Building Permits | Peace River Regional District

A building permit is required before starting most construction, renovation or demolition projects in the Peace River Regional District. Permits ensure that all work complies with the BC Building Code and our bylaws. They protect the safety and integrity of buildings and structures. We require building inspections at stages of the project to ensure compliance with regulations. Whether you are building a home, an accessory structure or making alterations, getting a building permit is the first step to a successful project.

The building inspector will issue a permit when:

You have included all requirements for the application
There has been a satisfactory review of the application
You have paid the building permit fee and other applicable fees

How to Apply

The type of building permit application that you will need will depend on whether your project qualifies as a Simple Building or a Complex Building. Each permit type has its own application requirements, including specific documents and plans. It’s important to determine the category for your project to ensure you send us the correct application and meet all requirements. For residential applications, we aim for a turn-around of ten working days. We will contact you as soon as your permit is ready. You must pay for the permit when picking it up.

Simple Buildings

A simple building is three stories or less in height, having a building area not more than 600 square meters and are used for the following purposes:

Residential including single-family homes or small apartments
Business or personal services (e.g. small offices or salons)
Mercantile (e.g. stores or shops)
Medium-hazard industrial (e.g. workshops or warehouses)
Low-hazard industrial (e.g. storage buildings)

Simple Building Permits

Complex Buildings

A complex building exceeds 600 square meters in building area or is more than three stories in building height and used for a major occupancy including:

Assembly spaces like theatres or auditoriums
Care facilities including hospitals or nursing homes
Detention centers
High-hazard industrial sites
Post-disaster buildings including emergency shelters

Complex Building Permits

Please Keep in Mind

As the owner of a property, it is your responsibility to:

Carry out the work authorized by a permit as per the requirements of the BC Building Code and PRRD bylaws
Ensure that you have a building permit before starting construction
Ensure that you make requests for inspections with at least 48 hours notice
Ensure that you complete all forms and applications fully and properly
Display a copy of the building permit where it is visible when entering the property

Your building permit application must comply with the 2024 BC Building Code, including:

enhanced seismic design for lateral load bracing for wood-frame construction in Section 9.23.13
zero carbon step codes for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission standards

The PRRD requires emission level one (EL-1) for new construction in our permit areas. This requires all builders to measure and report estimated GHG emissions through an Energy Advisor’s pre-construction report.

Residential Construction

If your project is any type of residential construction, you or a licensed registered builder must register your new home with BC Housing, Licensing and Consumer Services. This provides Home Warranty Insurance. Whether you are a homeowner or contractor, all gas and electrical work requires permits from Technical Safety BC.

Requirements for Plumbing and Sewer Work

If you have any questions about plumbing and sewer work and whether or not they apply to your building project, please contact Development Services.

For plumbing work, you must either:

Have BC Tradesman’s qualifications certification as a plumber
Be an indentured apprentice supervised by a BC Journeyman Plumber
Be the registered owner and occupier of the single family dwelling provided that the building inspector has proof that you can complete the proposed work

You will require a sewer permit if your project is within any of the PRRD community sewer boundary areas:

You can review the Interactive Web Map to view the sewer boundary areas. For all private sewer systems, please contact Northern Health for permit information. The Charlie Lake Development Cost Charge fee may apply to new construction within the Charlie Lake sewer boundary. A School Site Acquisition fee may apply to new residential construction within School District 60, Peace River North. For more information, please contact School District 60 Peace River North.

Frequently Asked Questions

View our frequently asked questions about building your next project. If you cannot find what you are looking for, please email our Building Inspectors for more information.

Is there any way to speed up my Building Permit application?

Please call us at 250-784-3200 or toll free at 800-670-7773 to discuss land use regulations and the feasibility of your proposal. Make sure that you complete the required application for your permit. Your application must include construction and site plan drawings. Please ensure that construction plans conform to the most recent edition of the BC Building Code.

What do I need to build a dock?

The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development allows docks within PRRD.

When is a Development Permit required?

If you are the landowner and the parcel of land is within a development permit area, you must get a permit before starting the construction of, altering or adding to a building or other structure on the land. You may require a development permit before subdividing or altering the land.

For questions about development permits, please email Development Services.