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

# Summerland 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 the District of Summerland, most new buildings (including a garage, carport or garden shed), additions, alterations and plumbing work need a building permit. Apply online through Building Permit Hub or in person at Municipal Hall, 13211 Henry Avenue. Call Development Services at 250-494-1373 if unsure.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Summerland, https://www.summerland.ca)  
**Cost:** See the building-permit-fees answer. The minimum fee is $150, due when you apply.  
**How long:** Once your application is complete, the District must confirm in writing within 31 working days (simple buildings) or 60 working days (complex buildings) whether it will issue or refuse the permit.  
**Where:**
- Online: Building Permit Hub (BCeID or BC Service Card login), https://www.summerland.ca/planning-building/building/building-permits (The page links to the provincial Building Permit Hub.)
- In person: Development Services counter, Municipal Hall, 13211 Henry Avenue, Summerland, BC V0H 1Z0 (Tuesday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
- Phone: Development Services, 250-494-1373
- Email: Development Services, devserv@summerland.ca
- Email: Inspection requests, inspection@summerland.ca

## Key facts

- **Needed for:** Most new construction, including accessory buildings (garage, carport, garden shed); additions and interior or exterior alterations; plumbing installation or alteration; chimneys, fireplaces and solid-fuel appliances; retaining walls over 1.2 m; farm buildings over 50 m²; moving a building. Work exempt under s. 6.3 needs no permit.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2022-002, consolidated to March 25, 2026, s. 12 (Part 12 Required Permits)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/building-bylaw-no-2022-002_cons-to-mar-25-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "construction or placement of new buildings and structures;" … "additions to buildings and structures;" … "interior and exterior repairs or alterations of buildings and structures;" … "installation of plumbing systems;" … "Farm Buildings; over 50m2 in floor area;"
  - Source: [Building Permits and Inspections, Building Permits page (When You Need a Permit)](https://www.summerland.ca/planning-building/building/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "including accessory buildings (garage, carport, garden shed etc.)" … "Moving interior walls and partitions"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Not needed for:** Accessory building under 10 m² that is not a potential unsafe condition; fences (except pool fences); retaining walls under 1.2 m; farm buildings under 50 m²; decks under 600 mm high not attached to a building with no walls or roof; above-ground pools and hot tubs; landscaping; repair and maintenance that does not lower safety; replacing fixtures, cabinets, flooring.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2022-002, consolidated to March 25, 2026, s. 6.3](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/building-bylaw-no-2022-002_cons-to-mar-25-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "an accessory building with a floor area of less than 10m2 that does not constitute a potential unsafe condition;" … "except as set out in Parts 19 or 20 of this bylaw, a fence;" … "above-ground pools and above-ground hot tubs" … "a Farm Building, with a floor area of less than 50 m2" … "landscaping or other surfacing of land;"
  - Source: [Building Permits and Inspections, Building Permits page (When You Don't Need a Permit)](https://www.summerland.ca/planning-building/building/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "Replace fixtures, cabinets, and flooring"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Online through Building Permit Hub (log in with a BCeID or BC Service Card account), or in person: submit the Building Permit Application form and the plans and documents on the checklist to the Development Services counter at Municipal Hall, 13211 Henry Avenue.
  - Source: [Building Permits and Inspections, Building Permits page (How Do I Apply)](https://www.summerland.ca/planning-building/building/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "Log in to Building Permit Hub with your BCeID" … "Apply in Person at Municipal Hall (13211 Henry Avenue)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What to submit:** For a simple building: the prescribed form signed by the owner, the application fee, the owner's acknowledgement form, a title search made within 30 days, a survey plan by a BC Land Surveyor (may be waived), a site plan and plans showing the designer's contact details. Complex buildings need more.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2022-002, consolidated to March 25, 2026, s. 14.4](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/building-bylaw-no-2022-002_cons-to-mar-25-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "pay applicable application fee as prescribed in the District’s Fees and Charges Bylaw;" … "include a copy of a title search for the relevant property made within 30 days of the date of the permit" … "include a copy of a survey plan prepared by a British Columbia Land Surveyor" … "include a site plan showing"
  - Source: [Building Permits and Inspections, Building Permits page (Apply in Person)](https://www.summerland.ca/planning-building/building/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "along with all other plans, schedules, and documentation required from the checklist items for the building type"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Processing time:** Once the application is complete, the building official must confirm in writing whether the District will issue or refuse the permit within 31 working days (simple buildings) or 60 working days (complex buildings).
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2022-002, consolidated to March 25, 2026, s. 14.30](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/building-bylaw-no-2022-002_cons-to-mar-25-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "31 working days for Simple building permit applications; or" … "60 working days for Complex building permit applications."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Inspections:** Email inspection@summerland.ca with the civic address, permit number, requested date and a contact name. Inspections must be booked by 3 p.m. the day before. The bylaw requires at least 24 hours' notice for simple buildings.
  - Source: [Building Permits and Inspections, Building Permits page (Request an Inspection)](https://www.summerland.ca/planning-building/building/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "To request an inspection for your permit email inspection@summerland.ca" … "Inspections must be booked by 3pm the day prior to the requested date."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2022-002, consolidated to March 25, 2026, s. 14.44](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/building-bylaw-no-2022-002_cons-to-mar-25-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the owner must give at least 24 hours"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Contact:** Development Services, Municipal Hall, 13211 Henry Avenue: 250-494-1373, devserv@summerland.ca (inspections: inspection@summerland.ca).
  - Source: [Contact, Contact page (Development Services)](https://www.summerland.ca/your-city-hall/contact)
  - Official wording: "Development Services Planning & Zoning InquiriesBuilding Permits & InspectionProperty Information Requests - Phone: 250-494-1373 - Fax: 250-494-1415 - Email: devserv@summerland.ca" … "- Fax: 250-494-1415 - Email: devserv@summerland.ca - Location: Municipal Hall, 13211 Henry Avenue, Summerland, BC V0H 1Z0"
  - Source: [Building Permits and Inspections, Building Permits page](https://www.summerland.ca/planning-building/building/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "## Request an Inspection To request an inspection for your permit email inspection@summerland.ca with the Civic address, permit number, date the inspection is requested and a contact name."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 2022-002 (consolidated to March 25, 2026)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2022-002, consolidated to March 25, 2026, title page](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/building-bylaw-no-2022-002_cons-to-mar-25-2026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw No. 2022-002"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The District of Summerland's [Building Bylaw No. 2022-002](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/building-bylaw-no-2022-002_cons-to-mar-25-2026.pdf) requires a permit for most new buildings and structures, additions, interior and exterior alterations, plumbing installation or alteration, chimneys, fireplaces and solid-fuel appliances, retaining walls over 1.2 m, farm buildings over 50 m², and moving a building. The District's page says this includes accessory buildings (garage, carport, garden shed). A development permit may also be needed first if your lot is in an Official Community Plan development permit area.

## Steps

1. Check what your zoning allows (see zoning-lookup). Call Development Services if unsure.
2. Gather the Building Permit Application form, the plans and the checklist items for your building type. For a simple building this means the signed form, the application fee, the owner's acknowledgement, a title search made within 30 days, a survey plan (may be waived) and a site plan. Complex buildings need more.
3. Apply on Building Permit Hub (log in with a BCeID or BC Service Card account) or in person at the Development Services counter.
4. Book inspections by emailing inspection@summerland.ca with the civic address, permit number, requested date and a contact name.

## Good to know

- No permit is needed for an accessory building under 10 m² that is not a potential unsafe condition, a fence (except a pool fence), a retaining wall under 1.2 m, a farm building under 50 m², a deck under 600 mm high that is not attached to a building and has no walls or roof, an above-ground pool or hot tub, landscaping, or replacing fixtures, cabinets and flooring. The full list is in section 6.3 of the bylaw.
- The District's page says inspections must be booked by 3 p.m. the day before; the bylaw requires at least 24 hours' notice for simple buildings. Book early to be safe.
- Starting work before the permit is issued doubles the fee; see building-permit-fees.

## What you'll need

- Building Permit Application form signed by the owner, and the owner's acknowledgement form
- Title search made within 30 days, a site plan and plans showing the designer's contact details
- Survey plan by a BC Land Surveyor (may be waived)
- Other plans and documents from the checklist for your building type

## Official forms and pages

- [Forms and Guidelines (permit applications and information bulletins)](https://www.summerland.ca/planning-building/forms-guidelines)
- [Building Bylaw No. 2022-002 (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/building-bylaw-no-2022-002_cons-to-mar-25-2026.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Summerland building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Summerland permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Summerland zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/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)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/building-permit.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/building-permit.md)
- [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/building-permit.md)
- [Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/building-permit.md)
- [Keremeos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/building-permit.md)
- [Oliver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/building-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building Permits and Inspections, District of Summerland](https://www.summerland.ca/planning-building/building/building-permits) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 2022-002 (PDF), consolidated to March 25, 2026](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/building-bylaw-no-2022-002_cons-to-mar-25-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 98-001 (PDF), Schedule E](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/fees-and-charges-no-98-001-consolidated-to-feb-10-20269da7a85cf68d6e33909cff00007e7f94.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Contact, District of Summerland](https://www.summerland.ca/your-city-hall/contact) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 8 of 8 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Summerland. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/building-permit/_