---
title: "Keremeos building permits: when you need one and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a building permit in Keremeos, and how do I apply?"
place: Keremeos, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/keremeos
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Keremeos
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/building-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/building-permit.json"
---

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

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

**Short answer:** In Keremeos you need a Village building permit for a new building, most alterations, demolition, a swimming pool, and an accessory building of 10 m² (108 sq ft) or more. Apply at the Village Office. Plan checking takes about 2 to 4 weeks for a single family house.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Keremeos, https://www.keremeos.ca/home)  
**Cost:** $150 non-refundable application fee, credited toward the permit fee. The permit fee itself is in the Fees & Charges Bylaw, which we could not read. See the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** Initial plan checking takes approximately 2 to 4 weeks for a single family dwelling and 4 to 8 weeks for commercial, industrial and multi-family buildings.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office, 702 4th Street, Keremeos, BC V0X 1N0 (Monday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. per the contact page. The Building Inspector is in on Thursday mornings by appointment.)
- Phone: Building Inspector, 250-499-2711 ext. 108
- Email: Building Inspector, Buildinginspector@keremeos.ca

## Key facts

- **Needed for:** New buildings; structural and some non-structural alterations; demolition; change of occupancy; rebuilding damaged buildings; accessory buildings of 10 m² (108 sq ft) or more; retaining walls (bylaw: over 1.2 m; Village page: over 1.5 m); swimming pools; some canopies; commercial cooking equipment. Ask the Building Inspector.
  - Source: [Building Permit & Inspections, Examples of when Building Permits may be required](https://www.keremeos.ca/building-permit-inspections)
  - Official wording: "construction of a new building" … "construction of accessory buildings 10 m2 (108 square feet) and larger" … "construction of retaining walls greater than 1.5 m in height" … "construction of swimming pools" … "Please consult the Building Inspector regarding whether a Permit is required prior to any construction or alterations."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 835, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), s. 1 definitions, Part 12](https://keremeos.civicweb.net/document/4584/)
  - Official wording: "Retaining wall means a structure exceeding 1.2 metres in height that holds or retains soil or" … "12.1 No person may construct, or structurally repair, a retaining wall without a building permit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Not needed for:** The Building Bylaw does not apply to: fences (except retaining walls); an accessory building under 10 m² that creates no hazard; trellises, arbours and soil-supporting walls under 1.22 m high on single-family residential lots; some non-structural repairs such as re-roofing, re-cladding and repainting on one- and two-family dwellings that do not affect the building envelope.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 835, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), s. 4.3](https://keremeos.civicweb.net/document/4584/)
  - Official wording: "An accessory building with a floor area of less than 10 square metres that does not" … "create a hazard;" … "A trellis, an arbour, a wall supporting soil that is less than 1.22 metres in height" … "Re~covering existing roofs;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to apply:** Apply at the Village Office. Inspectors are in the Village Office on Thursday mornings by appointment.
  - Source: [Building Permit & Inspections, Building Permit & Inspections page](https://www.keremeos.ca/building-permit-inspections)
  - Official wording: "Application for Building Permits can be made at the Village Office." … "Please contact the Village Office to arrange for an appointment or to request an on-site inspection."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **What to submit:** $150 non-refundable application fee; signed application form and Owner's Undertaking; current title search and covenants; record of sewerage or proof of hook-up; proof of water service from the Keremeos Irrigation District for a new dwelling unit including a secondary suite; two sets of building plans; truss and beam specifications; Energy Advisor pre-review for new buildings and renovations; Watercourse Development Permit if within 30 m of water.
  - Source: [Building permit requirements](https://keremeos.civicweb.net/document/7570/)
  - Official wording: "A non—refundable application fee of $150.00." … "Proof of Water Service from Keremeos Irrigation District" … "TWO SETS or BUILDING PLANS in a suitable scale which will include:" … "Watercourse Development Permit if the development is within 30m of the high water mark"
  - Source: [Building Permit & Inspections, Energy Step Code](https://www.keremeos.ca/building-permit-inspections)
  - Official wording: "plans for new buildings and renovations must be pre-reviewed by a certified Energy Advisor before a building permit can be accepted."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Processing time:** Initial plan checking takes approximately 2 to 4 weeks for a single family dwelling and 4 to 8 weeks for commercial, industrial and multi-family buildings.
  - Source: [Building Permit & Inspections, Building Permit & Inspections page](https://www.keremeos.ca/building-permit-inspections)
  - Official wording: "initial plan checking takes approximately 2-4 weeks for a single family dwelling and 4-8 weeks for commercial, industrial and multi-family buildings."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Inspections:** The owner must give at least 48 hours notice to staff when requesting an inspection. Inspectors are available by appointment only; approved plans, the permit and the civic address must be on site.
  - Source: [Building Permit & Inspections](https://www.keremeos.ca/building-permit-inspections)
  - Official wording: "Every owner shall give at least 48 hours notice to staff when requesting an inspection." … "Building Inspectors are available by appointment only"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Contact:** Building Inspector, Village Office: 250-499-2711 ext. 108, Buildinginspector@keremeos.ca. Thursdays: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (contact page) or 9:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (building permit page).
  - Source: [Contact, Contact page](https://www.keremeos.ca/contact)
  - Official wording: "Building Inspector" … "Thursdays 9:30am to 12:30pm" … "250-499-2711 ext. 108" … "Buildinginspector@keremeos.ca"
  - Source: [Building Permit & Inspections, Building Permit & Inspections page](https://www.keremeos.ca/building-permit-inspections)
  - Official wording: "Inspectors are in the Village Office on Thursday mornings from 9:45 am to 12:30 pm."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 835, 2019
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 803, 2013, Schedule 3](https://keremeos.civicweb.net/document/14895/)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING BYLAW NO. 835, 2019"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The Village contracts building inspection to the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. Staff check plans against the [Building Bylaw No. 835, 2019](https://keremeos.civicweb.net/document/4584/) and then inspect the work.

The Village lists these as examples of work that may need a permit: a new building, an accessory building of 10 m² (108 square feet) or more, retaining walls, and swimming pools. The bylaw also covers structural and some non-structural alterations, demolition, change of occupancy, rebuilding damaged buildings, some canopies and commercial cooking equipment. The Village asks you to consult the Building Inspector before any construction or alteration.

The bylaw does not apply to fences (other than retaining walls), to an accessory building under 10 m² that creates no hazard, or to trellises, arbours and soil-supporting walls under 1.22 m high on single-family lots. Some non-structural repairs, such as re-roofing, re-cladding and repainting on one- and two-family homes, are also outside it.

## Steps

1. Contact the Building Inspector to ask whether your project needs a permit and what to bring.
2. Gather the items on the Village's [building permit requirements](https://keremeos.civicweb.net/document/7570/) list. New buildings and renovations need an Energy Advisor pre-review before a permit can be accepted.
3. Apply at the Village Office and pay the $150 application fee.
4. Wait for plan checking.
5. Book each inspection at least 48 hours ahead. Have the approved plans, the permit and the civic address on site.

## Good to know

- Inspectors are available by appointment only, in the Village Office on Thursday mornings. The contact page says 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and the building permit page says 9:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; call to confirm.
- The Village page says retaining walls over 1.5 m need a permit, but the bylaw sets 1.2 m. Ask the Inspector before building one.
- The checklist is the Village's "cannot be processed without" list; other items may apply.

## What you'll need

- Signed application form and Owner's Undertaking
- Current title search and covenants
- Record of sewerage or proof of hook-up
- Proof of water service from the Keremeos Irrigation District, for a new dwelling unit including a secondary suite
- Two sets of building plans, with truss and beam specifications
- Energy Advisor pre-review for new buildings and renovations
- Watercourse Development Permit, if within 30 m of the high water mark

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Permit & Inspections, Village of Keremeos](https://www.keremeos.ca/building-permit-inspections)
- [Building permit requirements (PDF)](https://keremeos.civicweb.net/document/7570/)
- [Building Bylaw No. 835, 2019 (PDF)](https://keremeos.civicweb.net/document/4584/)

## Related questions

- [Keremeos building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Keremeos permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Keremeos fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/fence-rules.md)
- [Keremeos secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/secondary-suite.md)
- [Keremeos zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/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)
- [Oliver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/building-permit.md)
- [Osoyoos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/building-permit.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/building-permit.md)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/building-permit.md)
- [Princeton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/building-permit.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/building-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Permit & Inspections, Village of Keremeos](https://www.keremeos.ca/building-permit-inspections) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, Village of Keremeos](https://www.keremeos.ca/contact) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building permit requirements (PDF), Village of Keremeos](https://keremeos.civicweb.net/document/7570/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Bylaw No. 835, 2019 (PDF, consolidated), Village of Keremeos](https://keremeos.civicweb.net/document/4584/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 803, 2013 (PDF), Village of Keremeos](https://keremeos.civicweb.net/document/14895/) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Keremeos. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/building-permit/_