Permits are required for any construction or other work that will impact or take place on the City road right-of-way (all areas between property lines including streets, boulevards or sidewalk). Depending on the nature of the work, multiple permits may be needed. If you are unsure if an area is considered to be on the right-of-way, use this map by zooming in to see properties and parking information.
Types of Permits
Depending on the type of work and its impacts, you may have to apply for multiple permits.
Street Occupancy Permit Purpose
Street Occupancy Permits are required for work taking place in the public right-of-way as per the Streets and Traffic Bylaw. Applications can be made to temporarily occupy this space for:
Construction deliveries
Construction activities (e.g. crane lift; concrete pour)
Service work (e.g. sign installation; window cleaning)
Waste containers and bins
Please note that these permits are not issued for crew parking purposes.
Application Review Period
The City requires five to seven business days to process permit applications for minor impacts. This timeline gives City staff sufficient time to receive payment and post relevant parking restriction signs in advance. Work with larger impacts requires a longer review period so that the public can be properly informed. Submitting earlier applications increases the likelihood of your permit being issued.
Permit Requirements
To prioritize vulnerable road users, the City has specific guidelines for work being done on walking routes and cycling routes. Read these before applying for a faster and smoother permitting process.
Applications must be submitted online.
Apply for a Street Occupancy Permit
Fees
Please note that the fee structure has been updated to better reflect the City’s transportation priorities and the impacts on the travelling public. Previously, the fee structure had not been updated since 2004. The new fees are now being administered for all new and ongoing permit requests.
Fees are set by the Streets & Traffic Bylaw and determined through a calculation of the area occupied and the number/type of lane closures – see below for the complete fee schedule.
Impact Type | Fee Effective September 1, 2024 |
|---|---|
Occupancy | Per 13 m squared per day |
Boulevard | $10 |
Sidewalk | $20 |
Roadway- Metered Street | $20 |
Roadway- Un-metered Street | $15 |
Parking Space Reservation* | $50 per visit (typically $100 per permit) |
Closure | Per lane per day |
Vehicle lane, or sidewalk closure where no accommodation can be maintained on the same side of the roadway | $50 – Local $75 – Collector $100 – Secondary Arterial $250 – Arterial |
All Ages and Abilities (AAA) bike lane | $100 – Local, Collector, Secondary Arterial $250 – Arterial |
Administration and Enforcement | Where Applicable |
Late Application Fee (less than 48 hours’ notice)** | $50 per application |
Traffic Control Plan Review Charge | $70 per hour – to be applied when multiple submissions and significant staff review time is required. |
Non-Compliance Penalty | Up to $1,000 for work without permit or failure to follow permit conditions. |
*A parking space is equivalent to 13 square metres.
**We cannot guarantee that late applications will be processed. The Late Application Fee will be applied if the permit is issued.
Contractor’s Permits are required for any work or restoration related to a building permit that will take place on the City right-of-way. All contractors are required to include the following with their application:
a current Worksafe BC Clearance Letter
proof of General Liability Insurance with a minimum of $5,000,000
Note that a Street Occupancy Permit may also be required.
Borehole Permits are required for the construction of investigative boreholes used to sample, study or monitor conditions below the roadway. This is in accordance with the Streets and Traffic Bylaw.
In order to issue a Borehole Permit, the following needs to be included with your application before work can start:
- A letter detailing the scope of work proposed, including but not limited to the number of boreholes, the equipment used to conduct the drilling, the size of the boreholes, schedule of work and anticipated duration of the monitoring program where applicable.
- A fully dimensioned/ detailed plan at a scale of 1:200 showing the location, number and depth of the proposed holes and all existing municipal infrastructure and utilities. Please note that work will be limited to the locations shown on the approved plan.
- A copy of a comprehensive General Liability Insurance policy ($5,000,000 minimum) with the City of Victoria named as a co-insured.
- Proof of current Workers’ Compensation Board registration with proof of up-to-date assessment payment.
- A completed Contractor’s Permit application. The required fee is $35.
- Damage Deposit of $2,000 for up to and including 4 holes and $500 for each additional hole.
- The Security Deposit will be held until acceptance of the final decommissioning of all boreholes, and satisfactory completion of all surface restoration to City of Victoria standards.
- The damage deposit will be returned to the provider of said damage deposit.
For more information on the Borehole Permit application process, please refer to this Borehole Memo to Consultants
In addition to a Street Occupancy Permit, Utility Permits are required if a utility provider needs to do work that requires breaking ground on the City right of way. These can only be applied for by utility providers or their approved subcontractors.
Before you apply, check out the utility application tips and guidelines to ensure a complete application and improve the review time.
For new driveway crossings or driveway upgrades that are not part of the Building Permit Process an application and approval is required before any work is started.
New driveway crossings will need to be built according to the Highway Access Bylaw
For more information:
House Move Permits are required any time a house or other large structure needs to be moved within or through the City's boundaries. Email eng@victoria.ca to ask about a permit.