Building Permits

A building permit is required for the following. Also read our Building Permit Bulletin for further information.

• Construct a new building
• Add to or renovate an existing building
• Change the occupancy of an existing building (i.e. from office to retail)
• Make interior renovations that may impact the direction of travel to an exit
• Repair a building envelope – commercial, multi family
• Demolish or move a building
• Enclose your carport or change your garage to living space
• Add or relocate plumbing fixtures, fire alarm or fire sprinklers
• Pave a parking area where a storm drainage system is required
• Finish an existing basement
• Install a swimming pool or hot tub
• Locate or add to a mobile home or manufactured home
• Locate a temporary building
• Install a fireplace, solid fuel burning

• Some typical projects that don't require a building permit include:
• Fences, other than for swimming pools (note Zoning regulations for height and material restrictions);
• Deck or patios which are less than 0.6 metres from the ground and do not have a roof or attached to a building
• Roof shingling
• Eaves troughs
• Air conditioning units or heat pumps added to existing forced-air systems
• Kitchen or bathroom cupboards without plumbing
• Replacement of existing forced-air furnace
• Replacement of siding or windows, provided you do not change the windows in size
• Painting and decorating including replacement of flooring
• Landscaping or other surfacing of land
• Work under the jurisdiction of Technical Safety BC such as Electrical or Gas (Permits are required to be obtained from the Technical Safety BC

The Building Department administers Building Bylaw No. 2021-21 and through this bylaw, the BC Building Code.

Yes you can apply for new residential buildings online!  We are adding more and more online permits in 2024.  For most current details, see our online permits page.

Online Permits

Permit applications require a non-refundable application fee of $200, or $92 for Plumbing Permits. 

Payments can be made by cheque , debit or money order at City Hall.  Credit cards payments are accepted, please see Online Payments. 

For the full list of fees, including some flat fee permit types, reductions and other administrative fees, refer to Appendix 4 in our Fees and Charges Bylaw. 

The cost for most building permits is based on the value of construction, so the price will vary based on the amount of work to be done. When an application for building permit is made, an application fee must accompany the application. Any remaining fees are due at the time that the permit is ready to be picked up.

Construction costs or value means the total current monetary worth of all construction or work related to the building or structure. The current edition of the Marshall Valuation Services, the Marshall and Swift Residential Cost Handbook or such universal source of calculating valuation, as the building official deems reasonable, practical and expedient. Construction costs shall include:

• site preparation and civil work including excavation and the use of hoisting, pile driving, compaction or erection devices;
• all design documents, labour and fees involved in the design, investigative testing, consulting services, construction labour and management, even if provided by the owner, or donated voluntarily by others, contractor’s profit and overhead, sales taxes and the construction insurance; and
• all mechanical, electrical, plumbing, drainage and gas installations necessary for the carrying out of the construction to its completed form.

Your project may qualify for a Residential Xpress (RXp) Building Permit, with the City's goal to review eligible applications within 1-14 business days. To learn more, contact our Building Department at 250-490-2571 or Xpresspermit@penticton.ca

Building Department
Phone: 250-490-2501
Email: buildinginfo@penticton.ca