---
title: "Prince George building permits: when you need one and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a building permit, and how do I apply?"
place: Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/prince-george
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Prince George
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/building-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/building-permit.json"
---

# Prince George building permits: when you need one and how to apply

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

**Short answer:** In Prince George you need a City building permit for most construction: new homes and buildings, additions, renovations, sun decks, garages and retaining walls over 1.2 m. Fences, patios at grade and one shed under 10 m² do not. Email the completed package to Development Services at devserv@princegeorge.ca.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Prince George, https://www.princegeorge.ca)  
**Cost:** A non-refundable $100 processing fee applies to every application, plus the permit fee. See the building permit fees answer.  
**How long:** The City does not state a processing time. Once issued, a permit expires if work is not started within 6 months or not finished within 24 months.  
**Where:**
- Email: Development Services (send applications here), devserv@princegeorge.ca
- Phone: Development Services, 250-561-7611
- In person: Development Services, 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC V2L 3V9

## Key facts

- **Needed for:** Most construction: new homes and buildings, new accessory buildings (detached garage, shed), new sun decks, renovations, repairs and additions, finishing unfinished areas, enclosing a porch or carport, retaining walls over 1.2 m, and moving or demolishing a building.
  - Source: [Building Permits, Do you need a permit? (web page)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/business-development/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "Construction of a new accessory building (detached garage, shed, etc.)." … "Construction of a new sun deck." … "The enclosure of a carport." … "Relocation or demolition of an existing building."
  - Source: [City of Prince George Building Bylaw No. 9482, 2024, s. 7.2, s. 9.3](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/BL9482_ADOPTED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall commence or continue any construction, alteration, reconstruction, demolition, removal, relocation or change the occupancy of any building or plumbing system, unless a permit has been issued to that person." … "greater than 1.2 metres in height above the finished grade"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Not needed for:** Fences, patios at grade, planters and landscaping; retaining walls under 1.2 m; painting and general maintenance; minor like-for-like repairs; one shed per property under 10 m² (108 sq ft). Buildings exempted by Division A, Part 1 of the BC Building Code are also exempt.
  - Source: [Building Permits, Projects that DO NOT require a building permit (web page)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/business-development/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "Installing new fences, patios at grade, planters, or landscaping." … "One shed per property, provided it is less than 108 square feet (10 m2)" … "Conducting minor repairs which use the same or similar materials and do not affect any structural or mechanical/plumbing work."
  - Source: [City of Prince George Building Bylaw No. 9482, 2024, s. 9.1](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/BL9482_ADOPTED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Buildings exempted by Division A Part 1 of the Building Code are exempt from a building permit application."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Download the form package for your project (residential, commercial, plumbing, demolition), fill it out, attach all necessary documents and email it to devserv@princegeorge.ca. Application fees are paid through the "Pay Application Fees" link on the Building Permits page.
  - Source: [Building Permits, Applying for a permit (web page)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/business-development/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "Download the required forms, fill them out and attach all necessary documents, and email the completed package to devserv@princegeorge.ca." … "Pay Application Fees"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What to submit:** Completed application form and fee, one set of scaled construction drawings (foundation, floor plans, sections, elevations), site plan, title search and braced wall band plan; engineering and mechanical details if needed. New Part 9 buildings also need a pre-build energy advisor report.
  - Source: [Building Permits, Applying for a permit; BC Energy Step Code requirements (web page)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/business-development/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "Download the required forms, fill them out and attach all necessary documents, and email the completed package to devserv@princegeorge.ca." … "Note: the building permit will not be issued without a satisfactory energy model from a qualified third party."
  - Source: [Building permit application checklist (residential), Building permit application checklist (Single Family Dwelling, Duplex, other Part 9)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/media/3848)
  - Official wording: "Foundation plan drawing" … "Braced Wall Band Plan" … "Title Search including, if applicable:" … "Appointment of Agent - if applicant is other than owner"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Processing time:** Not confirmed. The published pages do not say how long a permit takes.
- **Inspections:** Book through the City's Building Inspection Booking Request Form. Same-day inspections cannot be booked, and a final inspection needs at least 3 business days. For Part 9 buildings the bylaw requires at least 2 business days' notice for inspections.
  - Source: [Building Inspection Booking Request Form, Building Inspection Booking Request Form (web page)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/permits-applications/building-inspection-booking-request-form)
  - Official wording: "we cannot book same day inspections and a minimum of 3 business days is required to book a final inspection."
  - Source: [City of Prince George Building Bylaw No. 9482, 2024, s. 10.4](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/BL9482_ADOPTED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The Applicant shall give at least two (2) business days' notice to the City when requesting an inspection of the construction of a Part 9 Building"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Contact:** Development Services, 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC V2L 3V9. Phone 250-561-7611; email devserv@princegeorge.ca.
  - Source: [Building Permits, Do you need a permit? (web page)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/business-development/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "Development Services 1100 Patricia Boulevard Prince George, BC V2L 3V9 Canada Phone: 250-561-7611 Email: devserv@princegeorge.ca"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Prince George Building Bylaw No. 9482, 2024
  - Source: [City of Prince George Building Bylaw No. 9482, 2024, s. 1](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/BL9482_ADOPTED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the "City of Prince George Building Bylaw No. 9482, 2024"."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Building Bylaw](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/BL9482_ADOPTED.pdf) says no one may start construction, alteration, demolition, removal or relocation of a building, or change its occupancy, unless a permit has been issued.

**Permit needed:** new homes and buildings, a new accessory building (detached garage, shed), a new sun deck, renovations, repairs and additions, finishing unfinished areas, enclosing a porch or carport, retaining walls over 1.2 m, and moving or demolishing a building. A separate plumbing permit is needed for new fixtures, piping changes and service connections.

**No permit needed:** new fences, patios at grade, planters and landscaping, painting and general maintenance, minor like-for-like repairs, retaining walls under 1.2 m, and one shed per property under 10 m² (108 sq ft). Buildings exempted by the BC Building Code are also exempt; the bylaw does not list them.

## Steps

1. Download the package for your project (residential, commercial, plumbing, demolition).
2. Fill it out and attach the documents. For a house, that means drawings, a site plan, a title search and a braced wall band plan.
3. Email the package to devserv@princegeorge.ca.
4. Pay the application fees through the "Pay Application Fees" link on the Building Permits page.
5. Book inspections with the Building Inspection Booking Request Form.

## Good to know

- A new Part 9 building also needs a satisfactory energy model from a qualified third party before the permit is issued.
- Same-day inspections cannot be booked, and a final inspection needs at least 3 business days. The bylaw asks for at least 2 business days' notice for Part 9 inspections.
- A permit expires if work is not started within 6 months or not finished within 24 months of issue.
- The City does not publish how long a permit takes. Call 250-561-7611.

## What you'll need

- The application package for your project (residential, commercial, plumbing or demolition)
- Scaled construction drawings, site plan, title search and braced wall band plan (for a house)
- A satisfactory energy model from a qualified third party for a new Part 9 building

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Permits page](https://www.princegeorge.ca/business-development/building-permits)
- [Residential building permit application (single-family, duplex, carriage and cottage houses, secondary suites)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/permits-applications/residential-building-permit-package-single-family-duplex-other)
- [Building Inspection Booking Request Form](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/permits-applications/building-inspection-booking-request-form)
- [Building Bylaw 9482, 2024 (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/BL9482_ADOPTED.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Prince George building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Prince George permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Prince George zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/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)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/building-permit.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/building-permit.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/building-permit.md)
- [Fraser Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/building-permit.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/building-permit.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/building-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Permits, City of Prince George](https://www.princegeorge.ca/business-development/building-permits) (read 2026-11-05)
- [City of Prince George Building Bylaw No. 9482, 2024 (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2024-09/BL9482_ADOPTED.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Inspection Booking Request Form, City of Prince George](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/permits-applications/building-inspection-booking-request-form) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building permit application checklist (residential), City of Prince George](https://www.princegeorge.ca/media/3848) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 7557, 2004, Schedule A-1 (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/BL7557_CONSOLIDATED_2025-12-15.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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Prince George. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/building-permit/_