning answer).\n2. Prepare your documents: title search, survey plan, site plan, floor plans, cross-section and elevations. Complex buildings need drawings and letters of assurance from a registered professional.\n3. Submit the online application with the application fee. Applications are digital only.\n4. Pay the permit fees and other costs when the permit is issued; staff calculate them.\n5. Book inspections by emailing inspections@courtenay.ca with your permit number, address, inspection type and contact details.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Not covered by the bylaw: accessory buildings under 10 m², roofless decks less than 0.6 m above grade, retaining walls that do not support a building, and fences on single-family residential parcels. Zoning rules still apply.\n- Inspection notice: Building Bylaw 3114 says at least 48 hours; the City's Inspections page says 24 hours. Confirm when booking. Inspections run Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.\n- No processing time is stated on the City's pages or in the bylaw.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/building-services","title":"Building and plumbing permits, City of Courtenay","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/inspections","title":"Inspections, City of Courtenay","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-3114-consolidated-october-2025","title":"Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025, PDF), City of Courtenay","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/secondary-suites","title":"Secondary suites, City of Courtenay","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/contact-us","title":"Contact us, City of Courtenay","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/residential-deck-guide","title":"Guide to Residential Deck Construction, City of Courtenay","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/secondary-suites","title":"Requirements for Secondary Suites (checklist), City of Courtenay","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"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."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/building-permit/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/building-permit.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/building-permit.json"}}