---
title: "Courtenay building permits: when you need one and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a building permit, and how do I apply?"
place: Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/courtenay
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Courtenay
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/building-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/building-permit.json"
---

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

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Courtenay, https://www.courtenay.ca)  
**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:**
- Online: Building permit application form, https://digitalsmartforms.ca/f/s/CourtenayBuildingPermitApplication
- Email: Building - Development Services, building@courtenay.ca
- Phone: Building - Development Services, 250-703-4862
- Email: Book an inspection, inspections@courtenay.ca (Include permit number, property address, inspection type and a contact name and phone.)
- In person: City Hall, 830 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, BC V9N 2J7 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Needed for:** 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.
  - Source: [Building and plumbing permits, Building permits](https://www.courtenay.ca/building-services)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Secondary suites](https://www.courtenay.ca/secondary-suites)
  - Official wording: "A building permit application must be applied for and approved by a City of Courtenay Building Official for a secondary suite prior to installation."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025, PDF), s. 4.10](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-3114-consolidated-october-2025)
  - Official wording: "without first applying for and obtaining a building permit under this bylaw."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Not needed for:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025, PDF), s. 3.3(b), (c), (d), (f)](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-3114-consolidated-october-2025)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Online only: all building permit applications must be submitted digitally through the City's online building permit application form.
  - Source: [Building and plumbing permits, Applying for a permit](https://www.courtenay.ca/building-services)
  - Official wording: "All permit applications must be submitted digitally using the online application form."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025, PDF), s. 10.2](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-3114-consolidated-october-2025)
  - Official wording: "An application for a building permit shall be submitted electronically"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What to submit:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025, PDF), ss. 10.2, 10.3](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-3114-consolidated-october-2025)
  - Official wording: "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);"
  - Source: [Building and plumbing permits, Geodetic elevations on site plans](https://www.courtenay.ca/building-services)
  - Official wording: "must include a site plans showing the final proposed elevations at the four main corners of the building."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Processing time:** Not confirmed. The City's pages and bylaw do not state a processing time.
- **Inspections:** 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.
  - Source: [Inspections, Scheduling an inspection](https://www.courtenay.ca/inspections)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025, PDF), s. 10.35](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-3114-consolidated-october-2025)
  - Official wording: "the owner must give at least 48 hours’ notice to the City when requesting an inspection"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Contact:** Building - Development Services, City of Courtenay: 250-703-4862, building@courtenay.ca. Inspection bookings use inspections@courtenay.ca.
  - Source: [Guide to Residential Deck Construction, Header](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/residential-deck-guide)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Requirements for Secondary Suites (checklist), Header](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/secondary-suites)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Contact us, Contact directory](https://www.courtenay.ca/contact-us)
  - Official wording: "Building - Development Services 250-703-4862 building@courtenay.ca"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025, PDF), s. 1.1](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-3114-consolidated-october-2025)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as “Building Bylaw No. 3114”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

[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).

## Steps

1. Check your zoning with the City before you design (see the zoning answer).
2. 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.
3. Submit the online application with the application fee. Applications are digital only.
4. Pay the permit fees and other costs when the permit is issued; staff calculate them.
5. Book inspections by emailing inspections@courtenay.ca with your permit number, address, inspection type and contact details.

## Good to know

- 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.
- 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.
- No processing time is stated on the City's pages or in the bylaw.

## What you'll need

- 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

## Official forms and pages

- [Building and plumbing permits](https://www.courtenay.ca/building-services)
- [Inspections](https://www.courtenay.ca/inspections)
- [Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025, PDF)](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-3114-consolidated-october-2025)

## Related questions

- [Courtenay building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Courtenay permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Courtenay zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Building permits in British Columbia: how to apply, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/building-permit.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/building-permit.md)
- [Powell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/building-permit.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/building-permit.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/building-permit.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/building-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building and plumbing permits, City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/building-services) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Inspections, City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/inspections) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 3114 (consolidated October 2025, PDF), City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/building-bylaw-no-3114-consolidated-october-2025) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Secondary suites, City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/secondary-suites) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Contact us, City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/contact-us) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Guide to Residential Deck Construction, City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/residential-deck-guide) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Requirements for Secondary Suites (checklist), City of Courtenay](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/secondary-suites) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Courtenay. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/building-permit/_