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City of Nanaimo

How to get a building permit in Nanaimo, BC

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

Where to apply in Nanaimo

Online Building Permit Application (city custom portal) — https://www.nanaimo.ca/goto/buildingpermitapp — handles both residential and commercial applications; upload any number of files (max 25 MB each). Red fields required, grey optional.

Official City of Nanaimo permit page

Building Inspections: 250-755-4429, building.inspections@nanaimo.ca; available 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. weekdays (excluding statutory holidays); City of Nanaimo, 455 Wallace Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5J6

Who issues electrical and gas permits

Technical Safety BC issues BOTH electrical AND gas permits for Nanaimo. The City page states plainly: 'Gas and electrical permits are issued by Technical Safety BC' (1-866-566-7233 / technicalsafetybc.ca). Nanaimo is NOT a delegated municipality (confirmed against Technical Safety BC jurisdiction list).

electrical
Technical Safety BC
gas
Technical Safety BC

Step by step in Nanaimo

  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 — Nanaimo 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 Nanaimo. Electrical and gas are separate and are issued by Technical Safety BC issues BOTH electrical AND gas permits for Nanaimo. Plumbing is usually part of the building permit.

  3. 3

    Prepare drawings and documents

    City of Nanaimo asks for: Submit the complete online application at nanaimo.ca/goto/buildingpermitapp — incomplete applications lose their queue position and are bumped to the bottom; Appointment of Agent form completed and attached FIRST when a contractor/agent applies on the owner's behalf; Owner or authorized agent identification; Supporting drawings and documents uploaded (files under 25 MB each; any number of files); Follow the Residential (or Commercial) Building Permit Application Guide for required drawings/site plan/energy documentation; Allow 5–10 business days for intake; City commitment is to process complete residential permit applications within ~3 weeks.

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Online Building Permit Application (city custom portal) — https://www.nanaimo.ca/goto/buildingpermitapp — handles both residential and commercial applications; upload any number of files (max 25 MB each). Red fields required, grey optional.

  5. 5

    Pay the permit fee

    Main building permit fee is based on the value of construction, calculated under Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336; use the City's Building Permit Fee Calculator (nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/permit-fee-calculator) for a rough estimate (excludes connection, plumbing-fixture, sprinkler fees). Plumbing permit: $40 minimum plus $8 per fixture (includes pools, interceptors, hot water tanks, automatic dishwashers). Confirm the current schedule with Nanaimo 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.

What Nanaimo asks for

  • Submit the complete online application at nanaimo.ca/goto/buildingpermitapp — incomplete applications lose their queue position and are bumped to the bottom
  • Appointment of Agent form completed and attached FIRST when a contractor/agent applies on the owner's behalf
  • Owner or authorized agent identification
  • Supporting drawings and documents uploaded (files under 25 MB each; any number of files)
  • Follow the Residential (or Commercial) Building Permit Application Guide for required drawings/site plan/energy documentation
  • Allow 5–10 business days for intake; City commitment is to process complete residential permit applications within ~3 weeks

Permit fees in Nanaimo

Main building permit fee is based on the value of construction, calculated under Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336; use the City's Building Permit Fee Calculator (nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/permit-fee-calculator) for a rough estimate (excludes connection, plumbing-fixture, sprinkler fees). Plumbing permit: $40 minimum plus $8 per fixture (includes pools, interceptors, hot water tanks, automatic dishwashers).

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

Nanaimo permit forms

Open a form here and fill it in without leaving the page.

Pick a form to open it here.

Worth knowing about Nanaimo

Complete-application discipline is emphasized — incomplete submissions are deprioritized. Development Permit is a separate planning stream. All electrical and gas work goes to Technical Safety BC. Note the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) handles permits for areas OUTSIDE city limits — confirm the property is inside the City of Nanaimo before applying here.

Nanaimo permit questions

Where do I submit a building permit application in Nanaimo?

Online Building Permit Application (city custom portal) — https://www.nanaimo.ca/goto/buildingpermitapp — handles both residential and commercial applications; upload any number of files (max 25 MB each). Red fields required, grey optional.

Who issues electrical and gas permits in Nanaimo?

Technical Safety BC issues BOTH electrical AND gas permits for Nanaimo. The City page states plainly: 'Gas and electrical permits are issued by Technical Safety BC' (1-866-566-7233 / technicalsafetybc.ca). Nanaimo is NOT a delegated municipality (confirmed against Technical Safety BC jurisdiction list).

How much does a building permit cost in Nanaimo?

Main building permit fee is based on the value of construction, calculated under Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336; use the City's Building Permit Fee Calculator (nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/permit-fee-calculator) for a rough estimate (excludes connection, plumbing-fixture, sprinkler fees). Plumbing permit: $40 minimum plus $8 per fixture (includes pools, interceptors, hot water tanks, automatic dishwashers). Fees vary by project, so confirm the current schedule with City of Nanaimo before budgeting.

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

City of Nanaimo asks for: Submit the complete online application at nanaimo.ca/goto/buildingpermitapp — incomplete applications lose their queue position and are bumped to the bottom; Appointment of Agent form completed and attached FIRST when a contractor/agent applies on the owner's behalf; Owner or authorized agent identification; Supporting drawings and documents uploaded (files under 25 MB each; any number of files); Follow the Residential (or Commercial) Building Permit Application Guide for required drawings/site plan/energy documentation; Allow 5–10 business days for intake; City commitment is to process complete residential permit applications within ~3 weeks.

Anything else to know about permits in Nanaimo?

Complete-application discipline is emphasized — incomplete submissions are deprioritized. Development Permit is a separate planning stream. All electrical and gas work goes to Technical Safety BC. Note the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) handles permits for areas OUTSIDE city limits — confirm the property is inside the City of Nanaimo before applying here.

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 Nanaimo before you build.

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