The Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw regulates the construction, alteration, repair and demolition of buildings and other structures within the City of Victoria.
Before starting work related to your project, you must determine if a building permit is required. Refer to the drop-down menu below to determine if your project requires a permit.
Please note that the B.C. Building Code 2024 is in effect. Drawings for permit applications prepared prior to March 8, 2024, may use the 2018 B.C. Building Code if the building permit application is submitted before March 8, 2027. For more information, consult pages 2-3 of the B.C. Building Code 2024 (found on pages 6 and 7 of the linked PDF).
How to Apply
Fill out the building application permit below (after reviewing the application checklist) and then submit to permits@victoria.ca along with the required supporting documents. All applicable development permits must be issued before applying for building permits.
Review the Fee Schedule to find the relevant fees and deposits for your application. For a detailed explanation of fees and deposits, see the Guide to Building Permit Fees and Deposits.
Please contact a Permit Services Representative at 250.361.0344 or permits@victoria.ca for more information or to book a pre-application meeting.
Demolition and interior strip-out permits
Demolition permits, required for demolishing a building before new construction, and interior strip-out permits, required for stripping the inside of a building down to the studs, are found online through the MyCity links below:
Demolition Permit Application Interior Strip-out Permit Application
Tenant protection
If your project displaces tenants or results in the loss of any rental units, a pre-application meeting with staff can help speed up the building permit application process.
Information about the tenant protection development permit requirements and process can be found on the Renters' Hub. If you require an inspection, you can submit an inspection request via MyCity.
Partial Permits
If applying for a complex building permit, a partial permit can allow you to start work before all requirements of the full permit are addressed. Applicants must determine whether they are applying for a partial or full building permit before submitting their building permit application.
A partial building permit (i.e. foundation-to-grade work) allows construction to begin on specific portion of a project before the full building permit is approved. Note, only the approved partial scope of work aligning with full building permit is authorized at this stage.
You can request a partial permit at no additional cost or delay in review time by checking the box on your application form when submitting your permit application.
You will be notified when your partial permit is ready to be issued.
How to Pay Fees and Deposits
When your permit has been approved, you will receive a fee summary with all the fees and deposits required for a building permit.
If you wish to request a refund, contact the relevant City department.
Development Cost Charges (DCC) and Amenities Cost Charges (ACC) installment payments
Requests to pay for Development Cost Charges (DCC) and Amenity Cost Charges (ACC) in installments must be made to a Permit Services Representative only after an applicant receives a summary of required fees and deposits. Requests are reviewed in accordance with the Local Government Act and applicable City of Victoria’s bylaws.
If approved, the total charges can be paid in full before building permit issuance, or in installments.
If paying by installments, a minimum of 25 percent of the total charges must be paid at the time building permit issuance. The remaining 75 percent of the total charges must be paid prior to issuance of required occupancy permits or within four years of the building permit issuance date, whichever occurs first, in accordance with the Local Government Act (BC).
Installment payment requirements
The City of Victoria requires developers to guarantee DCC and ACC payment installments to ensure outstanding charges are recoverable if payments are not made.
Templates and City policy information for accepted installment payment insurance can be found below.