City of Fernie

How to get a building permit in Fernie, BC

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

Where to apply in Fernie

Cloudpermit — https://ca.cloudpermit.com/gov/login (mandatory as of June 4, 2025; paper/email applications no longer accepted). Live public tracking of the permit queue at fernie.ca.

Official City of Fernie permit page

Building Department main line (250) 423-6817; building@fernie.ca. Building Officials: Alex Park (alex.park@fernie.ca), Brent Dietz (brent.dietz@fernie.ca), Daniel Giam (daniel.giam@fernie.ca), Shannon Sewell (shannon.sewell@fernie.ca).

Who issues electrical and gas permits

Technical Safety BC — Fernie's building dept confirms electrical inspections are handled by Technical Safety BC (technicalsafetybc.ca). Gas permits also fall to Technical Safety BC as in the rest of BC. Not issued by the City.

electrical: Technical Safety BC
gas: Technical Safety BC

Step by step in Fernie

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 — Fernie won't issue until land use is settled.
2
Work out which permits you need
Structural work needs a building permit from City of Fernie. Electrical and gas are separate and are issued by Technical Safety BC — Fernie's building dept confirms electrical inspections are handled by Technical Safety BC (technicalsafetybc. Plumbing is usually part of the building permit.
3
Prepare drawings and documents
City of Fernie asks for: All applications submitted via Cloudpermit account (no paper/email); Site plan and elevation drawings meeting the City's Design Drawing & Site Plan Specifications; Sealed/stamped design drawings where an architect or engineer is involved (engineered drawings for complex/Part 3 work); BC Energy Step Code compliance — Step 3 for Part 9 buildings, Step 2 for Part 3 buildings; Pre-Construction Energy Compliance Report required for new construction; Development permit must be obtained BEFORE the building permit in DP areas (fernie.ca/developmentpermits); Plumbing Test Certificate from a BC-certified plumber.
4
Submit your application
Cloudpermit — https://ca.cloudpermit.com/gov/login (mandatory as of June 4, 2025; paper/email applications no longer accepted). Live public tracking of the permit queue at fernie.ca.
5
Pay the permit fee
Fees set in Building & Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526 (2025), effective April 16, 2025. Calculated on construction value / project scope. Permits lapse if work not started within 180 days, discontinued 180 days, or not completed within 2 years. Confirm the current schedule with Fernie 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 Fernie asks for

All applications submitted via Cloudpermit account (no paper/email)
Site plan and elevation drawings meeting the City's Design Drawing & Site Plan Specifications
Sealed/stamped design drawings where an architect or engineer is involved (engineered drawings for complex/Part 3 work)
BC Energy Step Code compliance — Step 3 for Part 9 buildings, Step 2 for Part 3 buildings; Pre-Construction Energy Compliance Report required for new construction
Development permit must be obtained BEFORE the building permit in DP areas (fernie.ca/developmentpermits)
Plumbing Test Certificate from a BC-certified plumber

Permit fees in Fernie

Fees set in Building & Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526 (2025), effective April 16, 2025. Calculated on construction value / project scope. Permits lapse if work not started within 180 days, discontinued 180 days, or not completed within 2 years.

Fees change and vary by project — confirm the current schedule with City of Fernie.

Worth knowing about Fernie

Long processing lag — as of mid-2025 ~56 applications in the queue with roughly a four-month review backlog. New Building & Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526 took effect April 16, 2025.

Fernie permit questions

Where do I submit a building permit application in Fernie?

Cloudpermit — https://ca.cloudpermit.com/gov/login (mandatory as of June 4, 2025; paper/email applications no longer accepted). Live public tracking of the permit queue at fernie.ca.

Who issues electrical and gas permits in Fernie?

How much does a building permit cost in Fernie?

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

City of Fernie asks for: All applications submitted via Cloudpermit account (no paper/email); Site plan and elevation drawings meeting the City's Design Drawing & Site Plan Specifications; Sealed/stamped design drawings where an architect or engineer is involved (engineered drawings for complex/Part 3 work); BC Energy Step Code compliance — Step 3 for Part 9 buildings, Step 2 for Part 3 buildings; Pre-Construction Energy Compliance Report required for new construction; Development permit must be obtained BEFORE the building permit in DP areas (fernie.ca/developmentpermits); Plumbing Test Certificate from a BC-certified plumber.

Anything else to know about permits in Fernie?

Long processing lag — as of mid-2025 ~56 applications in the queue with roughly a four-month review backlog. New Building & Plumbing Bylaw No. 2526 took effect April 16, 2025.

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 City of Fernie before you build.

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