How to get a building permit in Creston, BC

Step by step in Creston

1. 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 — Creston won't issue until land use is settled.

2. 2

   Work out which permits you need

   Structural work needs a building permit from Town of Creston. Electrical and gas are separate and are issued by Technical Safety BC — electrical and gas installation permits are handled provincially by TSBC, not by the Town (BC standard; the Town issues building & plumbing only). Plumbing is usually part of the building permit.

3. 3

   Prepare drawings and documents

   Town of Creston asks for: Two sets of scaled drawings + one digital copy emailed to building@creston.ca; Sealed engineer's drawings + Schedule B where applicable; engineered truss & beam layouts (note solar-panel locations on truss layouts); Owner authorization if applicant is not the owner; BC Energy Step Code Pre-Construction Compliance Report for all new commercial & residential construction (Step Code adopted by reference in Building Bylaw 1394); HPO / BC Housing New Home Registration for new residential construction (home warranty); Current State of Title (within 30 days) with any covenants, easements, rights-of-way; Detailed site plan (lot area/dimensions, foundation outline, setbacks, driveway, septic, easements, retaining walls); Retaining walls over 1.2 m require a separate permit; Commercial/Part 3: sealed architectural & engineering drawings, sealed Building Code Analysis, Construction Fire Safety Plan, Interior Health approval (food/pool/salon), Site Disclosure Statement; WorkSafeBC asbestos/hazmat pre-work inspection for pre-1990 buildings (recommended per OHS).

4. 4

   Submit your application

   In person / email — no online permitting portal. Drawings submitted as two paper sets plus a digital copy emailed to building@creston.ca; large-format plans (over 11x17) must be provided as hard copies dropped at Town Hall. (No Cloudpermit/ProjectDox.)

5. 5

   Pay the permit fee

   Fees set by the Town's Fees and Charges Bylaw (referenced in Building Bylaw 1394), based on value/estimated cost of construction. Permit fee reduced 10% (max $300) where professional certification/Letters of Assurance replace the plan-checking otherwise done by the Building Inspector. Confirm the current schedule with Creston before you budget.

6. 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.

Creston permit questions