How to get a building permit in West Vancouver, BC

Step by step in West Vancouver

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 — West Vancouver won't issue until land use is settled.

2. 2

   Work out which permits you need

   Structural work needs a building permit from District of West Vancouver. Electrical and gas are separate and are issued by SPLIT: West Vancouver runs its OWN electrical permit and inspection program - electrical permits are issued by the District and inspected by a District Electrical Safety Officer (NOT Technical Safety BC). Plumbing is usually part of the building permit.

3. 3

   Prepare drawings and documents

   District of West Vancouver asks for: Submit via the Document Upload Centre (emailed submissions not accepted); incomplete submissions are refused; Building Permit Application Form and Checklist for Single-Family and Duplex Dwellings (separate Demolition Permit Application if demolishing); Registered Owner's Authorization Form (if applicant is not the registered owner); Housing Form (required for new single family/duplex/secondary suite/coach house building and demolition applications, per Provincial Housing Supply Act); Landscaping Checklist and commitment letter by a landscape architect/licensed contractor (new single-family dwellings, since Dec 1 2025); Structural Schedule B and other registered-professional assurances; drawings must be PDF, to scale, high-resolution, combined per discipline and named accordingly (e.g. 'Structural Schedule B'); BC Energy Step Code / Zero Carbon compliance reports (Part 9 and Part 3 energy compliance tools); Design Intent Letter & Design Verification Report for BCBC Part 10; Development Cost Charges form for new buildings/additions; Fire Safety Plan required for demolition and construction sites; Demolition Material Recycling and Disposal Report (statutory declaration); Development Permit and/or Environmental Development Permit may be required BEFORE a building permit (e.g. within a DPA, new coach house, or Wildfire Hazard DPA); Summary of Zoning Variances (only if Board of Variance review needed); Electrical permits must be taken out by a provincially-qualified contractor with a valid West Vancouver business licence unless the owner satisfies the electrical inspector of competence; Electrical Declaration Form required with each inspection request.

4. 4

   Submit your application

   Document Upload Centre (custom in-house portal on hhapps.westvancouver.ca/hhapps/DocuPro80000/index.aspx) - mandatory for building permits since April 15, 2021; emailed submissions are NOT accepted. E-Apply portal is available for TRADE permits only (requires an active issued building permit). Account portal is MyDistrict (eservices.westvancouver.ca).

5. 5

   Pay the permit fee

   Building permit fees are based on 'Building Construction Value' as defined in Building Bylaw No. 5340, 2025 (tiered fee schedule). Value of electrical works = 4.0% of building construction value (contractor may declare a different value). Re-inspection and revision surcharges apply (first free, then $150/$300/$600 escalating). Confirm the current schedule with West Vancouver 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.

Permit types in West Vancouver

West Vancouver permit questions