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

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

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

**Short answer:** In Port Alice you need a building permit to build a new building, add to or renovate one, build a deck or pool, or change plumbing. Apply at the Village office on the Application for Building or Plumbing Permit form. The 2021 guide says about 21 days is normally maintained.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Port Alice, https://portalice.ca)  
**Cost:** See the building-permit-fees answer; fees are set by the Rates and Fees Bylaw.  
**How long:** About 21 days normally, per the 2021 guide.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Village office, 250-284-3391
- Email: Village office email, info@portalice.ca
- In person: Municipal Hall, 1061 Marine Drive, Port Alice, BC V0N 2N0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Needed for:** A building permit is needed to construct any new building or accessory building, locate a temporary building, alter, renovate or repair an existing building, finish an unfinished area, demolish or relocate a building, locate a manufactured home, build or remodel a deck, build a swimming pool, install or alter plumbing, connect to sewer, storm drain or water, install a chimney, fireplace or wood stove, change a building's occupancy type, or install an irrigation system or on-site water collection.
  - Source: [Residential Building Permit Guide 2021, Villages of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alice and Coal Harbour, p. 2, What work requires a building permit?](https://portalice.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-Building-Permit-Guide-Final.pdf)
  - Official wording: "You will need a building permit when you wish to:" … "construct any new building" … "construct a new accessory building" … "remodel or construct a deck" … "construct a swimming pool" … "change the occupancy type of a building" … "install an irrigation or sprinkler system"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Not needed for:** Non-structural or minor work: installing cupboards, painting, roofing repairs or replacement with no structural change, landscaping or sidewalks, fences, and a storage shed under 10 m² (such as a pump-house) as long as it is sited correctly.
  - Source: [Residential Building Permit Guide 2021, Villages of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alice and Coal Harbour, p. 2, What work does not require a building permit?](https://portalice.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-Building-Permit-Guide-Final.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Non-structural or minor modifications do not require a permit, including:" … "installing cupboards" … "landscaping or sidewalks" … "constructing a storage shed less than 10 m2 in size"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to apply:** Apply to the Village of Port Alice office (1061 Marine Drive, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday) using the Application for Building or Plumbing Permit form. Permits are issued only when the property is correctly zoned for the use, registered at the Land Title Office, accessible, and the plans, application and fees are complete.
  - Source: [Residential Building Permit Guide 2021, Villages of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alice and Coal Harbour, p. 3, How do I obtain a building permit?](https://portalice.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-Building-Permit-Guide-Final.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Apply to the municipal office in the jurisdiction where" … "your property is correctly zoned for your intended" … "8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday"
  - Source: [Planning, Planning page](https://portalice.ca/town-hall/community-plan/)
  - Official wording: "Port Alice Building Permit Application"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **What to submit:** The completed application signed by the owner or agent, plus plans to scale: for a house, site plan, foundation plan, floor plan, cross section and all elevations. Other items may be needed: property assessment notice and title search, survey certificate for new homes, and engineered drawings for manufactured products.
  - Source: [Residential Building Permit Guide 2021, Villages of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alice and Coal Harbour, p. 4-5](https://portalice.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-Building-Permit-Guide-Final.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Site Plan" … "Foundation Plan" … "All Elevations (all sides of the buildings)" … "A survey certificate will be required for new homes." … "A copy of the current Property Assessment Notice and Title Search."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Processing time:** About 21 days is normally maintained, per the guide.
  - Source: [Residential Building Permit Guide 2021, Villages of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alice and Coal Harbour, p. 5](https://portalice.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-Building-Permit-Guide-Final.pdf)
  - Official wording: "approximately 21 days for applications is normally"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Inspections:** Request an inspection by phoning the Village office; requests generally must be received 48 hours in advance. Have your contact name and phone, address, type of inspection, permit number and requested day ready.
  - Source: [Residential Building Permit Guide 2021, Villages of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alice and Coal Harbour, p. 9, How do I obtain inspections?](https://portalice.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-Building-Permit-Guide-Final.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A telephone call to your local government office is required" … "requests for inspections must be received 48 hours in advance"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Contact:** Village of Port Alice office, 250-284-3391, info@portalice.ca.
  - Source: [Contact, Contact page](https://portalice.ca/contact/)
  - Official wording: "Port Alice, BC. V0N 2N0 Contact Us P: (250) 284-3391 F: (250) 284-3416 info@portalice.ca Get in Touch Today!" … "P: (250) 284-3391 F: (250) 284-3416 info@portalice.ca Get in Touch Today! Our team will get back to you as soon as possible."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Village of Port Alice Building Bylaw No. 610, 2010 (per the Planning page) (Sources differ: CONFLICT-ish: the library lists a Bylaw for the Administration and Enforcement of the Building Code as No. 560 (scanned), and the building permit application is file-named 560, while the Planning page names Bylaw No. 610, 2010. Which is current could not be confirmed. Neither bylaw text is readable.)
  - Source: [Planning, Planning page](https://portalice.ca/town-hall/community-plan/)
  - Official wording: "Village’s Building Bylaw No 610, 2010"
  - Source: [Bylaws library, Bylaws library page](https://portalice.ca/town-hall/bylaws/)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw for the Administration and Enforcement of the Building Code"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works
The Village of Port Alice issues building permits. The Village's 2021 Residential Building Permit Guide (shared with Port Hardy, Port McNeill and Coal Harbour) says it does not replace current bylaws. A permit is needed to:
- construct any new building or accessory building, or locate a temporary building
- alter, renovate or repair an existing building, or finish an unfinished area
- demolish or relocate a building, or locate a manufactured home
- build or remodel a deck, or build a swimming pool
- install or alter plumbing, connect to sewer, storm drain or water, or install a chimney, fireplace or wood stove
- change a building's occupancy type, or install an irrigation system or on-site water collection

No permit is needed for non-structural work such as cupboards, painting, roofing repairs with no structural change, landscaping, sidewalks, fences, or a storage shed under 10 m² (such as a pump-house) that is sited correctly. Exempt work must still meet the BC Building Code, zoning and other rules.

## Steps
1. Check that the property is correctly zoned for your use (see zoning-lookup).
2. Fill in the Application for Building or Plumbing Permit and sign it as owner or agent.
3. Attach plans to scale. For a house: site plan, foundation plan, floor plan, cross section and all elevations (the guide asks for two sets). You may also need a property assessment notice and title search, a survey certificate for a new home, and engineered drawings for manufactured products.
4. Submit at the Village office, 1061 Marine Drive, with the fees.
5. To book an inspection, phone the Village office, generally 48 hours ahead. Have your name, phone, address, type of inspection, permit number and requested day ready.

## Good to know
- Permits are issued only when the property is correctly zoned, registered at the Land Title Office and accessible, and the plans, application and fees are complete.
- The Planning page names Building Bylaw No. 610, 2010, but the Bylaws library lists the Building Code administration bylaw as No. 560. Confirm with the Village which one applies.

## Official forms and pages

- [Application for Building or Plumbing Permit (PDF), Village of Port Alice](https://portalice.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/560-Application-for-building-permit.pdf)
- [Residential Building Permit Guide 2021 (PDF), Villages of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alice and Coal Harbour](https://portalice.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-Building-Permit-Guide-Final.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Port Alice building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alice/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Port Alice permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alice/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Port Alice zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alice/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)
- [Port Hardy](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/building-permit.md)
- [Port McNeill](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/building-permit.md)
- [Alert Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/alert-bay/building-permit.md)
- [Tahsis](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/building-permit.md)
- [Sayward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/building-permit.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/building-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Residential Building Permit Guide 2021 (PDF), Villages of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alice and Coal Harbour](https://portalice.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/2021-Building-Permit-Guide-Final.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Application for Building or Plumbing Permit (PDF), Village of Port Alice](https://portalice.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/560-Application-for-building-permit.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Planning, Village of Port Alice](https://portalice.ca/town-hall/community-plan/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, Village of Port Alice](https://portalice.ca/contact/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaws library, Village of Port Alice](https://portalice.ca/town-hall/bylaws/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 695-2025 (PDF), Village of Port Alice](https://portalice.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/695-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-for-2025.pdf) (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 Port Alice. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alice/building-permit/_