Township of Langley building permits: when you need one and how to apply
Do I need a building permit, and how do I apply?
Short answer
In the Township of Langley (not the City of Langley) a permit is required for all construction, including new buildings, additions, basement finishing, secondary suites and retaining walls over 1.2 m. Apply online through the Township's eApply system. The Township does not state a processing time.
Key facts
| Needed for | A permit is required for all construction (erecting, repairing, altering, adding, installing, demolishing, removing, excavating). The Township's guide lists new buildings, additions and alterations, basement finishing, secondary suites, chimneys and wood stoves, retaining walls over 1.2 m, and new plumbing fixtures.Langley Building Bylaw 2008, No. 4642, s. 5.1; s. 2.0; Residential Construction Guide: Additions, Alterations and Accessory Buildings, Guide, first page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA Permit is required for all Construction. "Construction" includes erect, repair, alter, add, install, demolish, remove, finish a basement or construct a secondary suite construct retaining walls over 1.2 m in height install new plumbing fixtures or re-arrange piping |
|---|---|
| Not needed for | The Building Bylaw (s. 5.9) says no permit is needed to clear stoppages, replace a hot water tank, or repair leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures without replacing or re-arranging them. Its definition of "Structure" excludes paving, fences and landscaping.Langley Building Bylaw 2008, No. 4642, s. 2.0 ("Structure") · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingspecifically excludes paving, fences, and landscaping No permit is required for clearing of stoppages, replacing a hot water tank, or repairing of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures, when such repairs do not |
| How to apply | Apply online through the Township's eApply system (tol.ca/buildingpermits). Paper applications are no longer accepted where digital submission is available. The bylaw requires the application in the electronic format the Building Inspector prescribes.Residential Building Permits, Residential Building Permits page; Residential Construction Guide: Additions, Alterations and Accessory Buildings, Application; Langley Building Bylaw 2008, No. 4642, s. 5.4 a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPaper applications will no longer be accepted where digital submission is available. Applications are now accepted online at tol.ca/buildingpermits. be submitted in the electronic format prescribed by the Building Inspector. |
| What to submit | Application form and checklist, a land title search or freehold transfer no older than 30 days, a site plan, building plans (sealed by a structural engineer if applicable), soil declaration, and an erosion and sediment control form. Septic properties need extra forms.Residential Construction Guide: Additions, Alterations and Accessory Buildings, Application · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga Building Permit Application form and checklist, completed and signed Title Search or a Freehold Transfer (no older than 30 days prior to permit application) site plan - disclosure of rights-of-way, watercourses, or easements on the property building plans, signed and sealed by a structural engineer, if applicable a completed and signed Soil Declaration form an Erosion and Sediment Control form |
| Processing time | Not confirmed. The official pages do not state this detail. |
| Inspections | Request inspections online through eInspections in your MyTownship account. Requests must be in by 3:30 p.m. on the business day before; next-day inspections are not guaranteed. The bylaw requires at least 24 hours' notice.Building Inspections, Building Inspections page; Langley Building Bylaw 2008, No. 4642, s. 9.2 a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAll building permit inspection requests must be submitted through eInspections. Building Inspection requests must be submitted at a minimum by 3:30pm on the business day prior to the day of inspection give the Township not less than 24 hours notice when requesting |
| Contact | Permits, Licences and Inspections, 20338 - 65 Avenue, Langley: 604-533-6018, buildinginfo@tol.ca. Building Department hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; applications accepted 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.Residential Construction Guide: Additions, Alterations and Accessory Buildings, Guide footer; Contact Us, Hours of operation · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingOffice: 604-533-6018 | buildinginfo@tol.ca | tol.ca Building Department - Monday to Friday: 8:30am - 4:30pm. Building permit applications are accepted between 8:30am and 3:30pm. |
| Bylaw | Langley Building Bylaw 2008 No. 4642Langley Building Bylaw 2008, No. 4642, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingLANGLEY BUILDING BYLAW 2008 NO. 4642 |
How it works
The Township of Langley is a separate municipality from the City of Langley. Under its Building Bylaw, a permit is required for all construction, which includes erecting, repairing, altering, adding, installing, demolishing, removing and excavating. The Township's residential construction guide lists new buildings, additions and alterations, finishing a basement, secondary suites, chimneys and wood stoves, retaining walls over 1.2 m, and new plumbing fixtures.
The bylaw says no permit is needed to clear stoppages, replace a hot water tank, or repair leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures without replacing or re-arranging them. Its definition of "Structure" excludes paving, fences and landscaping.
Steps
- Check your zoning first (see the zoning-lookup answer).
- Apply online through the Township's eApply system at tol.ca/buildingpermits. Paper applications are no longer accepted where digital submission is available.
- Submit the application form and checklist, a land title search or freehold transfer no older than 30 days, a site plan, building plans (sealed by a structural engineer if applicable), a soil declaration, and an erosion and sediment control form. Properties on septic need extra forms.
- Request inspections online through eInspections in your MyTownship account. Requests must be in by 3:30 p.m. on the business day before, and next-day inspections are not guaranteed. The bylaw requires at least 24 hours' notice.
Good to know
- The Township does not state how long a permit takes. Its guide says issuing may be delayed by application volume, project complexity and completeness. Call 604-533-6018 for a current estimate.
- The checklist above is for additions, alterations and accessory buildings. Other permit types have their own checklists.
- The Building Department is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; applications are accepted 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Langley City · Surrey · White Rock · Maple Ridge · Port Coquitlam · Mission
Building permits in British Columbia: how to apply, by municipality →
Sources
- Langley Building Bylaw 2008, No. 4642 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Residential Construction Guide: Additions, Alterations and Accessory Buildings (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Residential Building Permits, Township of Langley (read 2026-11-06)
- Building Inspections, Township of Langley (read 2026-11-06)
- Contact Us, Township of Langley (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.