The Building Department deals with all sorts of construction issues, and we get a lot of questions. If you can't find the answer that you need here, you can give us a call at 604-294-7130 or email us at building@burnaby.ca. If we can't answer your question, we'll get you to someone who can.

I want to ask about:

Trees  Fences & Walls  Refunds & Fees  Permits  Renovating & Repairs  Building a New House  Building Site Nearby  Electrical Work  Plumbing Work

Gas Work  Inspectors & Inspections  Messy Yards & Sites  Complaints  Signs  My Property  Secondary Suites  Heating  Useful Links

Trees

• Do I need a permit for removing residential trees?
  • Yes, if:

    »	You are developing your property and your tree is 20.3 cm (8 in.) in diameter or greater
    »	You are NOT developing your property and you have a Conifer tree which is 30.5 cm (12 in.) in diameter or greater
    »	You are NOT developing your property and you have a Broadleaf tree which is 45.7 cm (18 in.) in diameter or greater
    »	You have trees in a covenant
    »	You have trees close to a creek or ravine
    »	You have trees that are ‘retained trees’ or ‘replacement trees’
    »	You have trees that were planted pursuant to a landscaping plan
    »	Burnaby Tree Bylaw

• Can I cut trees that belong to the City of Burnaby?

  • No. If you have an issue with a City tree, please call 604-297-4500. We will send one of our field arborists to take care of any required work.

Fences & Walls

• Should there be fencing on a commercial construction site?

  • The Building Code states that when a construction or demolition activity may constitute a hazard to the public a fence or barricade not less than 1.8 m high shall be erected between the site and a public way or open sides of a construction site.

• Should there be fencing around a residential construction site

  • The Building Code states that when a construction or demolition activity may constitute a hazard to the public a fence or barricade not less than 1.8 m high shall be erected between the site and a public way or open sides of a construction site.

• My neighbour's retaining wall might fall onto my property. Am I responsible for the damage?

  • No.  If it is your neighbour's wall, your neighbour is responsible for it and any damage it causes.

• How can I find out who owns a particular retaining wall?

  • People own the walls on their property. Find out where the property line is, where the wall is, and you have the owner.

• Who pays to rebuild a fence?

  • The person building the fence is responsible for any costs. There is no law that says you have to have a fence (unless you have a swimming pool), or pay for a fence that someone else wants to build, or share the cost of a fence.

• How high can my fence be?

  • The rule of thumb is 3' in the front yard and 6' in the rear yard. There are a few exceptions (around Brentwood Mall, in industrial areas).

Refunds & Fees

• How do I get my refund on damage deposits, once my Building Permit has been finalized?

  • Contact the Engineering Department.

• How do I get my refund on Tree permits?

  • The City of Burnaby will send you the money. We hold the Tree deposit for a year after replacement trees are planted properly. We diarise the date, reinspect, call you to confirm your address, then arrange for a refund cheque to be sent. If you want to confirm when we'll be out to look at the trees (and send you a cheque) call the Building Department at 604-294-7130.

• What do you charge for permit fees?

  • Permit fees are based on the value of the work done. You can Check the Permit Fees Schedule or call 604-294-7130.

• Can I make permit payments by credit card?

  • Yes, you can pay by Visa, MasterCard or American Express for a permit fee. Per the City of Burnaby Fee Recovery Bylaw 13640; a fee of 1.75% will be charged at the time of the transaction to recover the costs the City of Burnaby pays for accepting credit cards as payment. Learn more »

Permits

• Do I need a permit?
  • Yes, if you are:
    1. demolishing an existing building or building a new building, addition, decks, garages or carports
    2. moving walls, changing roofs, adding windows and doors
    3. adding piping (for example to move or add a sink or a tub)
    4. adding wiring and electrical outlets
  • No, if you are:
    1. changing cabinets, flooring or fixtures
    2. building a fence
    3. building patio
    4. doing maintenance repairs
• Do I need a permit to remove an underground oil tank?

  • Yes.  Information about tank decommissioning permits can be found in our Oil Tanks Brochure.

• Do I need a permit for maintenance work of an existing building?

  • No.

• Do I need a permit to change siding, replacing roofing, windows, etc.?

  • Generally not, but if you change the way the roof is built, or put in more or larger windows or the scope of renovation is large enough, such as gutting the house, a permit is required.  Please contact the Building Department at 604-294-7130 and talk to an inspector.

• What do I need to apply for a permit?

  • If you are applying for a Building Permit generally you'll need drawings.  Please check out our brochures on permit application or talk to a plan checker.

    If you're applying for a Trades permit, you'll need to fill out the appropriate application form.

• Can I download an application/complaint form?

  • Yes.  Visit our index of all Applications and Forms for the Building Department.

• What is the processing time for a building permit for a new house?

  • It can take six (6) to eight (8) weeks to issue the building permit.

Renovations & Repairs

• I want to renovate my home, do I need any permits?

  • It depends on what you are doing. If you are simply changing cabinets, flooring or fixtures, then you don't need a permit. If you are adding piping (for example to move or add a sink or a tub) or moving walls, changing roofs or adding windows and doors, decks or electrical outlets, then you will need a permit.  If the scope of work is large enough, such as gutting a house, a permit is required.

• Do I need rainscreen in a building envelope repair or when I change the siding?

  • No, if you are only repairing or changing the siding.

Building a New House

• What size of house can I build on my lot?

  • The size of house you can build depends on the size of the lot and the zoning of the lot. For the most accurate and up to date information, please call us at 604-294-7130.

• What sort of documents do I need to apply for a permit?

  • Building Permit Application for Single and Two Family Dwellings is a brochure that outlines all the Building permit application requirements for single and two family homes.

Building Site Nearby

• How do I find out if they have a permit?

  • You can give us a call at 604-294-7130.

• Are they building according to plans?

  • Our Building Inspectors will make sure that the works match the approved plans.

• When can they start/finish work?

  • Allowable work hours:

    1. - Monday to Friday - 7am-8pm
    2. - Saturday - 9am-8pm
    3. - Sunday and Stat Holidays - No construction allowed unless you are doing some minor work of your own house.

    For any other questions related to construction hour, please contact Engineering Department at 604-294-7460.

• Do I have to let them use my water or electricity?

  • No.  You have no obligation to provide these services.

Electrical Work

• How long will it take for electrical power to be restored to my house if it's been disconnected?

  • We notify BC Hydro when it is okay to reconnect. It takes Hydro 3 to 5 working days to reconnect the power. If your house has been disconnected for safety reason, we have to do a special safety inspection and all infractions have to be corrected before we inform Hydro to reconnect.

• I want to do some electrical upgrades on my house, do I need a permit and can I obtain the permit as a homeowner?

  • You need a permit if you are adding wiring or fixtures, or changing the panel.

    You can apply for a permit to work on your own house but we'll ask you to write a straightforward competency test to make sure you are capable of doing the upgrades.

• Do I need a permit to setup a pole at my site to get electrical service?

  • Yes.  You need an electrical permit for a temporary saw service.

• Is it acceptable to use off-site fuel (e.g. natural gas) to supply an emergency generator that are required by the building code?

  • No. The code requires the emergency power supply to be designed so that, in the event of a failure of the normal power source, there is an immediate automatic transfer to emergency power with no loss of information.  There is no guarantee that an off-site fuel supply is always available.

Plumbing Work

• Where can I use combustible plumbing pipes?

  • Generally if the building is of combustible construction.  Check with the Building Inspector.

• Can I do plumbing work on my own house?

  • Changing sinks, tubs, or taps does not require a permit. Adding piping, on the other hand, will require a permit. You can do it yourself, but you will have to sign a Homeowner's Declaration before we issue the permit to you. Homeowners applying for a permit will have to submit a drainage and water pipe drawing.

Gas Work

• Do gas fireplaces installation require a permit?

  • Yes.  You need a permit to install a new fireplace, and to repair or replace an existing fireplace.

• What do I do if I suspect there are carbon monoxide emission inside my home?

  • Immediately contact Fortis BC at 1-800-663-9911.

Inspectors & Inspections

• How can I talk to an inspector?

  • Inspectors are in the office for phone calls from 8:00 am to 8:30 am. and available at the counter between 8:30 am to 9:00 but you must arrive at the counter before 8:30 am.  After this time they will be out for inspections and are unavailable. Please call 604-294-7130 to get in touch with an inspector.

• Can I book inspections online?

  • No.  Please call 604-294-7130 between 8:30 am and 3:00 pm to book an inspection for the following day.

• How do I book an inspection?

  • Please call 604-294-7130 between 8:30 am and 3:00 pm to book an inspection for the following day. Make sure you have the address and permit number ready.

Messy Yards & Sites

• My neighbour has garbage all over their lot. What can I do?

  • The house might be breaking the "Unsightly Premises" bylaw. Contact the Burnaby Licence Department at 604-294-7320.

Complaints

• Where do I complain about construction noise?

  • Please read the Noise and Sound Abatement Brochure and contact the Engineering Department at 604-294-7460.

• How do I complain about an illegal construction?

  • Please call the Building Department at 604-294-7130.

• How can I complain about an illegal suite?

  • You'll need to give us a written complaint, and to confirm that you live in the neighbourhood by giving us your name and address (we keep both confidential).

Signs

• Do I need a permit to install a sign?

  • Yes. The size and location of the sign may be limited by the Sign Bylaw. If the sign is illuminated you'll also need an electrical permit. Please visit the Signs webpage or call the Planning Department 604-294-7401 for more information.

My Property

• How big of a house can I build on my property?

  • The size of the house you can build depends on the size of the lot and the zoning of the lot. For more accurate and up to date information please call us at 604-294-7130 and talk to a plan checker.

• Where is my property line?

  • Only a Surveyor can tell you this with certainty. Here is how you can do a rough estimate on your own:

    1. Look at your mortgage survey, figure out how far your house is from the property lines and measure it out,
    2. Look through the Building Department records for a survey of your property, or
    3. Find the pins at the corners of the property and tie a line between them  
• How big is my lot?

  • Type in your address to the Burnaby Map and the information for your property will show. You can also use this map to find lot dimensions.

• Where are my water sewer connections?

  • This information can be obtained from the Engineering Department, 4th Floor, over the phone, by fax or mail.  If you want a hard copy and are not the registered owner, a fee will be required. For other utility information such as Telus or BC Hydro, please contact those agencies directly or call BC One Call at 1-800-474-6886.

Secondary Suites

• What determines if my Secondary Suite is legal?

  • A suite is legal if it has an approved building permit.

• What is the difference between a two-family dwelling and a single-family dwelling with a secondary suite?
  • A two family dwelling is two dwelling units that share a common wall and may be owned separately through strata title. A secondary suite must be completely enclosed within a single family dwelling. Secondary suites are not permitted to be part of any unit within a two family dwelling. The secondary suite cannot be subject to a separate title.
• Are in- law/caregiver suites still permitted?

  • In-Law/Caregiver suite are no longer permitted as accessory use. Existing licensed in-law suites are permitted to continue as a legal non-conforming use so long as their annual licence and statutory declaration are maintained and the suite continues to be occupied in accordance with the statutory declaration. However, they will be subject to utility fees.

• Does my secondary suite get a separate mailing address?

  • No. The legal mailing address for the residence will apply to the secondary suite.

• Is the additional utility fee waived if the secondary suite is unoccupied?

  • Please contact the Tax Office at 604-294-7350.

• Are there other issues that would not permit a secondary suite to be allowed on a residential property?

  • The property title will be reviewed to ensure that there is no registered land use contract or restrictive covenant that would not permit a secondary suite. Secondary suites are not permitted:

    » in two-family dwellings; or
    » in conjunction with an in-law suite; or
    » with home occupations that provide in-house client services.

• What is the bylaw enforcement approach for secondary suites?

  • The Secondary Suite Program provides for bylaw enforcement based on citizen-initiated complaints and includes a process to address the subject of the complaint and to facilitate legalization of unauthorized suites.

Heating

• Where can I get a heating permit?

  • The Building Department issues heating permits for dwelling units. General information about Heating Permits can be found in our brochure on Heating System Permits. If this doesn't answer your question, please call us at 604-294-7130 for more information.

• Do fireplace installation require a permit?

  • Yes.  Installation of a wood burning fireplace requires a building permit; a gas fireplace require a gas permit and are inspected by Inspectors.

• Is there a minimum temperature my house/apartment/suite should be kept at?

  • No.  The Building Code specifies that the building must be capable of being heated to minimum standards, but there is no law saying the house has to be kept at that minimum.

Useful Links

• Technical Safety BC
• Building & Safety Standards Branch
• Building Officials' Association of BC
• Canadian Home Builders' Association
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
• Canadian Commission On Building and Fire Codes
• BC Housing
• Licence Inspectors' and Bylaw Officers' Association of BC
• Standards Council of Canada