Building permits are required for most types of construction, whether it's a new home, a commercial building, or the renovation or expansion of an existing property.
The City of Prince George improves public safety by ensuring buildings comply with City bylaws and British Columbia Building and Plumbing Codes. The City issues building, plumbing, and sign permits and provides advice on building-related matters to Council, other City divisions, and the public.
Do you need a building permit?
Applying for a building permit
Make sure to apply for the right building permit before you start your project. Download the required forms, fill them out and attach all necessary documents, and email the completed package to devserv@princegeorge.ca.
If you need to pay a permit fee, you can do it online:
Schedule an Inspection
Permit forms
- Residential - Single-family dwelling, duplex, carriage and cottage houses, secondary suites
- Commercial - Commercial, industrial, institutional, or multi-family building permit - Part 3
- Commercial - Commercial, industrial, institutional, or multi-family building permit - Part 9
- Commercial - Tenant improvement for commercial, industrial, institutional, or multi-family building permit - Part 9
BC Energy Step Code requirements
In December 2022, the BC Building Code will require that all new builds must be 20 per cent more energy-efficient than the base building code requirements today, which is Step 3 for Part 9 buildings, and Step 2 for Part 3 buildings.
Local governments have the authority to require builders to meet one or more steps prior to the mandatory implementation of the BC Energy Step Code in December 2022. The advantage of this is to prepare builders and designers for the upcoming provincial requirement of Step 3 for Part 9 buildings, and Step 2 for Part 3 buildings.
Effective September 1, 2022, all Part 3 and Part 9 buildings must comply with Step 1. A building constructed to Step 1 is intended to have as good or better energy performance as a reference building constructed to the BCBC’s minimum prescriptive requirements for energy efficiency. As such, Step 1 of the BC Energy Step Code is intended to help builders familiar with traditional prescriptive codes make a smooth transition to building to performance codes that are focused on outcomes.
Achieving Step Code compliance
Plumbing permits
A plumbing permit may not be required in certain cases. The following projects can be undertaken without a plumbing permit:
- Removing or replacing a faucet, valve, service water heater, or other similar fixture where no change to the piping is needed.
- Clearing a stoppage or blockage.
Applying for a plumbing permit
Sign permits
If you need a sign permit, you can apply for one by downloading the sign permit application form and emailing the completed package to devserv@princegeorge.ca.
Preparing your project
With your permit in tow, you're now ready to start your project. Here are some tips on what you can do to prepare your project site and minimize the possibility of hiccups happening along the way.
Getting ready
Building Permit Statistics
The following information reports provide a monthly summary of issued building permits. They also provide a comparison of the issued building permits over a three year timeframe.
- January 2022 Building Permit Statistics.pdf
- February 2022 Building Permit Statistics.pdf
- March 2022 Building Permit Statistics.pdf
- April 2022 Building Permit Statistics.pdf
- May 2022 Building Permit Statistics.pdf
- June 2022 Building Permit Statistics.pdf
- July 2022 Building Permit Statistics.pdf
- August 2022 Building Permit Statistics.pdf
- September 2022 Building Permit Statistics.pdf
- October 2022 Building Permit Statistics.pdf