Town of Comox

How to get a building permit in Comox, BC

Where to apply, what Comox asks for, what it costs, and who issues electrical and gas permits — with links to the city's own forms.

Where to apply in Comox

PSD Citywide Portal (https://citywideportal.com) — online only; create account, submit and track applications digitally

Official Town of Comox permit page

Development Services / Building Dept — 250-339-1118 (or Town Hall 250-339-2202), planning@comox.ca, 1809 Beaufort Ave, Comox BC V9M 1R9; Mon–Fri 8:30am–4:30pm

Who issues electrical and gas permits

Technical Safety BC (province-wide authority; Comox is not a delegated municipality)

electrical: Technical Safety BC; Sending this to Town of Comox instead won't get forwarded — it starts over. On a service upgrade that also pushes out your BC Hydro reconnect, usually the longest lead time on the whole job.
gas: Technical Safety BC; Sending this to Town of Comox instead won't get forwarded — it starts over, and gas work can't be inspected or turned on until the right authority has issued the permit.

Step by step in Comox

1
Confirm zoning before anything else
Check the property's zone, setbacks, height and lot coverage, and whether it sits in a Development Permit Area. If it does, that approval has to come before the building permit — Comox won't issue until land use is settled.
2
Work out which permits you need
Structural work needs a building permit from Town of Comox. Electrical and gas are separate and are issued by Technical Safety BC (province-wide authority; Comox is not a delegated municipality). Plumbing is usually part of the building permit.
3
Prepare drawings and documents
Town of Comox asks for: Applications submitted online via PSD Citywide portal only (no counter/email intake); Documents required are listed per application type at time of submission in the portal; Must comply with BC Building Code 2024; BC Energy Step Code (Step Code) compliance required; Seismic bracing requirements; Radon rough-in requirements; Each permit reviewed by Engineering (servicing, driveway, off-site) and Planning (zoning, Development Permit Areas).
4
Submit your application
PSD Citywide Portal (https://citywideportal.com) — online only; create account, submit and track applications digitally
5
Pay the permit fee
Not published on the building page; fees set by Building Bylaw / fee schedule. Confirm with Development Services. Confirm the current schedule with Comox before you budget.
6
Plan review, then build to inspections
The building department reviews against the BC Building Code and zoning; answer any comments quickly. Once issued, post the permit on site and book inspections at each stage — footings, framing, rough-in, insulation, final. Don't cover work before it's inspected.

What Comox asks for

Applications submitted online via PSD Citywide portal only (no counter/email intake)
Documents required are listed per application type at time of submission in the portal
Must comply with BC Building Code 2024
BC Energy Step Code (Step Code) compliance required
Seismic bracing requirements
Radon rough-in requirements
Each permit reviewed by Engineering (servicing, driveway, off-site) and Planning (zoning, Development Permit Areas)

Permit fees in Comox

Not published on the building page; fees set by Building Bylaw / fee schedule. Confirm with Development Services.

Fees change and vary by project — confirm the current schedule with Town of Comox.

Permit types in Comox

Plumbing permit

A trade permit (often issued separately from, or alongside, the building permit) authorizing installation, extension, or alteration of potable water, drainage-waste-vent, and connections to municipal water/sewer, verified against the BC Plumbing Code.

Demolition permit

A municipal permit to tear down or remove a building or structure, conditional on safe utility disconnections, a pre-demolition hazardous-materials (asbestos) survey and abatement, and — in many cities — recycling/deconstruction requirements backed by a refundable deposit.

Worth knowing about Comox

Fully online intake through PSD Citywide. Typical processing 2–4 weeks when complete. Development Permit is a separate Planning approval that may be needed before a building permit. Uses BCBC 2024, seismic bracing and radon rough-in requirements.

Comox permit questions

Where do I submit a building permit application in Comox?

PSD Citywide Portal (https://citywideportal.com) — online only; create account, submit and track applications digitally

Who issues electrical and gas permits in Comox?

Technical Safety BC (province-wide authority; Comox is not a delegated municipality)

How much does a building permit cost in Comox?

Not published on the building page; fees set by Building Bylaw / fee schedule. Confirm with Development Services. Fees vary by project, so confirm the current schedule with Town of Comox before budgeting.

What do I need to apply for a building permit in Comox?

Town of Comox asks for: Applications submitted online via PSD Citywide portal only (no counter/email intake); Documents required are listed per application type at time of submission in the portal; Must comply with BC Building Code 2024; BC Energy Step Code (Step Code) compliance required; Seismic bracing requirements; Radon rough-in requirements; Each permit reviewed by Engineering (servicing, driveway, off-site) and Planning (zoning, Development Permit Areas).

Anything else to know about permits in Comox?

Sources

General information only, not legal or code advice. Requirements vary by project and change over time — always confirm what applies to your job with Town of Comox before you build.

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