---
title: "Stewart building permits: when you need one and how to apply"
question: "Do I need a building permit, and how do I apply?"
place: Stewart, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/stewart
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Stewart
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/building-permit/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/building-permit.json"
---

# Stewart 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 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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Stewart, https://districtofstewart.com)  
**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:**
- In person: District office, 705 Brightwell Street, Stewart, BC (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: District office, 250-636-2251
- Email: Clerk, clerk@districtofstewart.com
- Email: CAO, cao@districtofstewart.com

## Key facts

- **Needed for:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Permits, Building Permits page](https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/developing-in-the-district/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Not needed for:** Not confirmed. The District's building bylaw is posted only as a scanned image, so exemptions could not be read.
- **How to apply:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Permits, How to obtain a permit](https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/developing-in-the-district/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **What to submit:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Permit Application Form, Bylaw No. 926, 2018, Schedule A application form](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4683/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Processing time:** Not confirmed. The published pages do not say how long a permit takes.
- **Inspections:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Permit Application Form, Bylaw No. 926, 2018, Schedule A acknowledgment](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4683/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Contact:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Permits, Building Permits page](https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/developing-in-the-district/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "- 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."
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement Information & Contact | District of Stewart, Footer contact block](https://districtofstewart.com/district-hall/bylaws/bylaw-enforcement-education-forms)
  - Official wording: "#### 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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Building Regulation Bylaw No. 843, 2010 (application form, Schedule A, replaced by Bylaw No. 926, 2018)
  - Source: [Building Permits, Building Permits page](https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/developing-in-the-district/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "Read Bylaw 843, 2010"
  - Source: [Building Permit Application Form, Bylaw No. 926, 2018, Amending bylaw](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4683/)
  - Official wording: "A BYLAW TO UPDATE THE APPLICATION FORM IN BYLAW NO. 843, 2010"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The 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.

The 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.

## Steps

1. Read Bylaw 843 and fill in the [Building Permit Application Form](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4683/).
2. 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.
3. Add a Certificate of Title current within 30 days and non-financial charges. Septic systems need a sewage disposal filing stamped by Northern Health.
4. 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.
5. Email the form to clerk@districtofstewart.com or cao@districtofstewart.com, or deliver it to 705 Brightwell Street.
6. On approval by the CAO, the permit is produced and you can pick it up at the District office.

## Good to know

- Incomplete applications may be rejected or delayed.
- 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.
- The Business Licensing page says a building official does a visual site inspection for business premises.
- The District does not state a processing time.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Permits, District of Stewart](https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/developing-in-the-district/building-permits)
- [Building Permit Application Form, Bylaw No. 926, 2018 (PDF)](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4683/)

## Related questions

- [Stewart permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Stewart secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/secondary-suite.md)
- [Stewart zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/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)
- [Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/building-permit.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/building-permit.md)
- [Prince Rupert](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/building-permit.md)
- [Port Edward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/building-permit.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/building-permit.md)
- [Kitimat](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/building-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Permits, District of Stewart](https://districtofstewart.com/business-resources/developing-in-the-district/building-permits) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permit Application Form, Bylaw No. 926, 2018 (PDF)](https://districtofstewart.civicweb.net/document/4683/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Enforcement Information & Contact | District of Stewart](https://districtofstewart.com/district-hall/bylaws/bylaw-enforcement-education-forms) (read 2026-11-08)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Stewart. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/building-permit/_