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

# Surrey 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 City of Surrey a building permit is required whenever construction regulated by the Building Bylaw is undertaken. The City says one is usually needed for a new house, addition, detached garage or accessory building, finished basement or interior renovation. Email your application to permitapplication@surrey.ca or apply in person.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Surrey, https://www.surrey.ca)  
**Cost:** Based on the declared value of the work, plus a non-refundable initial payment at application. See the building-permit-fees answer.  
**How long:** The City does not state a review time on the pages and bylaw read.  
**Where:**
- Email: Permit applications, permitapplication@surrey.ca
- Phone: Building Information Line, 604-591-4366
- Phone: Planning and Development Client Services Centre, 604-591-4086
- Phone: Building inspection requests, 604-591-4231 (press 1)

## Key facts

- **Needed for:** A permit is required whenever construction regulated under the Building Bylaw is undertaken. The City says one is usually needed for building a house, finishing a basement, additions, detached garages or accessory buildings, and interior renovations. Plumbing and electrical work need separate permits.
  - Source: [Surrey Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 17850, s. 20](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/17850)
  - Official wording: "A permit is required whenever construction regulated under this Bylaw is to be undertaken, except as otherwise provided in this Bylaw."
  - Source: [Residential Building Permits, When you need a permit](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/residential-building/residential-building-permits)
  - Official wording: "A residential building permit is usually required for building or renovating work, such as:" … "Separate plumbing and electrical permits are required for any plumbing and electrical work."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Not needed for:** Per the City: replacing flooring, minor exterior repairs, building a fence, and some small storage sheds (10 m² or less, 1.5 m from neighbouring property lines and 3.0 m from other buildings on the lot). The bylaw does not apply to buildings the BC Building Code exempts.
  - Source: [Residential Building Permits, When you don't need a permit](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/residential-building/residential-building-permits)
  - Official wording: "A building permit is not required for projects such as:" … "replacing flooring," … "The storage shed must have an area of 10 m2 or less, sited" … "1.5 metres away from any neighbouring property lines and"
  - Source: [Surrey Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 17850, s. 7](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/17850)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw does not apply to buildings exempted by the Building Code, except as expressly provided herein."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Complete the Building Permit Application Form and submit the documents, plans and fees by email to permitapplication@surrey.ca or in person. The civic address must be confirmed by an Addressing Clerk before drawings are prepared.
  - Source: [Deck Permit, How to apply](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/residential-building/residential-building-permits/deck-permit)
  - Official wording: "Complete the Building Permit Application Form and submit the required documents, plans, and fees by email or in-person." … "Planning & Development permits can be submitted by email to permitapplication@surrey.ca."
  - Source: [Residential Building Permits, Building permit address](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/residential-building/residential-building-permits)
  - Official wording: "Prior to preparing any documents or drawings, ensure that the new civic address(es) of a subject property have been established by an Addressing Clerk."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What to submit:** Signed application form; a State of Title Certificate dated no more than 30 days before applying; legible design drawings at an appropriate scale; copies of other required approvals; a Disposal of Excavated Materials letter; an Owner Authorization Form if the applicant is not the owner; and the fee.
  - Source: [Surrey Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 17850, s. 25](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/17850)
  - Official wording: "State of Title Certificate obtained from the Land Title Office" … "dated no more than 30 days prior to the date of application" … "legible and reproducible design drawings at an appropriate scale" … "Disposal of Excavated Materials"
  - Source: [Deck Permit, Required documents](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/residential-building/residential-building-permits/deck-permit)
  - Official wording: "an Owner Authorization Form (if Applicant is not the registered Owner)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Processing time:** Not confirmed. The published pages do not say how long a permit takes.
- **Inspections:** Request through the online permitting portal (needs a MySurrey account) or by phone at 604-591-4231, press 1. Phone requests booked before 3 p.m. are scheduled for the next business day; phone booking ends January 1, 2027. The Bylaw requires at least 24 hours (one working day) notice for simple buildings.
  - Source: [Building Inspections, Request an inspection](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/building-inspections)
  - Official wording: "You must meet all residential building inspection requirements or commercial building inspection requirements before requesting an inspection." … "Request an inspection by phone at 604-591-4231 and press "1"." … "Inspections are automatically scheduled for the following business day if booked before 3pm." … "Starting January 1, 2027, inspections can no longer be booked by phone."
  - Source: [Surrey Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 17850, s. 66](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/17850)
  - Official wording: "the owner shall give at least 24 hours (one working day) notice to the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Contact:** Building Information Line 604-591-4366; Planning & Development Client Services Centre 604-591-4086 (building permit information and general inquiries); applications by email to permitapplication@surrey.ca.
  - Source: [Residential Building Permits, Residential building permit types](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/residential-building/residential-building-permits)
  - Official wording: "call the Building Information Line at 604-591-4366"
  - Source: [Building or Legalizing a Secondary Suite, Contacts](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/building-or-legalizing-secondary-suite)
  - Official wording: "Planning & Development Client Services Centre (building permit information and general inquiries): 604-591-4086"
  - Source: [Deck Permit, Email](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/residential-building/residential-building-permits/deck-permit)
  - Official wording: "Planning & Development permits can be submitted by email to permitapplication@surrey.ca."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Surrey Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 17850
  - Source: [Surrey Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 17850, s. 1](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/17850)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the "Surrey Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 17850"."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Surrey's [Building Bylaw 17850](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/17850) requires a permit whenever construction it regulates is undertaken. The City's residential page says that usually means building a house, finishing a basement, additions, detached garages or accessory buildings, and interior renovations. Plumbing and electrical work need their own separate permits.

The City says you do not need a permit for replacing flooring, minor exterior repairs, building a fence, or some small storage sheds (10 m² or less, 1.5 m from neighbouring property lines and 3.0 m from other buildings on the lot). The bylaw does not apply to buildings the BC Building Code exempts.

## Steps

1. If the work will create a new address, have an Addressing Clerk confirm the civic address before the drawings are prepared.
2. Find the guide for your project type (deck, garage, suite, house) on the Residential Building Permits page.
3. Gather the signed application form, a State of Title Certificate dated no more than 30 days before you apply, legible drawings at an appropriate scale, copies of other required approvals, a Disposal of Excavated Materials letter, and an Owner Authorization Form if you are not the owner.
4. Email the documents, plans and fee to permitapplication@surrey.ca, or submit them in person.
5. Request inspections through the online permitting portal (you need a MySurrey account) or by phone at 604-591-4231, press 1.

## Good to know

- Exact documents vary by project type, so use the City's guide for yours.
- Inspections: phone requests booked before 3 p.m. are scheduled for the next business day. The bylaw requires at least 24 hours (one working day) notice for simple buildings. The City says phone booking ends January 1, 2027, so check the inspections page for the current method.
- To cancel an inspection, email buildinginspectionrequests@surrey.ca before 9 a.m. on the day. Work that is not ready may bring a $240 re-inspection fee.
- Building without a permit costs double the permit fee. A shed built without a permit must still meet Zoning Bylaw 12000.
- For questions, call the Building Information Line at 604-591-4366.

## Official forms and pages

- [Residential Building Permits](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/residential-building/residential-building-permits)
- [Building Permit Application Form (PDF)](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/media/documents/BuildingPermitApplication.pdf)
- [Permitting Portal Guide](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/permitting-portal-guide)
- [Surrey Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 17850](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/17850)

## Related questions

- [Surrey permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Surrey building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Surrey fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/fence-rules.md)
- [Surrey secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/secondary-suite.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Building permits in British Columbia: how to apply, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/building-permit.md)
- [White Rock](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/building-permit.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/building-permit.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/building-permit.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/building-permit.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/building-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Residential Building Permits, City of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/residential-building/residential-building-permits) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Surrey Building Bylaw, 2012, No. 17850](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/17850) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Deck Permit, City of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/residential-building/residential-building-permits/deck-permit) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Inspections, City of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/building-inspections) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building or Legalizing a Secondary Suite, City of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ca/renovating-building-development/building/building-or-legalizing-secondary-suite) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Surrey. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/building-permit/_