Parksville building permits: when you need one and how to apply
Do I need a building permit, and how do I apply?
Short answer
Yes. In the City of Parksville you need a building permit before you construct, alter, move, repair or demolish a building, structure, pool, fireplace or plumbing system. Apply electronically with the City's Building Permit Application form, signed by all registered owners. Call 250 954-3065 with questions.
Key facts
| Needed for | A permit is needed before constructing, altering, moving, repairing, reconstructing or demolishing a building, structure, pool, fireplace, plumbing system or sign structure. Retaining walls over 1.2 m high also need one.Building Bylaw, 2003, No. 1387 (consolidated, PDF), s. 10(a), 7(h) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingshall apply for, and obtain, a permit before constructing, altering, moving, repairing, reconstructing or demolishing a sign structure, building, structure, pool, fireplace, or plumbing system Permits are required for retaining walls exceeding 1.2 m in height from average finished grade |
|---|---|
| Not needed for | The Building Bylaw does not apply to a one-storey building under 10 m² of floor area that is accessory to a single dwelling unit; non-structural repairs to a single dwelling or its accessory building; clearing stoppages or fixing leaks without moving pipes; retaining walls under 1.2 m high; or a structure that is not a building (except tennis courts, swimming pools, RV pads, mobile home pads, sign structures).Building Bylaw, 2003, No. 1387 (consolidated, PDF), s. 3(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingA one storey building that is less than 10 m2 in floor area, accessory to a single dwelling unit Non-structural repairs made to an existing building used as a single dwelling unit Retaining walls less than 1.2 m in height above finished grade A structure which is not a building, other than a tennis court, swimming pool |
| How to apply | Apply electronically; the application must be signed by all registered owners. The Building Permit Application Form is on the City's Building page.Building Permit Submission Requirements, Submission Requirements, item 1; Building, Building page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPERMIT APPLICATION (REQUIRED DOCUMENTS) submitted electronically APPLICATION signed by all registered owners Building Permit Application Form |
| What to submit | For a new house or addition: application signed by all owners, title search (within 30 days), company search, BC Housing registration, geotechnical Schedule B, pre-construction energy report, business licence, truss and beam layout, BC Land Surveyor site plan, PDF scaled drawings. Renovating a pre-1990 building needs a hazardous materials survey; commercial needs sealed drawings.Building Permit Submission Requirements, Submission Requirements, items 1 and 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingTITLE SEARCH - a copy of the title certificate, dated within the last 30 days of the application A GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER Schedule “B” for all foundations A completed PRE-CONSTRUCTION ENERGY COMPLIANCE REPORT SITE PLAN - an electronic document completed by a BC Land Surveyor that includes height calculations One ELECTRONIC set (PDF) of designer quality drawings, drawn to scale Where the age of the building is pre-1990 a Hazardous Materials Survey in compliance with WorkSafeBC must be completed. Sealed drawings and letters of assurance (Schedule A & Schedule B) as applicable |
| Processing time | Not confirmed. The official pages do not state this detail. |
| Inspections | Call 250-954-3065 or email building@parksville.ca with the permit number, address and type of inspection. 24 business hours' notice is required; inspections happen between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the next business day, and specific times cannot be booked.Building Inspection Policy, Building Inspection Policy, Requesting an Inspection; Building Bylaw, 2003, No. 1387 (consolidated, PDF), s. 16(d) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingInspections can be requested by calling 250-954-3065 or by emailing building@parksville.ca We require 24 business hours notice to book inspections Inspections will take place between 10 am & 2 pm the next business day after the request The owner shall notify the Building Official at least 24 hours before work is ready to be inspected |
| Contact | Community Planning and Building: inspection requests and general building inquiries 250 954-3065, building@parksville.ca. General planning inquiries 250 954-4697, planning@parksville.ca.Community Planning and Building, Community Planning and Building page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingInspection requests and general building inquiries 250 954-3065 building@parksville.ca General planning inquiries 250 954-4697 planning@parksville.ca |
| Bylaw | Building Bylaw, 2003, No. 1387 (consolidated to include Bylaw No. 1515)Building Bylaw, 2003, No. 1387 (consolidated, PDF), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBuilding Bylaw, 2003, No. 1387 Consolidated for convenience only to include Bylaw No. 1515 |
How it works
Under the City of Parksville's Building Bylaw 1387, you must apply for and get a permit before constructing, altering, moving, repairing, reconstructing or demolishing a building, structure, pool, fireplace, plumbing system or sign structure. Retaining walls over 1.2 m high also need one. Demolition and fireplace or chimney work have their own permits.
The bylaw does not apply to a one-storey building under 10 m² of floor area beside a single dwelling, non-structural repairs to a single dwelling, clearing blockages or fixing leaks without moving pipes, or retaining walls under 1.2 m high.
Steps
- Check your zoning first (see the zoning-lookup answer).
- Gather the documents. For a new house or addition the City lists: a title search (within 30 days), company search, BC Housing registration, geotechnical Schedule B, pre-construction energy report, business licence, truss and beam layout, a BC Land Surveyor site plan and PDF scaled drawings. Renovating a pre-1990 building needs a hazardous materials survey; commercial work needs sealed drawings.
- Fill in the Building Permit Application, signed by all registered owners, and submit it electronically. The City's documents do not name a portal or email address for this, so call 250 954-3065 to confirm how.
- Where community sewer is not available, you also need an approved sewage disposal permit from the health authority.
- Book inspections (see below).
Good to know
- To request an inspection, call 250 954-3065 or email building@parksville.ca with the permit number, address and type of inspection. The City asks for 24 business hours' notice, inspects between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the next business day, and cannot book specific times. The bylaw itself says at least 24 hours; the Building page says 24 hours.
- The City's Community Planning and Building page carries a notice that only limited building service is offered at present. Check the page for the current status.
- Pay fees before the permit is issued; an application is cancelled if fees are not paid within sixty days of approval.
What you'll need
- Application signed by all registered owners
- Title search dated within 30 days, and a company search
- BC Housing registration
- Geotechnical Schedule B and pre-construction energy report
- Business licence
- Truss and beam layout, and a BC Land Surveyor site plan
- Scaled drawings as PDF
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Qualicum Beach · Lantzville · Nanaimo · Port Alberni · Sechelt · Ladysmith
Building permits in British Columbia: how to apply, by municipality →
Sources
- Building, City of Parksville (read 2026-11-05)
- Community Planning and Building, City of Parksville (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Permit Submission Requirements (PDF), City of Parksville (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Inspection Policy (PDF), City of Parksville (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Bylaw, 2003, No. 1387 (consolidated, PDF) (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.