Prince George takes permit applications by email, charges a $100 processing fee on every file, and lists per-square-foot unit values for house work. Here is what needs a permit, what to send and how inspections work.
Who this is for. Properties inside the City of Prince George. Land outside city limits falls under the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, which has its own building rules, so check the address with the Permit Finder first. Not sure you need a permit? Try the permit quiz.
Prince George’s permit rules are in Building Bylaw No. 8922, 2018 (consolidated August 28, 2023). The fees are in Schedule A-1 of the Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 7557 (consolidation revised December 15, 2025; the A-1 building fees took effect January 1, 2024). Applications go to Development Services by email.
Is my project allowed? Zoning decides setbacks, height, lot coverage and whether a suite is allowed on your lot. Check it before you draw or apply for the permit: look up your address on the map, then read your zone in the bylaw.
Checked October 26, 2026 (City of Prince George): PGMap · Zoning Bylaw No. 7850
The City lists these projects as needing a building permit (City of Prince George: building permits):
No building permit is needed for new fences, patios at grade, planters or landscaping, retaining walls under 1.2 m, painting and general maintenance, like-for-like minor repairs that don’t touch structure, plumbing or mechanical systems, or one shed per property under 10 m² (108 ft²). Zoning still controls where those go; the City publishes a guide to residential fence heights.
A plumbing permit is needed to install new fixtures or a water meter, change or add piping, connect to City services, or install on-site servicing. A water meter is required if you add three or more fixtures, make substantial plumbing changes, or add a secondary suite. Replacing a faucet, valve or water heater without changing the piping, or clearing a blockage, needs no plumbing permit.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Processing fee, every building application (non-refundable) | $100 |
| Part 9 and Part 3 construction (commercial, institutional, industrial, multi-residential of 3+ units, and retaining walls): value up to $10,000 | $200 |
| Same, value over $10,000 | $200 + $6.50 per $1,000 or part |
| Manufactured home (CSA Z240 MH) | $400 |
| Plumbing: internal system, install, alter or repair | $70 + $8 per fixture (plus the $100 processing fee) |
| Plumbing: external storm, sanitary or water service | $70 |
| Demolition or moving permit | $100 processing + $75 application; $2,000 security |
| Re-inspection | $100 |
| Re-plan check, or other inspections and reviews | $50 flat or $70 per hour, whichever is greater |
| Permit transfer / extension | $35 or 10% / $40 or 10% of the original fee, whichever is greater |
| Completion permit | $500 or 10% of the original fee, whichever is greater, to a maximum of $1,000 |
Houses and duplexes. For single-family and two-unit residential work, Schedule A-1 lists unit values per square foot: $152 for finished area (including garage, sundeck and accessory dwelling unit) and $124 for unfinished area on new homes; for alterations, $152 for additions, $72 for finished living space, $46 for sundecks and new foundations, $69 for garages and accessory buildings, and $35 for secondary suites. The application form asks for these areas. The schedule doesn’t print the rate applied to that value for house permits, so ask Development Services (250-561-7611) to calculate the fee before you budget. We won’t guess it.
Worked example (Part 9/Part 3 line only). A retaining wall valued at $15,000: $200 + (5 × $6.50) = $232.50, plus the $100 processing fee. If the value you submit is lower than the Marshall Valuation Service figure, the City uses the Marshall figure.
Under Building Bylaw 8922, fees double if work starts before a permit is issued (s.14.2). Owners can get back 90% of the fee if a permit is cancelled before construction or inspections (s.14.5). Where a coordinating registered professional provides letters of assurance, the fee drops by 2.5% (to a maximum reduction of $500, and not below $75).
The City’s checklist for single-family, duplex and other Part 9 residential permits includes (residential application package, PDF):
Additions and alterations need only some of these; the checklist tells you to confirm with staff which apply. The City’s sun deck guide covers a common small project.
Prince George follows the provincial Step Code in Section 9.36 of the 2024 BC Building Code: Step 3 for Part 9 buildings and Step 2 for Part 3. An energy advisor submits a “pre-built” report with the application and an “as-built” report, with an airtightness test, before final inspection or occupancy. The City advises a mid-construction blower-door test to catch leaks before the walls are closed.
Section 18.4 of Building Bylaw 8922 requires at least two business days’ notice and written acceptance before each of these is covered:
| Stage | When |
|---|---|
| Forms | Footing or foundation formwork, before concrete. The City may ask for a BC Land Surveyor’s certificate showing the forms are correctly placed (s.18.7). |
| Drain tile and damp-proofing | Before backfill |
| Storm, sanitary and water service pipes | Before backfill |
| Plumbing | Before concrete is poured or the work is hidden by insulation or finishes |
| Framing | Framing, sheathing, fire stopping, bracing, ductwork and wiring complete, before insulation |
| Ground preparation | Ground cover where required, before a concrete slab |
| Insulation and vapour barrier | Before drywall |
| Final | Substantially complete, before occupancy |
A re-inspection costs $100. Projects in the professional reliance stream, run by a coordinating registered professional, get no building-official review or inspections; the professionals’ field reviews and letters of assurance replace them (professional reliance submission information). For decks, sheds and fences, our deck, shed and fence checklists show what an inspector looks at.
Clearing trees for your project? Our BC tree-cutting permit checker shows the areas where Prince George's tree bylaw needs a permit.
| Purpose | Contact |
|---|---|
| Development Services (permits, zoning questions) | 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC V2L 3V9 · 250-561-7611 · devserv@princegeorge.ca |
| City general line | 250-561-7600 or 311 (Mon–Fri 8:30 am–5:00 pm) |
| Electrical and gas | Technical Safety BC |
Pricing materials first? The deck, shed and fence materials calculator covers decks, sheds and fences.
Every application pays a $100 processing fee. Commercial, multi-residential and retaining-wall permits pay $200 up to $10,000 of value, plus $6.50 per $1,000 above that. For houses and duplexes, Schedule A-1 lists unit values by floor area (for example $152 per ft² of finished area); ask Development Services for the resulting fee.
Yes. A new sundeck, and a roof over or enclosure of a sundeck, are on the City’s list of projects that need a building permit. Patios at grade don’t.
Not for one shed per property under 10 m² (108 ft²), and not for fences. Zoning rules on location and height still apply.
The City doesn’t publish a processing time. Contact Development Services; our wait-times page lists the cities that do publish one.
At least two business days, under section 18.4 of Building Bylaw 8922.
Independent information only. This guide is a planning aid, not legal, engineering or building-code advice. Codes and bylaws change, and the building official for your address has the final say. Confirm every requirement before you design, apply or dig.
This guide relies on the official pages below. Rules, fees and processes change, so check the authority before you apply or spend money.
Links checked September 28, 2026. Found an error or a broken link? Report it.