City of New Westminster

How to get a building permit in New Westminster, BC

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

Where to apply in New Westminster

Two paths: (1) E-Apply platform for Alterations & Small Projects — live since Nov 5, 2025 — non-refundable application fee paid by credit card at submission; (2) New construction / major projects: email full application documentation and drawings to bldapps@newwestcity.ca, or email buildingdept@newwestcity.ca to book an in-person intake appointment at City Hall. Inspections are booked via the MyCity Portal (Tempest) using the Permit Folder Number and Access Code, or by phone.

Official City of New Westminster permit page

Building Division — 604-527-4580 (Building & Plumbing Inspectors take phone calls 8:30–9:30 a.m. Mon–Fri); applications to bldapps@newwestcity.ca, intake appointments via buildingdept@newwestcity.ca; 511 Royal Avenue, New Westminster, BC V3L 1H9. Counter hours Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Who issues electrical and gas permits

Technical Safety BC (province) issues and inspects BOTH electrical and gas permits. NOTE: New Westminster owns a municipal ELECTRICAL UTILITY, but that utility only handles service connections / power distribution — it does NOT issue electrical construction permits. The city's own inspectors cover Building and Plumbing (plus Services, Sprinkler, Hydronic Heating) only; electrical and gas installation permits go to Technical Safety BC.

electrical: Technical Safety BC
gas: Technical Safety BC

Step by step in New Westminster

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 — New Westminster won't issue until land use is settled.
2
Work out which permits you need
Structural work needs a building permit from City of New Westminster. Electrical and gas are separate and are issued by Technical Safety BC (province) issues and inspects BOTH electrical and gas permits. Plumbing is usually part of the building permit.
3
Prepare drawings and documents
City of New Westminster asks for: Download and complete the Residential and Accessory Building Permit Application Package; Current Title Search dated within 30 days; Letter of Authorization if applying on behalf of the owner; Company/Society Summary or Solicitor's Letter if the property is company-owned; Consent of Strata where applicable; Project drawings and other documents based on scope of work; All documents attached as PDF files (no links); cloud-share links (Google Drive, Dropbox) NOT accepted — use the city's FileShare for large files; For alterations/small projects apply via E-Apply and pay the non-refundable application fee by credit card at submission.
4
Submit your application
Two paths: (1) E-Apply platform for Alterations & Small Projects — live since Nov 5, 2025 — non-refundable application fee paid by credit card at submission; (2) New construction / major projects: email full application documentation and drawings to bldapps@newwestcity.ca, or email buildingdept@newwestcity.ca to book an in-person intake appointment at City Hall. Inspections are booked via the MyCity Portal (Tempest) using the Permit Folder Number and Access Code, or by phone.
5
Pay the permit fee
Set by the city's building-permit fee schedule (link: /building-permit-fees). Page does not publish a per-$1,000 rate; refer to the fee schedule. A non-refundable application fee applies at E-Apply submission. Confirm the current schedule with New Westminster 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 New Westminster asks for

Download and complete the Residential and Accessory Building Permit Application Package
Current Title Search dated within 30 days
Letter of Authorization if applying on behalf of the owner
Company/Society Summary or Solicitor's Letter if the property is company-owned
Consent of Strata where applicable
Project drawings and other documents based on scope of work
All documents attached as PDF files (no links); cloud-share links (Google Drive, Dropbox) NOT accepted — use the city's FileShare for large files
For alterations/small projects apply via E-Apply and pay the non-refundable application fee by credit card at submission

Permit fees in New Westminster

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

New Westminster permit forms

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

Pick a form to open it here.

Worth knowing about New Westminster

Do NOT confuse the municipal electrical utility (service connections only) with permitting — Technical Safety BC still issues the electrical installation permit. E-Apply (for alterations/small projects) launched Nov 5, 2025. Inspection requests must be made by 2:00 p.m. the business day before, via MyCity Portal or phone.

New Westminster permit questions

Where do I submit a building permit application in New Westminster?

Who issues electrical and gas permits in New Westminster?

How much does a building permit cost in New Westminster?

Set by the city's building-permit fee schedule (link: /building-permit-fees). Page does not publish a per-$1,000 rate; refer to the fee schedule. A non-refundable application fee applies at E-Apply submission. Fees vary by project, so confirm the current schedule with City of New Westminster before budgeting.

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

City of New Westminster asks for: Download and complete the Residential and Accessory Building Permit Application Package; Current Title Search dated within 30 days; Letter of Authorization if applying on behalf of the owner; Company/Society Summary or Solicitor's Letter if the property is company-owned; Consent of Strata where applicable; Project drawings and other documents based on scope of work; All documents attached as PDF files (no links); cloud-share links (Google Drive, Dropbox) NOT accepted — use the city's FileShare for large files; For alterations/small projects apply via E-Apply and pay the non-refundable application fee by credit card at submission.

Anything else to know about permits in New Westminster?

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 New Westminster before you build.

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