{"title":"Stewart building permits: when you need one and how to apply","question":"Do I need a building permit, and how do I apply?","slug":"building-permit","place":{"path":"ca/bc/stewart","name":"Stewart","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of Stewart","url":"https://districtofstewart.com"},"short_answer":"In Stewart you need a District building permit to build, add to, demolish or move a building, finish a basement, enclose a carport, or install a pool. Fill in the Building Permit Application Form and email it to the District or drop it at 705 Brightwell Street.","aliases":["building permit stewart","do i need a permit stewart bc","apply for building permit stewart","district of stewart building permit"],"cost":"The application form lists a permit review fee based on construction value. The fee rate is not stated in the text we could read; see the building-permit-fees answer.","how_long":"The District does not state a processing time. Once the CAO approves, the permit is produced and can be picked up at the District office.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"District office","value":"705 Brightwell Street, Stewart, BC","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."},{"type":"phone","label":"District office","value":"250-636-2251"},{"type":"email","label":"Clerk","value":"clerk@districtofstewart.com"},{"type":"email","label":"CAO","value":"cao@districtofstewart.com"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Building Permits, District of Stewart","url":"https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/developing-in-the-district/building-permits"},{"title":"Building Permit Application Form, Bylaw No. 926, 2018 (PDF)","url":"https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4683/"}],"related":[{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Stewart permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"Stewart secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/secondary-suite/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Stewart zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/hazelton","name":"Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/building-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/terrace","name":"Terrace","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/building-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/prince-rupert","name":"Prince Rupert","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/building-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-edward","name":"Port Edward","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/building-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/smithers","name":"Smithers","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/building-permit/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kitimat","name":"Kitimat","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/building-permit/"}],"topic":{"title":"Building permits in British Columbia: how to apply, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit/"},"facts":{"needed_for":{"label":"Needed for","value":"A building permit is required to construct a new building; add to a building; change occupancy; make interior renovations that may impact the direction of travel to an exit; repair a building envelope; demolish or move a building; enclose a carport or change a garage to living space; add or relocate plumbing, fire alarm or fire sprinklers; pave a parking area where a storm drainage system is required; finish a basement; install a swimming pool; locate or add to a mobile home; or locate a temporary building.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/developing-in-the-district/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, District of Stewart","section":"Building Permits page","quotes":["construct a new building.","enclose your carport or change your garage to living space.","finish an existing basement.","install a swimming pool.","locate or add to a mobile home."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"not_needed_for":{"label":"Not needed for","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"scanned","note":"The District's building bylaw is posted only as a scanned image, so exemptions could not be read.","sources":[]},"how_to_apply":{"label":"How to apply","value":"Read Bylaw 843, 2010 and complete the Building Permit Application Form; email it to clerk@districtofstewart.com or cao@districtofstewart.com, or deliver it to 705 Brightwell Street. On approval by the CAO, the permit is produced and can be picked up at the District office.","short":"Paper form emailed or delivered","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/developing-in-the-district/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, District of Stewart","section":"How to obtain a permit","quotes":["Once the form is completed, it can be emailed to the District office at clerk@districtofstewart.com or cao@districtofstewart.com or delivered in person to 705 Brightwell Street.","Upon approval by the CAO, a building permit will be produced and can be picked up at the District office."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"what_to_submit":{"label":"What to submit","value":"Site plan (minimum scale 1:200) showing driveway, buildings, watercourses and steep banks; two sets of plans; Certificate of Title current within 30 days; non-financial charges; sewage disposal filing stamped by Northern Health for septic; Homeowner Protection Office document for new houses; highway use permit application; hazardous material assessment report for homes built before 1990; and permit review fee.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4683/","title":"Building Permit Application Form, Bylaw No. 926, 2018 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A application form","quotes":["Two complete sets of plans of","Certificate of Title current within the last 30 days;","Hazardous Material Assessment Report for homes built prior to 1990; and","Permit Review Fee based on construction value."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"processing_time":{"label":"Processing time","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_published","note":"The published pages do not say how long a permit takes.","sources":[]},"inspections":{"label":"Inspections","value":"The application form says the District will not be responsible for providing a Building Inspector to inspect construction at any stage or to review plans for compliance with the Building Code; the owner is solely responsible for compliance.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4683/","title":"Building Permit Application Form, Bylaw No. 926, 2018 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A acknowledgment","quotes":["will not be responsible for providing a Building Inspector to inspect the construction at any stage","ensure that the design, construction and occupancy of the building is in compliance with the Building Code."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"contact":{"label":"Contact","value":"District office, 705 Brightwell Street; (250) 636-2251; clerk@districtofstewart.com or cao@districtofstewart.com. Office hours Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/developing-in-the-district/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, District of Stewart","section":"Building Permits page","quotes":["- Once the form is completed, it can be emailed to the District office at clerk@districtofstewart.com or cao@districtofstewart.com or delivered in person to 705 Brightwell Street."]},{"url":"https://districtofstewart.com/district-hall/bylaws/bylaw-enforcement-education-forms","title":"Bylaw Enforcement Information & Contact | District of Stewart","section":"Footer contact block","quotes":["#### The Bylaw Enforcement Department is responsible for the enforcement of Stewart's bylaws and issuance of municipal tickets. Bylaw inquiries, complaints or concerns can be directed through this department. District of Stewart (250) 636-2251 #### District Hall - Bylaws"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Building Regulation Bylaw No. 843, 2010 (application form, Schedule A, replaced by Bylaw No. 926, 2018)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/developing-in-the-district/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, District of Stewart","section":"Building Permits page","quotes":["Read Bylaw 843, 2010"]},{"url":"https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4683/","title":"Building Permit Application Form, Bylaw No. 926, 2018 (PDF)","section":"Amending bylaw","quotes":["A BYLAW TO UPDATE THE APPLICATION FORM IN BYLAW NO. 843, 2010"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":8,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":2},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe District of Stewart requires a building permit under its Building Regulation Bylaw No. 843, 2010. Its [Building Permits page](https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/developing-in-the-district/building-permits) lists the work that needs one: constructing a new building, adding to a building, changing occupancy, renovating inside in a way that may affect the route to an exit, repairing a building envelope, demolishing or moving a building, enclosing a carport or changing a garage to living space, adding or relocating plumbing, fire alarms or fire sprinklers, paving a parking area where a storm drainage system is required, finishing a basement, installing a swimming pool, locating or adding to a mobile home, and locating a temporary building.\n\nThe page does not list any work that is exempt, and the bylaw is posted as a scanned image. If your project is not on the list, ask the District before you start.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Read Bylaw 843 and fill in the [Building Permit Application Form](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4683/).\n2. Gather the attachments the form lists: a site plan (minimum scale 1:200) showing the driveway, buildings, watercourses and steep banks, and two sets of plans.\n3. Add a Certificate of Title current within 30 days and non-financial charges. Septic systems need a sewage disposal filing stamped by Northern Health.\n4. New houses need a Homeowner Protection Office document. Include a highway use permit application and, for homes built before 1990, a hazardous material assessment report. Include the permit review fee.\n5. Email the form to clerk@districtofstewart.com or cao@districtofstewart.com, or deliver it to 705 Brightwell Street.\n6. On approval by the CAO, the permit is produced and you can pick it up at the District office.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Incomplete applications may be rejected or delayed.\n- The application form says the District is not responsible for providing a building inspector to inspect construction at any stage or to review plans for Building Code compliance. The owner is solely responsible for compliance.\n- The Business Licensing page says a building official does a visual site inspection for business premises.\n- The District does not state a processing time.","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/developing-in-the-district/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, District of Stewart","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4683/","title":"Building Permit Application Form, Bylaw No. 926, 2018 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://districtofstewart.com/district-hall/bylaws/bylaw-enforcement-education-forms","title":"Bylaw Enforcement Information & Contact | District of Stewart","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 8 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/building-permit/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/building-permit.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/building-permit.json"}}