Prince George building permits: when you need one and how to apply
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.
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.Building Permits, Do you need a permit? (web page); City of Prince George Building Bylaw No. 9482, 2024, s. 7.2, s. 9.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingConstruction 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. 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 |
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| 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.Building Permits, Projects that DO NOT require a building permit (web page); City of Prince George Building Bylaw No. 9482, 2024, s. 9.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingInstalling 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. Buildings exempted by Division A Part 1 of the Building Code are exempt from a building permit application. |
| 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.Building Permits, Applying for a permit (web page) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDownload the required forms, fill them out and attach all necessary documents, and email the completed package to devserv@princegeorge.ca. Pay Application Fees |
| 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.Building Permits, Applying for a permit; BC Energy Step Code requirements (web page); Building permit application checklist (residential), Building permit application checklist (Single Family Dwelling, Duplex, other Part 9) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDownload 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. Foundation plan drawing Braced Wall Band Plan Title Search including, if applicable: Appointment of Agent - if applicant is other than owner |
| 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.Building Inspection Booking Request Form, Building Inspection Booking Request Form (web page); City of Prince George Building Bylaw No. 9482, 2024, s. 10.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingwe cannot book same day inspections and a minimum of 3 business days is required to book a final inspection. 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 |
| Contact | Development Services, 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC V2L 3V9. Phone 250-561-7611; email devserv@princegeorge.ca.Building Permits, Do you need a permit? (web page) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDevelopment Services 1100 Patricia Boulevard Prince George, BC V2L 3V9 Canada Phone: 250-561-7611 Email: devserv@princegeorge.ca |
| Bylaw | City of Prince George Building Bylaw No. 9482, 2024City of Prince George Building Bylaw No. 9482, 2024, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited as the "City of Prince George Building Bylaw No. 9482, 2024". |
How it works
The Building Bylaw 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
- Download the package for your project (residential, commercial, plumbing, demolition).
- 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.
- Email the package to devserv@princegeorge.ca.
- Pay the application fees through the "Pay Application Fees" link on the Building Permits page.
- 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
The same question in other places
Vanderhoof · Quesnel · Fort St James · Fraser Lake · Mackenzie · Tumbler Ridge
Building permits in British Columbia: how to apply, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Permits, City of Prince George (read 2026-11-05)
- City of Prince George Building Bylaw No. 9482, 2024 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Inspection Booking Request Form, City of Prince George (read 2026-11-05)
- Building permit application checklist (residential), City of Prince George (read 2026-11-05)
- Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 7557, 2004, Schedule A-1 (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.