How to get a building permit in Penticton, BC

Step by step in Penticton

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

3. 3

   Prepare drawings and documents

   City of Penticton asks for: All documents in PDF (no zip files, no password protection); upload each document individually; keep multi-page drawing sets as single files; use logical file names (address – drawing type – revision); Drawings submitted separately by discipline (structural, architectural, etc.); Metric 1:100 or 1/4-inch scaled plans; include North arrow and civic address on all plans; legible industry-standard scale; WorkSafeBC Hazardous Materials Survey for any building undergoing demolition, renovation or additions built before 1990; Site Disclosure Statement (or Site Disclosure Waiver) for rezoning/DP/subdivision/building permits where soil disturbance is likely; One printed copy of the City-approved permit must be available on the jobsite for inspectors; BC Housing home warranty / owner-builder for new homes; BC Energy Step Code compliance for new Part 9 residential; Builders/trades must hold a valid City of Penticton or South Okanagan business licence; Geotechnical report for hillside / unstable-soil sites.

4. 4

   Submit your application

   Cloudpermit — https://ca.cloudpermit.com/ (complete online permit portal: submit applications, upload PDFs/drawings, pay most fees, check status, see assigned reviewer/fees, download drawings, and schedule inspections once issued). Owners and agents must register Cloudpermit accounts. Currently ONLY new residential construction is submitted online (New Single-Family Dwellings, Duplex, Townhomes); other permit types are still applied for via the city (in person / email) using application forms. Register a permit info: penticton.ca/business-building/building/registration.

5. 5

   Pay the permit fee

   Fees are published at penticton.ca/business-building/building-permits/permit-fees; most permitting fees can be paid online through the Cloudpermit account. Building permit fee is based on construction value per the city's fees bylaw (confirm current rate on the permit-fees page). Confirm the current schedule with Penticton 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.

Penticton permit questions