Gibsons building permits: when you need one and how to apply
Do I need a building permit in Gibsons, and how do I apply?
Short answer
In Gibsons you need a Town building permit before you build, alter, renovate, move or demolish a building, or install plumbing, a pool, a retaining structure or a wood-burning appliance. An accessory building under 10 m² is exempt. Apply online through Cloudpermit.
Key facts
| Needed for | A permit is required whenever work regulated by the Building Bylaw is done. The Town's guide lists building, altering, renovating, moving, relocating or demolishing a building or structure, plumbing, fire sprinklers, swimming pools, retaining structures, masonry fireplaces or wood-burning appliances, and structural repairs.https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/85212/, s. 5.1; https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/85212/, s. 11.1; Building Permit Application Guide, July 2024, When do you need a building permit · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA permit is required if work regulated under this bylaw is to be undertaken. No person may construct, or structurally repair, a retaining wall without a building permit. before constructing, altering, renovating, moving, relocating or demolishing a building to construct a retaining structure to install a plumbing system, to add additional fixtures or for substantial alterations |
|---|---|
| Not needed for | The Building Bylaw does not apply to a fence (retaining walls are covered, s. 11.1), an accessory building under 10 m² of floor area, or a trellis, arbour or soil wall under 1.22 m high on a single-family parcel. The Town's guide also exempts patios under two feet high and cosmetic work such as re-siding. Zoning rules still apply.Sources differ: The bylaw says accessory buildings 'less than 10 square metres'; the Town's guide says 'not more than 10 square meters'. The bylaw value is used. Exempt work must still follow the Zoning Bylaw, especially setbacks (guide). The bylaw's 1.22 m wall exemption is for parcels zoned for single-family residential use; s. 11.1 requires a permit for retaining walls generally.https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/85212/, s. 3.3; Building Permit Application Guide, July 2024, What is exempt; Building Inspection, Building Without Permits; Building Bylaw No. 1284, 2020, s. 3.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingan accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres a wall supporting soil that is less than 1.22 metres in height one accessory building not more than 10 square meters minor repairs such as re-siding (subject to fire protection requirements) fences and patios less than two feet off the ground Finishing or refinishing on houses, i.e. painting, wallpaper, paneling, trim work, re-roofing, etc. do not require permits. an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres a trellis, an arbour, a wall supporting soil that is less than 1.22 metres in height |
| How to apply | Apply online through Cloudpermit; first-time users create an account. Questions: Building Department, 604-886-2274 or building@gibsons.ca.Building Permits, Cloudpermit; Building Permits, Contact the Building Department · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingApply for and see the status of your Building Permit Application, anywhere and at any time; The first time you use CloudPermit, you will need to create an account. Contact the building department and/or review the Town of Gibsons building bylaw to determine whether your project requires a building permit: BUILDING BYLAW NO. 1284, 2020 ### Contact the Building Department 604.886.2274 / building@gibsons.ca |
| What to submit | A completed application form describing the project, construction drawings, a site plan showing the whole lot, a recent title search, and an SCRD civic address letter for new dwellings (including secondary suites). Engineering reports, an energy compliance report, an Owner's Undertaking and a Site Disclosure Statement may also be needed.Building Permit Application Guide, July 2024, Step 2; Building Permit Application Guide, July 2024, Step 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingcompleted Building Permit application form Construction drawings for residential or commercial applications A recent Title Search SCRD civic address letter (for all new dwellings including secondary include a completed Site Disclosure Statement. |
| Processing time | Not confirmed. The Town does not state a processing time. |
| Inspections | Book inspections online through CloudPermit; for help call 604-886-2274 or email building@gibsons.ca. The Building Bylaw requires at least 48 hours' notice (s. 10.32); the Town's July 2024 guide says 24 hours.Sources differ: The Town's July 2024 guide says 'Please allow 24 hours notice'; the bylaw says 48 hours (s. 10.32 simple buildings, s. 7.14 and s. 10.36 for other work). Bylaw value used.https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/85212/, s. 10.32; Building Permit Application Guide, July 2024, Step 5; Building Inspection, Book an Inspection · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinggive at least 48 hours’ notice to the Town when requesting an inspection Please allow 24 hours notice when requesting an inspection. Book a Building Inspection (CloudPermit) 604.886.2274 / building@gibsons.ca Need help? Contact us: 604.886.2274 / building@gibsons.ca |
| Contact | Building Department: 604-886-2274, building@gibsons.ca.Building Permits, Contact the Building Department · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingContact the building department and/or review the Town of Gibsons building bylaw to determine whether your project requires a building permit: BUILDING BYLAW NO. 1284, 2020 ### Contact the Building Department 604.886.2274 / building@gibsons.ca |
| Bylaw | Building Bylaw No. 1284, 2020 (A Bylaw for Administration of the Building Code and Regulation of Construction), adopted October 6, 2020https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/85212/, title; Building Bylaw No. 1284, 2020, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBUILDING BYLAW NO. 1284, 2020 A Bylaw for Administration of the Building Code and Regulation of Construction BUILDING BYLAW NO. 1284, 2020 A Bylaw for Administration of the Building Code and Regulation of Construction |
How it works
The Town's Building Department checks drawings against the BC Building Code and Building Bylaw 1284 before it issues a permit, then inspects the work. Zoning rules apply as well, so check them first.
A permit is required whenever work regulated by the bylaw is done. The Town's guide lists building, altering, renovating, moving, relocating or demolishing a building or structure, plumbing, fire sprinklers, swimming pools, retaining structures, masonry fireplaces or wood-burning appliances, and structural repairs.
The bylaw does not apply to a fence (retaining walls are covered), an accessory building with a floor area under 10 m², or a trellis, arbour or soil wall under 1.22 m high on a single-family parcel. The Town's guide also exempts patios under two feet high and cosmetic work such as re-siding. Painting, wallpaper, trim work and re-roofing do not need permits.
Steps
- Call or email the Building Department (604-886-2274, building@gibsons.ca) if you are unsure whether your project needs a permit.
- Gather the application form, drawings, site plan and title search, plus the other documents your project needs.
- Apply online through Cloudpermit. First-time users create an account.
- Pay the application fee when you apply. Pay the permit fee, and any security deposit, when the permit is issued.
- Book each inspection through Cloudpermit.
Good to know
- The bylaw requires at least 48 hours' notice for an inspection. The Town's July 2024 guide says 24 hours. Allow 48 hours, and confirm with the Building Department.
- The Town's guide says "not more than 10 square meters" for the accessory-building exemption, while the bylaw says "less than 10 square metres". Confirm if your building is exactly 10 m².
- Exempt buildings must still meet zoning setbacks.
What you'll need
- Completed building permit application form describing the project
- Construction drawings
- Site plan showing the whole lot
- Recent title search (the Town can supply one for $50)
- SCRD civic address letter, for new dwellings including secondary suites
- Engineering reports, energy compliance report, Owner's Undertaking and Site Disclosure Statement, if needed
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Bowen Island · West Vancouver · Lions Bay · Sechelt · District of North Vancouver · North Vancouver
Building permits in British Columbia: how to apply, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Bylaw No. 1284, 2020, Town of Gibsons (read 2026-11-06)
- Building Permits, Town of Gibsons (read 2026-11-06)
- Building Inspection, Town of Gibsons (read 2026-11-06)
- Building Permit Application Guide, July 2024 (PDF), Town of Gibsons (read 2026-11-06)
- https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/85212/ (read 2026-11-06)
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. How answers are checked.