07 Mar What do I need to submit to get a building permit?
The types of drawings required for submission to get a building permit vary somewhat depending in which City you are building.
That said, most Cities have relatively similar lists. Below we’ve compiled a checklist of the drawings that are required for a building permit application in most Cities in the Lower Mainland. However, you may wish to check with your City Building Department, or with a professional company that drafts permit sets for builders and homeowners.
Site Plan
The site plan should show the following details. For the full list of requirements, check your City’s website by following the links at the end of the article.
- Legal description
- Direction the property faces, with north arrow
- Street names
- Site dimensions
- Rooflines and chimneys
- Locations of accesses to parking areas
- Building dimensions, or dimensions of the proposed addition
- Slab elevations
- Locations of trees
- Grades (existing and proposed final) at each corner of the proposed building
- Right-of-ways
- Information about sewer and water connections on the property, as well as City water, storm and sanitary services
- Water pressures
- Location of any gas lines on the property
Note that you will also need to provide an additional Site Plan showing any impermeable surfaces on the property if your building permit is for Vancouver. Dimensions and materials must be shown.
Floor Plans
The floor plans submitted to your City must include:
- Outside floor dimensions
- Room uses and dimensions
- Stair details
- Locations of windows, doors and skylights
- Details of wall assemblies and fire separations
- All plumbing fixtures
- Locations of smoke alarms
- Details showing the locations and sizes of joists, beams, lintels, etc.
- Floor space ratio statements
Once again, this list is not exhaustive. Please check with your City to get the full list of requirements.
Elevation Drawings
Your elevation drawings must show:
- The front, rear and two sides of all new buildings and in most cases, additions
- Exterior cladding
- Floor levels, showing the height above and below grade, including basements, patios and window wells
- Locations of bay windows and chimneys.
- The existing and proposed grade elevation
- Eave overhang dimensions and gutters
- Locations of windows, doors and skylights
- The height of the above-grade concrete around the building
- Roof pitch and material
Construction Details or Cross Sections
Each set of permit drawings for your building permit must include a list of cross sections, as well as specific Construction Details.
See your City’s requirements for applying for a building permit here: