Princeton building permits: when you need one and how to apply
Do I need a building permit, and how do I apply?
Short answer
In Princeton, most construction needs a building permit from the Town's Building Department: new buildings, accessory structures over 10 m², renovations, pools and demolitions. Apply in writing on the Town's application form, signed by the owner. For smaller projects the Town's guide says processing usually takes 7 working days.
Key facts
| Needed for | Most construction: new buildings; accessory structures over 10 m²; renovations, structural changes or major repairs; swimming pools; finishing unfinished areas; awnings or canopies; demolishing or moving a building; mobile homes; wood-burning appliances or chimneys; changing a building's use; retaining walls (but not soil walls under 1.22 m on single-family parcels).Building Services, Building Services page; Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020, s. 7.1 and s. 11.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingBuilding permits are needed for most types of construction work to build an accessory structure larger than 10 square metres total area; to construct or alter a swimming pool; to complete an unfinished area in an existing building; changing the use or occupancy of a building or real property unless the works are No person may construct, or structurally repair, a retaining wall without a building permit. A trellis, an arbour, a wall supporting soil that is less than 1.22 metres in height, |
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| Not needed for | Per the Building Bylaw: accessory buildings under 10 m²; unroofed residential decks 600 mm (24 in) or less above the ground; fences (but not retaining walls); trellises, arbours and soil-supporting walls under 1.22 m on single-family parcels; and non-structural repairs to one- and two-family homes (re-roofing, re-cladding, repainting, same-size window and door replacement, plumbing repair, re-covering floors).Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020, s. 3.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingaccessory buildings less than 10m2 (107 ft2) in building area that do not create a unroofed residential decks if the deck surface is 600 mm (24 inches) or less above Except as set out in Part 11 (Retaining Walls) of this bylaw, a fence; Non-structural alterations and repairs to single and two-family residential replacing windows and doors in existing openings (as long as the size does |
| How to apply | In writing on the Town's building permit application form, signed by the owner. Contact the Building Department (building@princeton.ca) or the Building Services Admin Clerk at 250-295-3135 ext 103 or 778-720-6116 (Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020, s. 10.4(a); Building Services, Building Services page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingbe made in writing, in the form approved by the building official and signed by the Building Inspection services are available Monday to Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please call (250) 295-3135 ext 103 or 778-720-6116 to speak with the Building Services Admin Clerk. building@princeton.ca |
| What to submit | For a simple building: signed application, owner's acknowledgement of responsibility (Appendix B), title search no more than 30 days old, survey plan by a B.C. land surveyor (may be waived), and a site plan. The Town's guide also asks for 2 sets of drawings, 2 site plans, truss details and Homeowner Protection Office papers where they apply.Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020, s. 10.4; Guide to Building Permits, Guide to Building Permits, p. 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordinginclude a copy of a title search for the relevant property include a copy of a survey plan prepared by a British Columbia land surveyor include a site plan showing: be accompanied by the owner’s acknowledgement of responsibility and Provide 2 sets of complete drawings in metric or imperial HOME PROTECTION ACT REQUIREMENTS |
| Processing time | For smaller projects, usually 7 working days; longer if the project is complex or needs other permits such as a development permit.Guide to Building Permits, Guide to Building Permits, p. 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingthe process will usually take 7 working days. could take longer |
| Inspections | For a simple building, the owner must give at least 48 hours' notice and ask for each inspection by email or in writing. Required inspections include footings, framing, insulation, exterior decks and a final inspection before occupancy.Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020, s. 10.31 and 10.32 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingat least 48 hours via email or in physical written form construction of an exterior deck; and |
| Contact | Building Department: building@princeton.ca; Town Hall 250-295-3135, Chief Building Official ext 104; Building Services Admin Clerk ext 103 or 778-720-6116.Contact Us; Building Services, Building Services page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wording| 250-295-0235 | dschatz@princeton.ca | Alan Palmgren | Chief Building Official | 250-295-3135 ext 104 | building@princeton.ca | Kris Poole | Chief Building Official | 250-295-3135 ext 104 | building@princeton.ca | Kris Poole | Building Official Please call (250) 295-3135 ext 103 or 778-720-6116 to speak with the Building Services Admin Clerk. |
| Bylaw | Town of Princeton Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingBuilding Bylaw No. 976, 2020 |
How it works
The Town of Princeton's Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020 requires a permit for most construction work: new buildings; accessory structures over 10 m²; renovations, structural changes or major repairs; swimming pools; finishing unfinished areas; awnings or canopies; demolishing or moving a building; mobile homes; wood-burning appliances or chimneys; changing a building's use; and retaining walls. Zoning and development permit rules may also apply first, so check with Planning and Development.
No permit is needed for accessory buildings under 10 m², unroofed residential decks 600 mm (24 in) or less above the ground, fences, trellises and arbours, soil-supporting walls under 1.22 m on single-family parcels, or non-structural repairs to one- and two-family homes (re-roofing, re-cladding, repainting, same-size window and door replacement, plumbing repair, re-covering floors).
Steps
- Check zoning with Planning (planning@princeton.ca) before you design.
- Get the application form from the Town's Residential Building Information page or the Building Department.
- Submit the signed application. For a simple building, include the owner's acknowledgement of responsibility, a title search no more than 30 days old, a survey plan by a B.C. land surveyor (may be waived) and a site plan. The Town's guide also asks for 2 sets of drawings, 2 site plans, truss details and Homeowner Protection Office papers where they apply.
- Pay the permit fee before the permit is issued.
- Give at least 48 hours' notice, by email or in writing, for each inspection: footings, framing, insulation, exterior decks and a final inspection before occupancy.
Good to know
- Complex buildings have a longer document list (Building Bylaw s. 10.2 to 10.3).
- An application expires 180 days after a completed application is received if no permit is issued.
- Building without a permit can bring a $500 ticket.
- Inspection services run Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Keremeos · Summerland · Hope · Penticton · Peachland · Oliver
Building permits in British Columbia: how to apply, by municipality →
Sources
- Building Services, Town of Princeton (read 2026-11-08)
- Building Bylaw No. 976, 2020 (PDF), Town of Princeton (read 2026-11-08)
- Guide to Building Permits (PDF), Town of Princeton (read 2026-11-08)
- Contact Us, Town of Princeton (read 2026-11-08)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1026, 2022, Schedule E, Building Permits (PDF), Town of Princeton (read 2026-11-08)
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