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

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

Port Alice, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

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.

Key facts

Needed forA 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.Residential Building Permit Guide 2021, Villages of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alice and Coal Harbour, p. 2, What work requires a building permit? · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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
Not needed forNon-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.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? · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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
How to applyApply 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.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?; Planning, Planning page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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
Port Alice Building Permit Application
What to submitThe 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.Residential Building Permit Guide 2021, Villages of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alice and Coal Harbour, p. 4-5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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.
Processing timeAbout 21 days is normally maintained, per the guide.Residential Building Permit Guide 2021, Villages of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alice and Coal Harbour, p. 5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
approximately 21 days for applications is normally
InspectionsRequest 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.Residential Building Permit Guide 2021, Villages of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alice and Coal Harbour, p. 9, How do I obtain inspections? · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
A telephone call to your local government office is required
requests for inspections must be received 48 hours in advance
ContactVillage of Port Alice office, 250-284-3391, info@portalice.ca.Contact, Contact page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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.
BylawVillage 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.Planning, Planning page; Bylaws library, Bylaws library page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Village’s Building Bylaw No 610, 2010
Bylaw for the Administration and Enforcement of the Building Code

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

The same question in other places

Port Hardy · Port McNeill · Alert Bay · Tahsis · Sayward · Gold River

Building permits in British Columbia: how to apply, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Residential Building Permit Guide 2021 (PDF), Villages of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Alice and Coal Harbour (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Application for Building or Plumbing Permit (PDF), Village of Port Alice (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Planning, Village of Port Alice (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Contact, Village of Port Alice (read 2026-11-08)
  5. Bylaws library, Village of Port Alice (read 2026-11-08)
  6. Rates and Fees Bylaw No. 695-2025 (PDF), Village of Port Alice (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. How answers are checked.