How to get a building permit in Greenwood, BC

Step by step in Greenwood

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 — Greenwood won't issue until land use is settled.

2. 2

   Work out which permits you need

   Structural work needs a building permit from City of Greenwood. Electrical and gas are separate and are issued by Technical Safety BC — explicitly stated on Greenwood/RDKB materials: 'Electrical and Gas Permits can be obtained from Technical Safety B. Plumbing is usually part of the building permit.

3. 3

   Prepare drawings and documents

   City of Greenwood asks for: Completed RDKB building permit application form; Current Title Search (within last 30 days) with covenants/easements/rights-of-way; Site plan drawn to scale showing setbacks, lot dimensions, other buildings and water courses; property lines located/staked; Two sets of scaled construction plans (foundation, floor plans, 4 elevations, cross-section, plumbing schematic); Engineered drawings where required (geotechnical/structural, truss/beam layouts); New Home Registration / home warranty via BC Housing for new dwellings; 'Highway Access Permit' required if a building is accessed directly off a highway (Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure); Occupancy Permit required prior to occupancy; Record of Sewerage System / Interior Health approval where not on community water/sewer; WorkSafeBC asbestos/hazmat inspection for pre-1990 buildings.

4. 4

   Submit your application

   In person / email — building permits are processed through the RDKB (Regional District of Kootenay Boundary) Building Department in Grand Forks. Application form ('NEW 2025 Building Permit Application') downloaded from the Greenwood site or RDKB and submitted to the RDKB building office (gfbuilding@rdkb.com). No online permitting portal.

5. 5

   Pay the permit fee

   Fees per City of Greenwood Building (Amendment) Bylaw No. 785, administered via RDKB — based on value/cost of construction. Confirm current amounts with RDKB building office. Confirm the current schedule with Greenwood 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.

Greenwood permit questions