• What does a building permit cost?
• How long does it take to process a building permit?
• How long is a building permit active?
• What information is required for a commercial, industrial, or multi-family building permit?
• When is a geotechnical report required?
• When are Development Cost Charges collected?
• What types of projects are exempt from Development Cost Charges?
• Do I need a building permit for a commercial alteration?

What does a building permit cost?
The permit application fee is based on the type of application. The actual building permit fee is based on the value of construction.
See Building By-law No. 11-80 - Appendix "A"

How long does it take to process a building permit?
Provided a complete application is submitted, our target is to process 80 per cent of all building permit applications.
New single and two family dwelling building permit applications within two weeks.
Tenant improvement permit applications within 1-2 weeks.
Smaller commercial permit applications without a development permit or off-site works and services 3-4 weeks.

Large commercial permits, including development permits and/or off-site works and services, vary from one project to the next; a pre-application meeting with our Planning, Engineering, Fire & Rescue, and Building representatives can be arranged by calling (250) 828-3554. During this meeting, the processing time for the permit can be estimated.

How long is a building permit active?
Once a permit is issued, the application remains active for six months from the application received date. The permit remains active as long as two years and must be completed to the final inspection stage and is subject to the first inspection being made within six months from permit issue date.

All permits expire two years after the permit issue date. The Building Inspector may grant a renewal permit for a further one-year period if he is satisfied the construction is progressing in accordance with the approved plans at a reasonable rate of progress. A permit renewal fee shall be levied in accordance with Scale of Permit Fees Appendix "A".

New Commercial Projects

What information is required for a commercial, industrial, or multi-family building permit?
See Guide to Commercial/Multi-Family Building Permit Applications.

When is a geotechnical report required?
The Community Charter states that "a Building Inspector may require an engineering report when construction is proposed on land that may be subject to flood, mud flows, debris torrents, erosion, landslip, rock falls, and subsidence or avalanche". In Kamloops, we most often encounter a risk of subsidence due to silt bluff and risk of landslip on steep sites.

The report will identify hazards, provide recommendations to address the site conditions, and certify that "the land is safe for the use intended".

The City will rely on the permit when making decisions regarding development of the land and the report will be registered on the title of the property with a covenant to advise a ny future purchasers of the potential risks and the remediation that has taken place.

When are Development Cost Charges collected?
Single-family charges are collected when a subdivision is created and is based on the number of new lots.

Mobile home parks and campground charges are collected when a building permit is issued for servicing and is based on the number of sites created.

Commercial, institutional, and industrial charges are collected at building permit stage and are based on the floor area of the building.

Multi-family charges are collected when the first permit is issued for the site, i.e. site services or units and are based on the number of units.

See Development Cost Charge By-law for details.

What types of projects are exempt from Development Cost Charges?
a. Where the building permit authorizes the construction, alteration, or extension of a building or part of a building that is, or will be, after the construction, alteration, extension, exempt from taxation under Section 220(1)(h) and 224(2)(f) of the Community Charter.

b. The building permit authorizes the construction, alteration, or extension of a building that will, after the construction, alteration or extension,
i) contains less than four self-contained dwelling units, and
ii) be put to no other use other than the residential use in those dwelling units, or

c. The value of the work authorized by the permit does not exceed $50,000 or any other amount prescribed by regulation under the Local Government Act,

d. The building permit authorizes the construction of not-for-profit rental housing,

e. Buildings are constructed for the purposes of storing goods or materials which were previously stored on the land out-of-doors and where the building will be used for no other purpose than such storage. The latter condition shall require a Section 216 covenant to be registered against the title of the land, in priority, for the purpose of enforcing such restriction.

The development is not exempt from payment of applicable Development Cost Charges if the application for the development, which might otherwise qualify under Section b or c above, relates to a single site which, if more fully developed, would allow four or more self-contained residential dwelling units, or for which the total value of the building or structure would exceed $50,000.

If the project involves demolition or partial demolition of an existing building, the DCCs are calculated on the net increase in floor area only, i.e. the old area is a credit.

Commercial Alterations/Tenant Improvements

Do I need a building permit for a commercial alteration?
Yes.

When do I require an architect?
The BC Building Code specifies that where the building area exceeds 600 m², or three storeys in height, or contains an assembly (restaurant, theatre, gym, club, church) or institutional (hospital, care facility) occupancy, the Building Code requires supervision by a registered professional architect or engineer.

When is Public Health approval required?
Drawings submitted for a building permit must be first approved by Public Health when they include a public swimming pool or hot tub (including apartment buildings or care facilities), food store, bakery, food processing, water bottling, daycare for more than ten, a group home for more than seven, a community care facility, or a slaughter house.

The Interior Health Authority's inspectors can be reached at (250) 851-7340 or Fax (250) 851 7341.

What does Building Inspection and Planning staff review in applications for business licences?
The Planning Section reviews your business licence application for parking and permitted use. The use is relative to the site, i.e. is your use permitted in that particular zone?

The BC Building Code reviews the building for conformance with the Building Code for the proposed occupancy. Occupancies are classified based on the use of the building. Changing the occupancy of an existing building triggers BC Building Code requirements regarding fire separation between suites, building construction (combustible versus non combustible), handicap access, and fire alarm. Renovations may also trigger building by law requirements for fire sprinklers.

Homeowner's Questions

How do I get my woodstove inspected?
The Building Inspection Division inspects wood burning appliances for conformance to the BC Building Code. The installation must meet the CSA standard for the "Installation Code for Solid Fuel Appliances and Equipment" and the Manufacturers Installation Instruction.

You can arrange for an inspection by obtaining a Solid Fuel appliance permit at the City of Kamloops Development Engineering Services Department (105 Seymour Street). The permit fee is $50 and an inspection can be arranged at time of payment; the inspector can come to your house as soon as the next day. On the inspection day, you may wish to call the area Building Inspector prior to 9:30 a.m. to arrange the inspection time.

How far does my woodstove have to be from the wall?
Clearances are regulated by CAN/CSA-B365-M91, Installation Code for Solid-Fuel-Burning Appliances and Equipment.

Appliances are tested and certified by CSA, or Underwriters Laboratory of Canada. A label showing the distances from combustible materials of which the appliance was tested is usually attached to the appliance, most often on the back.

The appliance must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications on the label. It is possible to install brick, ceramic, or sheet metal shielding on your walls or ceiling and reduce the required clearance in accordance with the CSA Standard.

What if my stove doesn't have a label?
We only accept certified appliances. Consult your insurance underwriter for non-certified appliance approvals.

How is the clearance measured?
Clearance is measured from the wall surface. If a shield is installed to protect a wall that is considered to be combustible, the clearance is still measured from the wall.

Where is the non-combustible pad under the appliance required?
The pad under the stove is required to protect the floor from embers when you open the door. The pad must extend 18 inches from the appliance at the loading side and 8 inches on the other sides according to the CSA Installation Standard.

Can I use my existing chimney?
A solid-fuel-burning appliance must be connected to either a masonry chimney conforming to the BC Building Code or a factory-built chimney conforming to ULC standard S629. In many cases, the existing chimney (masonry or metal) may not conform to current standards or manufacturers' appliance requirements. Therefore, it would require review by a qualified mason/installer prior to considering installation of a solid-fuel-burning appliance.

Demolishing/Moving Buildings

Do I need a permit to demolish a building?
A separate demolition permit is required to demolish a building unless you already have an active building permit for reconstruction that includes the demolition work.

What is required for a demolition permit?
An application from the building owner or his/her agent. A security is to be provided in a form satisfactory to the Building Inspector to ensure that the site of the demolition will be left in a safe, neat condition, free from debris or dust, and compliant with neighborhood properties. The amount of security shall be equal to the estimated cost of the site restoration and shall be acceptable to the Building Inspector.
$50 application fee and
$50 fee for building the first and up to 100 m² (1,080 sq. ft.) plus
$25 fee for each additional 100 m² (1,080 sq. ft.) or portion thereof.
See City Building By-law No. 11-80 - Division 11 - Relocation of a Building or Structure

What do I do with the sewer and water connections when I demolish a building?
Every person making application for a permit to demolish a building shall, as part of their application, provide the Building Inspector with satisfactory evidence that:
No unsafe condition will be created or permitted and all utility services to the building have been disconnected and all such disconnections have been approved by the appropriate authority.

How do I move a house within or into the City of Kamloops?
An application from the building owner or his/her agent. There are requirements for structural adequacy, building value, foundation, additions, decks, porches, etc. No person shall relocate a residential building, or part of it, to another parcel of land within the City unless it can be shown that the dwelling, once re-established on the new site, will have an assessed value not less than the average assessed value of all dwellings situated within 50 m (164 ft.) of the subject site.
See City Building By-law No. 11-80 - Division 11 - Relocation of a Building or Structure