How to get a building permit in North Cowichan, BC

Step by step in North Cowichan

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 — North Cowichan won't issue until land use is settled.

2. 2

   Work out which permits you need

   Structural work needs a building permit from Municipality of North Cowichan. Electrical and gas are separate and are issued by Technical Safety BC — standard for BC; electrical and gas permits are not issued by North Cowichan (the municipality issues building and plumbing only). Plumbing is usually part of the building permit.

3. 3

   Prepare drawings and documents

   Municipality of North Cowichan asks for: Completed Building Permit Application Form; Full set of drawings at the required scale (site plan, floor plans, elevations); New Home Registration Form (BC Housing home warranty) when required for new homes; Engineering design and documents (Schedule B / Letters of Assurance) where required; professional engineer or architect retained for complex work; Planning Compliance Form and Engineering Compliance Form depending on project; Agent Authorization Form if using a representative; Development Permit / Development Variance Permit if required before building permit.

4. 4

   Submit your application

   In person / email — no named online permitting portal. Applications use fillable PDF forms (Building Permit Application Form, updated May 2024) submitted to Building Services; inspections booked separately. Applications reviewed in three stages: zoning compliance, building bylaw compliance, and building code compliance.

5. 5

   Pay the permit fee

   Permit costs based on construction value; full fee structure in Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784. Confirm the current schedule with North Cowichan 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.

North Cowichan permit questions