City of Richmond

How to get a building permit in Richmond, BC

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

Where to apply in Richmond

MyPermit portal — https://www.richmond.ca/business-development/e-plan/mypermit.htm (accessed via a MyRichmond account). Self-guided step-by-step navigation, dynamic forms that show only relevant requirements, save-for-later, and online payment of eligible fees; 24/7 access. A mobile app is also available. Applications can alternatively be submitted in person at the Permits Counter in Richmond City Hall.

Official City of Richmond permit page

Building Approvals / Permits: phone 604-276-4118; email building@richmond.ca; Permits Counter, Richmond City Hall, 6911 No. 3 Road, Richmond BC.

Who issues electrical and gas permits

MIXED: Richmond does NOT run its own electrical program — 'The BC Safety Authority is the electrical permitting authority for Richmond,' so ELECTRICAL permits go to Technical Safety BC (get the electrical permit through TSBC before work starts). However Richmond DOES issue its own PLUMBING and GAS permits (and fire sprinkler permits) through the City building department. So: electrical = Technical Safety BC; gas = City of Richmond; plumbing = City of Richmond.

electrical: Technical Safety BC
gas: City of Richmond

Step by step in Richmond

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 — Richmond won't issue until land use is settled.
2
Work out which permits you need
Structural work needs a building permit from City of Richmond. Electrical and gas are separate and are issued by MIXED: Richmond does NOT run its own electrical program — 'The BC Safety Authority is the electrical permitting authority for Richmond,' so ELECTRICAL permits go to Technical Safety BC (get the electrical permit through TSBC before work starts). Plumbing is usually part of the building permit.
3
Prepare drawings and documents
City of Richmond asks for: Application via MyPermit portal (or in person at the Permits Counter); Correct application form by project type (see key forms); Construction drawings and site/plot plan; BC Energy Step Code compliance documentation for new construction; Letters of Assurance / registered professional (Schedule A/B/C) for engineered/complex work and geotechnical; Geotechnical report where applicable; Home warranty insurance for new homes (Homeowner Protection Act), or owner-builder exemption; Owner authorization where the applicant is not the owner; Separate Technical Safety BC electrical permit obtained before electrical work begins.
4
Submit your application
MyPermit portal — https://www.richmond.ca/business-development/e-plan/mypermit.htm (accessed via a MyRichmond account). Self-guided step-by-step navigation, dynamic forms that show only relevant requirements, save-for-later, and online payment of eligible fees; 24/7 access. A mobile app is also available. Applications can alternatively be submitted in person at the Permits Counter in Richmond City Hall.
5
Pay the permit fee
Building fees are set by City Bylaw — Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636 (2011), Chapter 5 Finance & Budgets (see the Building fees pages of that bylaw). Fees are based on construction value; plumbing, gas and sprinkler permits have their own fee lines. (Confirm current amounts against the consolidated fees bylaw.) Confirm the current schedule with Richmond 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 Richmond asks for

Application via MyPermit portal (or in person at the Permits Counter)
Correct application form by project type (see key forms)
Construction drawings and site/plot plan
BC Energy Step Code compliance documentation for new construction
Letters of Assurance / registered professional (Schedule A/B/C) for engineered/complex work and geotechnical
Geotechnical report where applicable
Home warranty insurance for new homes (Homeowner Protection Act), or owner-builder exemption
Owner authorization where the applicant is not the owner
Separate Technical Safety BC electrical permit obtained before electrical work begins

Permit fees in Richmond

Building fees are set by City Bylaw — Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636 (2011), Chapter 5 Finance & Budgets (see the Building fees pages of that bylaw). Fees are based on construction value; plumbing, gas and sprinkler permits have their own fee lines. (Confirm current amounts against the consolidated fees bylaw.)

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

Richmond permit forms

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

Pick a form to open it here.

Worth knowing about Richmond

Electrical is the key difference vs Surrey/Burnaby/Vancouver — Richmond leaves electrical to Technical Safety BC while running its own gas and plumbing programs. Development permit may be required first for new/multi-unit builds. SSMUH-specific building permit form (PL-62) reflects BC's small-scale multi-unit housing rules. Email building@richmond.ca for building-permit questions.

Richmond permit questions

Where do I submit a building permit application in Richmond?

Who issues electrical and gas permits in Richmond?

How much does a building permit cost in Richmond?

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

City of Richmond asks for: Application via MyPermit portal (or in person at the Permits Counter); Correct application form by project type (see key forms); Construction drawings and site/plot plan; BC Energy Step Code compliance documentation for new construction; Letters of Assurance / registered professional (Schedule A/B/C) for engineered/complex work and geotechnical; Geotechnical report where applicable; Home warranty insurance for new homes (Homeowner Protection Act), or owner-builder exemption; Owner authorization where the applicant is not the owner; Separate Technical Safety BC electrical permit obtained before electrical work begins.

Anything else to know about permits in Richmond?

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 Richmond before you build.

See what's being built in Richmond

Construction Radar turns building-permit data into a live map of real construction jobs — who's building, what it's worth, and who to call.

Start for free