District of Kent (Agassiz)

How to get a building permit in Kent, BC

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

Where to apply in Kent

In person / email — submit applications to building@kentbc.ca (no Cloudpermit-style online portal found; District office at 7170 Cheam Ave)

Official District of Kent (Agassiz) permit page

Building Department: 604-796-2235, building@kentbc.ca, Box 70, 7170 Cheam Avenue, Agassiz, BC V0M 1A0. Hours Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm. After-hours emergencies 1-866-951-3718.

Who issues electrical and gas permits

Technical Safety BC (provincial). Kent is not a delegated electrical/gas authority; the District only requires proof that electrical, natural-gas/propane and other trade contractors hold a valid Kent business licence and trade certification.

electrical: Technical Safety BC; Sending this to District of Kent (Agassiz) 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 District of Kent (Agassiz) 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 Kent

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 — Kent won't issue until land use is settled.
2
Work out which permits you need
Structural work needs a building permit from District of Kent (Agassiz). Electrical and gas are separate and are issued by Technical Safety BC (provincial). Plumbing is usually part of the building permit.
3
Prepare drawings and documents
District of Kent (Agassiz) asks for: Building Permit Application form completed; Site plan and construction drawings; Letter of Agency if applying on behalf of the owner; Sub-contractor business licence + trade certification for each trade (electrical, plumbing, gas, sprinkler, insulation, solid-fuel); BC Energy Step Code compliance for new Part 9 buildings; Engineered/sealed drawings for engineered structures; As of Jan 1 2024, asbestos-abatement contractors must be licensed in BC (relevant to demolition/renovation).
4
Submit your application
In person / email — submit applications to building@kentbc.ca (no Cloudpermit-style online portal found; District office at 7170 Cheam Ave)
5
Pay the permit fee
Set by the District of Kent building bylaw fee schedule; not published on the permit page — confirm with the building department. Confirm the current schedule with Kent 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 Kent asks for

Building Permit Application form completed
Site plan and construction drawings
Letter of Agency if applying on behalf of the owner
Sub-contractor business licence + trade certification for each trade (electrical, plumbing, gas, sprinkler, insulation, solid-fuel)
BC Energy Step Code compliance for new Part 9 buildings
Engineered/sealed drawings for engineered structures
As of Jan 1 2024, asbestos-abatement contractors must be licensed in BC (relevant to demolition/renovation)

Permit fees in Kent

Set by the District of Kent building bylaw fee schedule; not published on the permit page — confirm with the building department.

Fees change and vary by project — confirm the current schedule with District of Kent (Agassiz).

Permit types in Kent

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 Kent

Application is email/in-person driven rather than a hosted online portal. Emphasis on verifying every trade contractor holds a valid Kent business licence and certification before permit issuance.

Kent permit questions

Where do I submit a building permit application in Kent?

In person / email — submit applications to building@kentbc.ca (no Cloudpermit-style online portal found; District office at 7170 Cheam Ave)

Who issues electrical and gas permits in Kent?

How much does a building permit cost in Kent?

Set by the District of Kent building bylaw fee schedule; not published on the permit page — confirm with the building department. Fees vary by project, so confirm the current schedule with District of Kent (Agassiz) before budgeting.

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

District of Kent (Agassiz) asks for: Building Permit Application form completed; Site plan and construction drawings; Letter of Agency if applying on behalf of the owner; Sub-contractor business licence + trade certification for each trade (electrical, plumbing, gas, sprinkler, insulation, solid-fuel); BC Energy Step Code compliance for new Part 9 buildings; Engineered/sealed drawings for engineered structures; As of Jan 1 2024, asbestos-abatement contractors must be licensed in BC (relevant to demolition/renovation).

Anything else to know about permits in Kent?

Application is email/in-person driven rather than a hosted online portal. Emphasis on verifying every trade contractor holds a valid Kent business licence and certification before permit issuance.

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 District of Kent (Agassiz) before you build.

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