Langley City building permits: when you need one and how to apply
Do I need a building permit, and how do I apply?
Short answer
In Langley City, you need a building permit before you build, alter, move or demolish any building or structure, except a detached one of 10 square metres or less. Choose the guide and form for your project on the City's Building Permits page and apply to the Building Division.
Key facts
| Needed for | Before you build, alter, move or demolish any building or structure, except a detached one of 10 m² or less in plan. Also required for a retaining wall 1.2 m or higher, any sundeck, carport or garage conversions, adding or removing a secondary suite, swimming pools, fire sprinklers and any plumbing system.Sources differ: The City's single-family guide (April 2022) says retaining walls 'over 1m' need a permit; the bylaw says 1.2 m or higher, so the bylaw figure is used. Bylaw copy is a 2011 consolidation (carries a not-current disclaimer) but is the copy the City links.Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2498, s. 7.1; Guide for Single Family Addition or Alteration, Guide p. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingEvery person will apply for and obtain a building permit before commencing the construction, reconstruction, alteration, change, installation, relocation or demolition of any of the following: all buildings and structures except for a detached building or structure having an area in plan of 10m2 or less; a retaining wall which is 1.2 m in height or greater, measured from the lowest adjacent grade a sundeck, or the enclosure of an area above and/or below an existing sundeck; enclosure of a carport into garage or living/storage space or conversion of a garage into living/storage space; in ground or above ground swimming pool; any plumbing system. Construct retaining walls over 1m in height; |
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| Not needed for | A detached building or structure of 10 m² or less in plan (it must still meet zoning setbacks). Fences, landscaping, paving and retaining structures under 1.2 m are not 'structures'. The City's guide also lists minor non-structural work: replacing cupboards, re-roofing, exterior finish repair, window replacement.Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2498, s. 1.1(w), s. 7.1(a); Guide for Residential Accessory Buildings, Guide p. 1; Guide for Single Family Addition or Alteration, Guide p. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingbut specifically excludes landscaping, fences, paving and retaining structures less than 1.2 metres in height. all buildings and structures except for a detached building or structure having an area in plan of 10m2 or less; must comply with the setback requirements set out in the City of Langley Zoning Bylaw for accessory buildings. Building permits are NOT required for non-structural, ∼ Replacing cupboards; Exterior finish repair or replacement; ∼ Window replacement; Roofing repairs or re-roofing |
| How to apply | Choose your project type on the City's Building Permits page, download its guide and application form, and apply to the Building Division with the documents the guide lists. An application fee is collected at the time of application.Building Permits, Building Permits page; Guide for Single Family Addition or Alteration, Guide p. 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBuilding Permit Application Forms & Information Guide Guide and application form for SFD Addition or Alterations construction. A non-refundable application fee will be collected at the time of application. The remainder of |
| What to submit | For an addition or alteration to a single-family dwelling: completed application form; Owner's acknowledgment (Form 1); title search no more than 48 hours old; Agent's Authorization if a contractor applies; Letter of Assurance Schedule B and Form 2 if a professional engineer is involved; 2 sets of site and building plans to scale (at least 11x17 in.).Guide for Single Family Addition or Alteration, Guide p. 1 (addition or alteration to a single-family dwelling) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA completed building permit application form; A completed Owner’s acknowledgment (Form 1); A title search, (no older than 48 hours prior to the 2 sets of site and building plans drawn to scale. The minimum size paper accepted is 11”x17” for |
| Processing time | Not confirmed. The official pages do not state this detail. |
| Inspections | Phone the 24-hour inspection request line, 604-514-2804, by 3 p.m. the day before; give address, permit number, inspection type, contact name and phone, and AM or PM preference. The bylaw requires at least 24 hours' notice.Residential Building Inspections guide, Residential Building Inspections guide (April 14, 2022); Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2498, s. 17.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingInspections can be requested by phoning the 24-hour inspection request line by 3pm the day prior to requested inspection. The owner or his representative will give at least 24 hours notice to the City when requesting an inspection |
| Contact | Building Division, City of Langley: inspections@langleycity.ca, 604-514-2804.Guide for Single Family Addition or Alteration, Guide p. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBUILDING DIVISION inspections@langleycity.ca 604-514-2804 |
| Bylaw | Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw, 2003, No. 2498 (the bylaw's cover reads Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2498)Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2498, s. 26.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the “Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw, 2003, No. 2498”. |
How it works
Under the Building and Plumbing Bylaw, you need a permit before you build, alter, move or demolish any building or structure, except a detached one of 10 square metres or less. A permit is also required for a retaining wall 1.2 metres or higher, any sundeck, carport or garage conversions, adding or removing a secondary suite, swimming pools, fire sprinklers and any plumbing system.
Steps
- Open the Building Permits page and choose your project type.
- Download the guide and application form for it, and gather the documents the guide lists.
- Apply to the Building Division with those documents. An application fee is collected when you apply. The City's pages do not say whether to apply online, by email or in person, so call or email first.
- For inspections, phone the 24-hour inspection request line at 604-514-2804 by 3 p.m. the day before. Give your address, permit number, inspection type, contact name and phone, and morning or afternoon preference.
Good to know
- Not needed: a detached building of 10 square metres or less (it must still meet zoning setbacks), and fences, landscaping, paving and retaining structures under 1.2 metres. The City's guide also lists replacing cupboards, re-roofing, exterior finish repair and window replacement. Ask staff about anything not listed.
- The bylaw requires at least 24 hours' notice for an inspection. Do not cover work until the Building Inspector approves it.
- The City's guide says retaining walls "over 1 m" need a permit, while the bylaw says 1.2 m. Confirm with staff.
- The City's copy of the bylaw is a 2011 consolidation that says it may not be current.
- Zoning rules for your lot still apply; see the zoning lookup answer.
What you'll need
- Completed application form for your project type
- Form 1 (Owner's Acknowledgement)
- Title search no more than 48 hours old
- Two sets of site and building plans to scale (at least 11 by 17 inches)
- Agent's Authorization if a contractor applies for you
- Letter of Assurance Schedule B and Form 2 if a professional engineer is involved
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Township of Langley · Surrey · White Rock · Port Coquitlam · Coquitlam · New Westminster
Building permits in British Columbia: how to apply, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Permits, City of Langley (read 2026-11-05)
- Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 2498 (PDF), City of Langley (read 2026-11-05)
- Guide for Single Family Addition or Alteration (PDF), City of Langley (read 2026-11-05)
- Guide for Residential Accessory Buildings (PDF), City of Langley (read 2026-11-05)
- Residential Building Inspections guide (PDF), City of Langley (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. How answers are checked.