Frequently Asked Questions

Building and plumbing permits are required for all new construction, temporary buildings and for alterations to existing construction. You should always review your building requirements with City staff before commencing a project. Building Permit Fees found in the Fees and Charges Bylaw Schedule "D" (PDF), depend on the nature and scope of the work being done.

• Construction of a new building
• Addition to existing building
• Addition of attached garages
• Building a new secondary suite or legalizing an existing secondary suite
• Upgrading an existing building or changing its use
• Creating new rooms or spaces within existing building
• Finishing a basement
• Demolishing a building or part of a building
• Building a deck or gazebo
• Installation of a hot tub (PDF)
• Construction of a swimming pool (PDF)
• Adding an accessory building, equipment room, shed, or detached garage over 10m2
• Building a retaining wall over 1.2 metres in height
• Constructing roads within a strata development
• Restoration, maintenance or repair of building’s structural components and systems
• Restoration, maintenance or repair of significant building fire and life safety components and systems
• Storage tanks (PDF)

• Restoration, maintenance or repair of building elements and systems that do not affect the structural or fire and life safety performance of a building
• Emergency maintenance
• Decks less than 0.6 metres above grade (PDF)
• Retaining walls (PDF) under 1.2 metres in height
• Fences
• Repairing drain tile
• Installation of a new roof on an existing building
• Sidewalks or patios on private property
• Storage or garden shed structures under 10 m2 in area, but they must comply with the setbacks stipulated in the Zoning Bylaw

Important note: work that does not require a permit, still needs to comply with the City’s Bylaws and the BC Building Code.

• The permit is required before you begin work on your project.
• To apply for a permit, you will be required to provide information about your project in the form of plans and supporting documentation. Sufficient information is required to demonstrate the proposed work will comply with all applicable Codes, Regulations, Bylaws and property encumbrances (e.g., rights-of-way, covenants, etc.).
• Permits can be obtained through the Building Permits Division.
• Building Permit fees in the Fees and Charges Bylaw Schedule "D" (PDF) are based on the value of construction.
• Depending on the nature of the permit in question, various other charges and securities (Development Cost Charges, Damage Deposits, etc.) may be collected at the time the permit fee balance is due.
• After the building permit is issued you must schedule inspections at regular stages of construction, before proceeding to the next stage of construction.
• Depending on the age of your home or building, for a fee, the Building Division may have a record of your plans and/or form survey. To enquire, please email Building Permits. Please note:
  • Homeowners must provide proof of ownership.
  • Non home owners must provide a completed Agent Authorization Form for Permit Application or File Access (PDF)
  • Realtors and prospective buyers must show a valid purchase agreement

To book your inspection(s), you must have a building or plumbing permit issued:

• Online Inspection Scheduling: the Inspections system is available 24/7
• Schedule the inspection before 4:15 p.m. prior to the day of the inspection
• See Inspections for details and additional information
• Electrical and gas inspections are performed by Technical Safety BC

You must be the owner of the property or produce a Agent Authorization Form for Permit Application or File Access (PDF) in order to apply for a building permit.

The Building Permits Division is here to ensure all construction that occurs within the City meets the minimum standards for life and health safety as prescribed in the BC Building Code, the Safety Standards Act, the BC Electrical Code and the Gas Code.

If you are proposing any new construction on the property or within an existing building on the property, you may need a permit. Contact the Building Permits Division  if you are unsure if you require a permit.

The cost of a building permit depends on the nature and scope of the work being done. Please contact the Building Permits Division for more information on permit costs. For gas and electrical permits, contact Technical Safety BC.

If you are bringing in fill that is not part of an active building permit then you need to contact the environmental section of the Planning Department to determine what is required.

The time of year and complexity of the project will determine the length of time for permits. Contact the Building Permits Division for current timeframes.

Please have your legal description and address information ready and contact the Planning and Development Department or come to City Hall, 3000 Guildford Way, Coquitlam, BC.

To locate your property line pegs, look on your legal plans. If you are unable to locate the pegs using this information, you will have to hire a private land surveyor to resurvey the property and place new pegs. Local land survey offices are listed in the yellow pages. The Building Division may have a form survey for your property, which can be purchased for a fee. Contact the Building Permits Division to see if one exists for your property.

Information in regards to what you can build, permitted uses, required setbacks and building heights on your lot is specified in our Zoning Bylaw. We encourage you to contact the Planning and Development Department or check out the City’s Zoning Bylaw.

Lot-specific information and regulations are outlined in our Zoning Bylaw. However, due to the highly complex and legal nature of the information in this bylaw, interpretation can be difficult, especially if you are unfamiliar with zoning-related information. To ensure you have accurate information on what you can build on your lot, please visit City Hall and talk to the Planning and Development Department or contact them by email.

Depending on the age of your house, a site survey, which shows the forms / foundation placement on the lot, may be available at the Permits section counter. Homeowners can obtain a copy of their site survey by showing proof of ownership. Realtors and prospective buyers need to show us the purchase agreement. Survey certificates can be purchased for a fee at the Building Permits Division Front Counter.

The maximum height for a fence varies depending on the lot, its zoning, and where on the lot the proposed fence is to be located. Contact the Planning and Development Department  for more specific information.

Inspections are typically conducted between 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 (noon) and between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. As inspection levels are usually quite high, it is hard to give a more accurate time than either a.m. or p.m. Please enter morning or afternoon inspection requests in the comments and instructions field through the Inspections system. These morning or afternoon times cannot be guaranteed, however staff will make every effort to satisfy these requests.  A delay in the inspection date or requested time may occur on days when higher volume inspections are scheduled or due to unforeseen circumstances.

Inspectors are assigned areas within the City and this will determine which inspectors will be attending your property.

All approved permits and supporting documents are required to be on site. Also, the final approval slip for all other permits, (plumbing, gas, electrical, sprinkler) are to be on site for this inspection.

Our mapping system QtheMap identifies those lots which may be potentially impacted by high water levels. It is recommended you contact the Building Permits Division for a final determination until all applicable literature is updated.

This is the lowest elevation that you can build livable floor space. Anything constructed below this level has the potential of being impacted by flood waters.

If our records contain a set of the house plans, homeowners may obtain a copy by making a request at our Building Permits Division front counter (you must show proof of ownership). Please contact our Building Permits Division before attending to ensure the City has records for your property. The cost depends on the number of pages to be copied. Staff will let you know at the time of your request what the applicable fees will be.

The size of an accessory building is based on the size of the property and the zoning of the property. Contact our Planning Department at  with the address of the property and staff will be happy to help you. If you have the current coverage of the house and other buildings currently on the property, we can provide you with a more accurate answer other than just the permitted percentage coverage of the site.

Our bylaws require that all surface water be retained on the property. If you have concerns that this may not happen, contact our Building Permits Division with the address of where construction is taking place and staff will place a note on the file to ensure this item is noted as being a potential concern.

Geotechnical engineers are required to ensure the ground being constructed on is able to support the loading of the proposed building. Also, it is to ensure the construction does not negatively impact your property or adjacent properties.

You will have to attend or contact our Building Permits Division to determine this information.

Single Wall Systems

1. A retaining wall exceeding 1.2 metres (4 feet) in height will require a building permit and shall be designed by a professional engineer. 
2. A retaining wall is not permitted to exceed 2.4 metres (8 feet) in height under any circumstances. 
3. Walls exceeding 0.6 metres (2 feet ) in height should have a guard or fence installed on top of it.

Owners of detached single-family dwellings are permitted to perform work on their own plumbing systems providing they meet the following criteria:

• As the owner, you must live in or intend to live in the dwelling upon completion.
• No person other than a member of your immediate family will, with or without compensation, assist with the plumbing work. You must further certify that there is no other dwelling or premises directly attached to your dwelling.
• You are not preparing the building for sale or rent or for occupancy by anyone other than yourself and your household.
• A signed declaration of these conditions, as well as a schematic of the proposed work is required.
• Owners are required to satisfy the building inspector of their competency. For more information, please contact the Building Permits Division.

A right of way (ROW) is an allowance given by a private property owner to the municipality or government to enter on to their private property for a municipal purpose such as water, sewer, road access and other utility services.

Property encumbrances such as right of ways and easements may be viewed at our Engineering Department counter as they have copies of most right of ways and can tell you what they are for. Copying is not permitted. If you require a copy of any of these plans, they can be obtained from:

You can contact the Land Title Office general inquiries phone line at 604-630-9630 or 1-877-577-LTSA (5872). The Land Title Office at the following location: 300 - 88 Sixth Street New Westminster, BC V3L 5B3.

If you need to locate your service connection - water, sanitary or storm you can visit the Engineering & Public Works counter at City Hall or email staff. If you are unable to locate the connection, you may email our Engineering and Public Works for assistance. If you need to turn your water off, you will find that most homes have a main water shut off which is located where the water connection enters the house, usually in the basement or crawlspace. You can shut off the water supply to the house by closing this faucet handle. If there is a leak or break which requires the water to be shut off at the property line, a water shut-off key can be borrowed from the Operations Centre. If you need to report an after hours public works emergency, please call the Engineering and Public Works emergency line at 604-927-3500.

A covenant is an agreement between two parties which would normally put restrictions on land and its use.

This agreement gives private property owners with adjoining properties access to each other’s property for a predetermined purpose.

If the easement is required due to work being done through the City, they will assist you with the procedure. If the easement relates to a private arrangement between two neighbours, you will be required to contact a private lawyer for assistance. 

For title searches and legal document information, please contact the Land Title Office at the following location:

• Land Title Office
• 300 - 88 Sixth Street
• New Westminster, BC V3L 5B3

You can contact the Land Title Office general inquiries phone line at 604-630-9630 or 1-877-577-LTSA (5872).