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

# View Royal 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 Town of View Royal, you need a building or plumbing permit for new construction and for renovations, additions, repairs and demolition, including decks, pools, secondary suites and retaining walls over 1.2 m. Apply in person at Town Hall. Building Services (250-708-2256) can tell you if you are unsure.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of View Royal, https://www.viewroyal.ca)  
**Cost:** Fees are set in the Fees and Charges Bylaw; see the building permit fees answer. A security deposit may also be required, depending on the project and location.  
**How long:** The Town's pages and Building Bylaw do not say how long a permit takes to issue. Ask Building Services.  
**Where:**
- In person: Town Hall (paper application and payment), 45 View Royal Avenue, Victoria, BC V9B 1A6
- Phone: Building Services, 250-708-2256
- Email: Building Services (questions and digital documents), buildingpermits@viewroyal.ca

## Key facts

- **Needed for:** A building or plumbing permit is needed for new construction and for renovations, alterations, additions, replacements and repairs. The Town lists: new and accessory buildings, moving or adding walls, doors or floors, wood burning appliances, decks, docks, stairs, pools, pergolas, moving a building, demolition, change of occupancy, secondary suites, and retaining walls over 1.2 m.
  - Source: [Building & Plumbing Permits, Building Permits page](https://www.viewroyal.ca/EN/main/business/permits-inspections/building-permits.html)
  - Official wording: "Building and plumbing permits are required for new construction and building/structure renovations, alterations, additions, replacements and repairs" … "Building a retaining wall or series of retaining walls where the total combined height is over 1.2m;" … "Installing a secondary suite." … "Demolishing or stripping the interior materials from all or part of a building;"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 1111, 2023, s. 6.1](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/1111%20-%20Building%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a retaining wall permit for the construction or structural repair a retaining wall over 1.2m in height measured from the lowest exposed grade to top of wall;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Not needed for:** No permit for minor repairs or alterations to non-structural parts, including roof retrofits and replacing windows or doors with the same size in a single-family dwelling, or minor plumbing repairs. The Building Bylaw does not apply to a fence, tent, paving, platforms less than 0.6 m above grade, or a trellis or arbour on a single-family lot.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 1111, 2023, ss. 6.2 and 4.3](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/1111%20-%20Building%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A permit is not required in the following circumstances:" … "a) for minor repairs or alterations to non-structural components of the building, including roof retrofits or replacements for windows and doors of the same sizes in a single-" … "platforms less than 0.6 metres above grade;" … "a) a fence;" … "c) paving;" … "a trellis, an arbour, or other similar landscape structures"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to apply:** Submit the completed application form, the required documents and the application fee in person at Town Hall (45 View Royal Avenue). You then get an application number and email any digital copies to buildingpermits@viewroyal.ca. Complete plumbing applications from registered professionals or licensed plumbers can be emailed.
  - Source: [Building & Plumbing Permits, Application Forms & Submission](https://www.viewroyal.ca/EN/main/business/permits-inspections/building-permits.html)
  - Official wording: "All building application submissions must include the completed application form, all required documentation (in all required formats) as listed on the application and the application fee to be accepted for processing." … "Once you have submitted your paper application materials and payment at Town Hall you will be provided with an application number" … "Please include the application number in the subject line and email your digital documentation to buildingpermits@viewroyal.ca." … "Plumbing permit applications being made by registered professionals or licensed plumbers can be emailed in to buildingpermits@viewroyal.ca"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What to submit:** Completed application form signed by the owner; owner's letter of authorization; drawings and documents on the application checklist; title search within 30 days; survey plan by a BC land surveyor (may be waived); required health or safety approvals; two sets of drawings plus an electronic copy; energy compliance report; Building Code compliance summary.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 1111, 2023, s. 11.6 (standard buildings)](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/1111%20-%20Building%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a completed application form signed by the owner, or a signing officer if the owner is a corporation;" … "all drawings and documents required on the application checklist" … "a copy of a title search for the relevant property made within 30 days of the date of the permit application" … "a copy of a survey plan prepared by a British Columbia land surveyor, except that the Building Official may waive the requirement for a survey plan" … "two sets of drawings and an electronic copy at a suitable scale of design;" … "an energy compliance modelling report prepared by a Certified Energy Advisor;"
  - 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:** Book by contacting the Building Section at 250-708-2256 or buildingpermits@viewroyal.ca. The owner must give the Building Official at least 48 hours' notice before requesting an inspection.
  - Source: [Building Inspections, Building Inspections page](https://www.viewroyal.ca/EN/main/business/permits-inspections/building-permits/building-inspections.html)
  - Official wording: "To book an inspection, please contact the Building Section at 250-708-2256 or buildingpermits@viewroyal.ca."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 1111, 2023, s. 8.15](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/1111%20-%20Building%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Every owner shall give at least 48hours’ notice to the Building Official" … "prior to requesting an inspection or monitoring check."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Contact:** Building Services, Town of View Royal: 250-708-2256, buildingpermits@viewroyal.ca. Town Hall is at 45 View Royal Avenue.
  - Source: [Building & Plumbing Permits, Contact Building Services](https://www.viewroyal.ca/EN/main/business/permits-inspections/building-permits.html)
  - Official wording: "Contact Building Services" … "buildingpermits@viewroyal.ca Ph. 250-708-2256" … "45 View Royal Avenue"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 1111, 2023
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 1111, 2023, title](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/1111%20-%20Building%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING BYLAW NO. 1111, 2023"
  - Source: [Building & Plumbing Permits, Building Permits page](https://www.viewroyal.ca/EN/main/business/permits-inspections/building-permits.html)
  - Official wording: "as per Building Bylaw 1111, 2023"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The Town of View Royal requires building and plumbing permits for new construction and for renovations, alterations, additions, replacements and repairs, under [Building Bylaw 1111](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/1111%20-%20Building%20Bylaw.pdf). The Town lists these as generally needing a permit (the list is not limited to them): new and accessory buildings, moving or adding walls, doors or floors, wood burning appliances, decks, docks, stairs, pools, pergolas, moving a building, demolition, change of occupancy, secondary suites, and retaining walls over 1.2 m.

No permit is needed for minor repairs or alterations to non-structural parts, including roof retrofits and replacing windows or doors with the same size in a single-family dwelling, or minor plumbing repairs. The bylaw does not apply to a fence, tent, paving, a platform less than 0.6 m above grade, or a trellis or arbour on a single-family lot.

## Steps

1. If you are not sure a permit is needed, email Building Services with a description of the project, the building type and the address.
2. Decide whether your building is Part 9 (generally a house, duplex, multi-family under 600 m2 or small commercial) or Part 3 (generally over 600 m2, large commercial, apartments, condos, mixed use, public or institutional). This picks your form.
3. Download the form for your project type and gather the documents it lists. A standard application also needs the items listed in the bylaw (s. 11.6), such as a title search made within 30 days and two sets of drawings plus an electronic copy.
4. Submit the completed form, the documents and the application fee in person at Town Hall. You get an application number.
5. Email any digital copies to buildingpermits@viewroyal.ca with the application number in the subject line.
6. To book inspections, contact the Building Section at 250-708-2256 or buildingpermits@viewroyal.ca. Give the Building Official at least 48 hours' notice.

## Good to know

- Complete plumbing applications from registered professionals or licensed plumbers can be emailed in.
- Gas and electrical permits come from Technical Safety BC, not the Town.
- Complex buildings need more documents (bylaw s. 11.4), such as a Building Code compliance report and a site plan by a registered professional.
- The Town's page and the bylaw word the retaining wall rule differently (see the notes). Confirm with Building Services.

## What you'll need

- Completed application form for your project type, signed by the owner, with every document the form lists
- Owner's letter of authorization if you are not the property owner
- Registered Professional form if an architect or engineer provides Letters of Assurance
- Title search made within 30 days
- Survey plan by a BC land surveyor (may be waived)
- Two sets of drawings plus an electronic copy
- Application fee

## Official forms and pages

- [Building and plumbing permit forms (Part 9 and Part 3)](https://www.viewroyal.ca/EN/main/business/permits-inspections/building-permits.html)
- [Building Bylaw 1111 (PDF)](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/1111%20-%20Building%20Bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

- [View Royal building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/building-permit-fees.md)
- [View Royal permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [View Royal fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/fence-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Building permits in British Columbia: how to apply, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/building-permit.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/building-permit.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/building-permit.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/building-permit.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/building-permit.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/building-permit.md)

## Sources

- [Building & Plumbing Permits, Town of View Royal](https://www.viewroyal.ca/EN/main/business/permits-inspections/building-permits.html) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Inspections, Town of View Royal](https://www.viewroyal.ca/EN/main/business/permits-inspections/building-permits/building-inspections.html) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw 1111, 2023 (PDF)](https://www.viewroyal.ca/assets/Town~Hall/Bylaws/1111%20-%20Building%20Bylaw.pdf) (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 Town of View Royal. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/building-permit/_