Fort St. John building permits: when you need one and how to apply

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

Fort St. John, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Yes. In Fort St. John a permit is required before any construction, alteration, demolition or change of use of a building, and for plumbing work. Fill in the City's Building Permit Package for your project type and book inspections with at least 24 hours' notice. A Standard permit takes up to 10 business days to process.

Key facts

Needed for	A permit is required before any construction, alteration or renovation, reconstruction, demolition, removal, relocation or change of use or occupancy of a building or structure, plus plumbing work. Building permit needed for a shed over 10 m² and for any deck.Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, s. 17; Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, s. 31; Building Permits, Building Permits page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person shall commence or continue any construction, alteration/renovation, reconstruction, demolition, removal, relocation or change the use or occupancy of any building or structure or a Deck Building Permit before construction of a deck; a Shed Building Permit before construction of a shed that is greater than 10m2; Building permits are required for most types of construction, including new homes, commercial buildings, and the renovation or expansion of existing properties.
Not needed for	No building permit for: painting, same-size window replacement, replacing plumbing fixtures, replacing roofing or cladding with like materials, or fence construction, repairs or alterations (a temporary security fence at a complex-building site still needs a Security Fence Permit). The bylaw does not apply to retaining structures under 1.2 m high or buildings the Building Code exempts.Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, s. 13-16 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording nor to retaining structures less than 1.2 meters in height. painting (exterior and/or interior), window replacement (same size A Building Permit is not required for fence construction, repairs, or alterations. A Building Permit is not required for the replacement of roofing materials or exterior cladding a Security Fence Permit before construction of a security fence;
How to apply	Complete the City's application forms: the Building Permit Package (Complex, Simple, or Garage and Accessory Buildings), found on the City's Building Permits page. The pages read do not say where or how to submit it (online, in person or by email).Building Permits, Applying for a Permit; Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, s. 32 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Compile all required documentation following the requirements of your Building Permit Application. Building Permit Package - Garage and Accessory Buildings Applications for permits required by this Bylaw shall be made with the approved City of Fort St. John application forms.
What to submit	Standard building: Owner's Declaration, site plan, floor plans and other drawings on the City's form, plus a BC Housing Licensing and Consumer Services form. Complex building adds two sets of professionally prepared plans, cost estimate, title, letters of assurance, geotechnical report, damage deposit and landscaping deposit.Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, s. 39; Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, s. 42 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Owner’s Declaration – each Owner of a building or structure to be constructed requiring a must be submitted at the time of application for a standard building permit. Plans - two complete sets of drawings at the suitable scale of the design, Cost Estimate - a cost estimate from a registered professional or a signed copy of the written Securities - submit the damage deposit in accordance to Schedule A of this Bylaw,
Processing time	The Building Department has up to 10 business days to process a Standard Building Permit; incomplete applications may be delayed. No time is stated for complex buildings.Standard Building Permit Package, Standard Building Permit Package, page 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording The Building Department has up to 10 business days to process a Standard Building
Inspections	The owner or agent requests each inspection; at least 24 hours' notice is required. Call the Planning and Engineering Department at 250-787-8150 during normal business hours with the permit number, site address and type of inspection. First come, first served.Building Permits, Requesting an Inspection; Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, s. 58 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 24 hours notice is required prior to any inspection request. Inspections can be requested during normal business hours by contacting the Planning and Engineering Department at 250-787-8150. Building permit number, the address of worksite, and the type of inspection being requested is required when booking an inspection. The Owner shall give at least 24 hours advance notice to the Building Official of the Owner’s
Contact	Building Inspection (Development Services): 250-787-8150 or building@fortstjohn.ca (City Contact Us page). An older Step Code brochure gives 250-794-3263.BC Energy Step Code Requirements brochure, Step Code brochure; Building Permits, Requesting an Inspection; Contact Us, Contact Us page (page 1 of list) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Contact Building Inspection: 250-794-3263 or building@fortstjohn.ca contacting the Planning and Engineering Department at 250-787-8150. - Trevor Bolin -> https://www.fortstjohn.ca/contact-us/trevor-bolin - Email -> https://www.fortstjohn.ca/form/contact-us?recipient_select=tbolin@fortstjohn.ca - Building Inspection -> https://www.fortstjohn.ca/contact-us/building-inspection - Email -> https://www.fortstjohn.ca/form/contact-us?recipient_select=building@fortstjohn.ca - Business Licenses -> https://www.fortstjohn.ca/contact-us/business-licenses - Email -> https://www.fortstjohn.ca/form/contact-us?recipient_select=tbolin@fortstjohn.ca - Building Inspection -> https://www.fortstjohn.ca/contact-us/building-inspection - Email -> https://www.fortstjohn.ca/form/contact-us?recipient_select=building@fortstjohn.ca - Business Licenses -> https://www.fortstjohn.ca/contact-us/business-licenses - Email -> https://www.fortstjohn.ca/form/contact-us?recipient_select=businesslicences@fortstjohn.ca
Bylaw	Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, cover · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording BUILDING BYLAW NO. 2589, 2024

How it works

Under Building Bylaw 2589, 2024, no one may start any construction, alteration or renovation, reconstruction, demolition, removal, relocation or change of use or occupancy of a building or structure without a permit. Plumbing work needs one too. Any deck needs a building permit, as does a shed over 10 m². Separate permits also cover demolition, moving, plumbing, fire sprinklers, security fences and solid fuel burning appliances.

Steps

Choose the City's Building Permit Package for your project: Simple, Complex, or Garage and Accessory Buildings. Find them on the City's Building Permits page.
Complete it. A standard building needs an Owner's Declaration, site plan and floor plans on the City's form, plus a BC Housing Licensing and Consumer Services form. A complex building adds two sets of professionally prepared plans, a cost estimate, title, letters of assurance, a geotechnical report, a damage deposit and a landscaping deposit.
Submit it. The pages we read do not say whether to submit online, in person or by email, so ask Building Inspection (250-787-8150 or building@fortstjohn.ca).
Request each inspection by calling the Planning and Engineering Department at 250-787-8150 during normal business hours. Give at least 24 hours' notice and have the permit number, site address and type of inspection ready.

Good to know

The Building Department has up to 10 business days to process a Standard Building Permit; incomplete applications may be delayed. No time is stated for complex buildings.
New builds also need a satisfactory energy model under the BC Energy Step Code before a permit is issued.
No building permit is needed for painting, same-size window replacement, replacing plumbing fixtures, like-for-like roofing or cladding, or fence construction, repairs or alterations. The bylaw does not apply to retaining structures under 1.2 m high or to buildings the Building Code exempts. A temporary security fence at a complex-building site still needs a Security Fence Permit.
Inspections are first come, first served. Work must not go past an inspection stage without clearance.
An older City brochure lists 250-794-3263 for Building Inspection. The City's Contact Us page lists 250-787-8150.

What you'll need

Completed Building Permit Package (Simple, Complex, or Garage and Accessory Buildings)
Plans meeting the requirements in the package

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Taylor · Dawson Creek · Pouce Coupe · Hudson's Hope · Chetwynd · Tumbler Ridge

Building permits in British Columbia: how to apply, by municipality →

Sources

Building Permits, City of Fort St. John (read 2026-11-05)
Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024 (PDF), City of Fort St. John (read 2026-11-05)
Standard Building Permit Package (PDF), City of Fort St. John (read 2026-11-05)
Contact Us, City of Fort St. John (read 2026-11-05)
BC Energy Step Code Requirements brochure, City of Fort St. John (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.