Permits and licensing · British Columbia
Renovation permits and contractor licences in British Columbia
In British Columbia, Technical Safety BC licenses electrical and gas contractors and issues most electrical and gas permits, BC Housing licenses residential builders for new homes, and building and plumbing permits come from your local government or First Nation.
Regulators and licensing bodies in British Columbia
These official bodies license contractors, oversee safety or issue permits in British Columbia.
Technical Safety BC
Licenses contractors and issues installation permits for regulated work such as electrical and gas, except in local governments that issue their own permits.
BC Housing – Licensing and Consumer Services
Licenses residential builders: a general contractor, developer or building envelope renovator who wants to build a new home in BC must first become a licensed residential builder. It also oversees new-home registration and home warranty insurance.
SkilledTradesBC
Manages trades certification. In compulsory trades such as construction electrician and gasfitter, workers must be registered apprentices or trade qualifiers, or certified journeypersons.
WorkSafeBC
Issues clearance letters that confirm a contractor is in good standing with WorkSafeBC.
Trades that need a licence in British Columbia
Electrical work
Both licensed contractors and homeowners installing electrical equipment need an electrical installation permit. Technical Safety BC issues them, except in local governments that issue their own, such as Burnaby, Surrey, Vancouver and Victoria. Construction electrician is a compulsory trade.
Sources:Technical Safety BC – Electrical installation permits(opens in a new tab)Technical Safety BC – Jurisdiction(opens in a new tab)SkilledTradesBC – Skilled Trades Certification (compulsory trades)(opens in a new tab)
Gas and fuel-burning appliances
Licensed contractors installing regulated gas equipment need a gas installation permit, from Technical Safety BC or, in cities such as Vancouver, Burnaby and Richmond, from the local government. Gasfitter Class A and Class B are compulsory trades.
Sources:Technical Safety BC – Gas installation permits(opens in a new tab)Technical Safety BC – Jurisdiction(opens in a new tab)SkilledTradesBC – Skilled Trades Certification (compulsory trades)(opens in a new tab)
Plumbing
Plumbing permits come from your local government. Plumber is not on SkilledTradesBC’s list of compulsory trades, so ask about the plumber’s credentials and verify any certificate with SkilledTradesBC.
Sources:Province of BC – Building or renovation permits(opens in a new tab)Victoria – Plumbing permits(opens in a new tab)SkilledTradesBC – Skilled Trades Certification (compulsory trades)(opens in a new tab)
New-home building and warranty
Anyone building a new home as a general contractor, developer or building envelope renovator must first become a licensed residential builder with BC Housing, and new homes built by licensed builders need home warranty insurance.
Sources:BC Housing – Builder and developer licensing(opens in a new tab)BC Housing – New home registration and warranty(opens in a new tab)
Building and renovation permits in British Columbia
The Province advises that you need the required permits before any stage of a building or renovation project can begin. Building permits come from your local government or First Nation, and requirements vary by project and location. Electrical and gas permits are handled separately, as described above.
Sources:Province of BC – Building or renovation permits(opens in a new tab)
Permit information from large municipalities
Before you hire a contractor in British Columbia
Practical checks you can do yourself, using official tools where they exist.
For electrical or gas work, confirm the contractor holds an active Technical Safety BC licence.
Official lookup: Technical Safety BC – Find a licensed contractor(opens in a new tab)
Verify a tradesperson’s Certificate of Qualification or Red Seal with SkilledTradesBC.
Official lookup: SkilledTradesBC – Verify a tradesperson’s certification(opens in a new tab)
Get a WorkSafeBC clearance letter for each contractor. Otherwise you could be held jointly liable for unpaid WorkSafeBC premiums.
Official lookup: WorkSafeBC – Get a clearance letter(opens in a new tab)
Buying or building a new home? Check the builder’s licence and the home’s registration with BC Housing.
Official lookup: BC Housing – Buying and selling a new home(opens in a new tab)
Before work starts, confirm who will apply for each permit: your local government for building and plumbing, and Technical Safety BC or your city for electrical and gas.
Get a written contract that sets out the work, the total price and the payment terms, and compare several quotes.
Sources for renovation permits and licences in British Columbia
Every fact on this page comes from these official sources.
- Technical Safety BC – Electrical installation permits(opens in a new tab)
- Technical Safety BC – Jurisdiction(opens in a new tab)
- BC Housing – Builder and developer licensing(opens in a new tab)
- BC Housing – New home registration and warranty(opens in a new tab)
- SkilledTradesBC – Skilled Trades Certification (compulsory trades)(opens in a new tab)
- WorkSafeBC – Homeowners(opens in a new tab)
- Technical Safety BC – Gas installation permits(opens in a new tab)
- Province of BC – Building or renovation permits(opens in a new tab)
- Victoria – Plumbing permits(opens in a new tab)
- Consumer Protection BC – Doing a reno? Don’t forget these contract details(opens in a new tab)
Find licensed pros
Compare local pros for the regulated trades in this guide, then confirm their licence with the regulator before you hire.
Renovation permits in other provinces and territories
Planning a renovation?
Describe your project once and hear from local pros. Ask each one for their licence and permit details before you hire.