Building
Find out everything you need to know before you build.
The Building Department of the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) is responsible for regulating the construction, alteration, repair, or demolition of buildings and structures within Electoral Area D.
Electoral Areas A, B and C are not within SRD’s building inspection service area.
The information on this site is intended as a guide only and does not replace current bylaws and regulations.
For more information, or to ask development-related questions, please email building@srd.ca or call 250-830-6718.
To review a building file please download the Archive Research Form and email it to building@srd.ca
Building Inspections
Why Do We Need Building Inspections?
Building inspection is the process the SRD uses to ensure the safety and integrity of buildings and structures within the service area. Health, fire, structural, and general safety requirements are enforced to protect and promote the health, safety and well-being of all residents. The Building Department of the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) is responsible for regulating the construction, alteration, repair, or demolition of buildings and structures within Electoral Area D.
Building inspectors conduct inspections at various stages of construction, and keep records on file for future reference. Beyond the immediate role of ensuring safe construction, these inspection records provide verification of no longer visible building elements located within a building or structure. Lending institutions, appraisers, lawyers, and others can then rely upon these files in determining the value of a building. Building inspectors can also assist you with the preparation of your building permit application.
If you are planning new construction or a renovation, whether a residence or an accessory building on your property, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to ensure all planning and construction conforms to the SRD Bylaws Building Bylaw No. 158 >>> as well as the province of British Columbia’s Building Code, 2024 edition.
The information on this site is intended as a guide only and does not replace current bylaws and regulations. Applicable SRD bylaws can be accessed from the main page of the building department and may be obtained from the building department office.
Requests for Building Inspection
Please contact SRD’s Building Department at 250-830-6713 | building@srd.ca
Information required is your name, address, contact info and permit number.
Building Permits
Why do you need a permit?
Building permits are required for any new construction, alteration, addition or demolition of a structure in Electoral Area D. Homeowners or builders should complete the appropriate permit application. Once a building permit application has been accepted, it goes through the stages of review before it is ready to be issued. The reviews typically include addressing, planning, zoning and building code compliance.
The building regulation area only includes Electoral Area D.
Electoral Areas A, B and C do not require building permits.
Building Permit Application
We’ve gone digital! Permit applications may now be submitted through the PSD CityWide portal.
📌 *If you are unable to submit a digital application, please contact the Building department – building@srd.ca or 250-830-6718 to make arrangements for submission.
Step by Step Guide to PSD CityWide
The Strathcona Regional District is pleased to offer residents, builders, and the business community an online system to apply for and track building permits. The CityWide building permit system allows you to apply for and see the status of your application anywhere, at any time. You can start an application and finish it later, view updates on the status of your permit application, add additional documents or contacts and check inspection status once your permit is issued.
To Create an Account
To get started with CityWide, you need to create an account. Note you will need an email address to use the system.
- Go to the PSD CityWide Portal at https://citywideportal.com
- Click on “Register” in the top right of the page
- Provide your email address and create a password
- Click ‘Register’.
- CityWide will send an email to the address you have provided
- Open the email and complete the registration
The next time you visit the site, you’ll login using your email and password.
💡 TIP: Bookmark the Citywide Portal page for future access to the site
To Start a New Application
- Login to City Wide
- Click on Area D Building Permits.
- The first time you log in, you will be prompted to complete your profile. Once your profile is completed, click Update User and return to the Home Page by clicking on Home on the top left of the page.
- At any time, you can click Back to make corrections, Save Draft to exit and continue your application at another time, or Quit to end the session and re-start the application at a later date.
- Click Start Application
- Choose Strathcona then click Apply
- Complete Project Name, e.g. Harris kitchen renovation, click Next
- Provide the Address where the work will be taking place. Citywide uses Canada Post addressing. If the property has not been assigned an address, choose a location on the map – don’t worry if it’s not exact, we can fix it.
- Complete contact information– you will automatically be added as the applicant. If you are not the property owner, please click the + Add Contact button to add owner information, including phone number and email. Select Property Owner as the role and scroll down to choose Access Level. Continue to add any other relevant contacts (such as subcontractors, registered professionals, etc.), their role, and access level.
- 📌 You can choose which contacts you would like to have access to your permit. You can always go back and block the contact if they are no longer involved in the project.
- Choose an application type from the drop down, click next. You may need to scroll down to find the relevant type.
- 📌 Residential SDD is a single detached dwelling (formerly SFD).
- Enter the estimated cost of construction. Citywide will calculate the fee based on the value you enter. This may change as we use an appraisal system to calculate construction values.
- The next page lists attachments based on the type of permit you are applying for. As every application is unique, you may not need all the documents listed, nor see all the documents you wish to attach. If the document you wish to attach is listed, click the Upload button and drag and drop the document in to add it. If the document you wish to attach is not listed, use Other and provide a description. You do NOT need to add all of these documents to submit the application; we will review and contact you if more information is needed or edit the list of requirements if some documentation is not required.
- When all your documents have been uploaded, sign the declaration, click I Agree on the bottom right and click Submit.
- 📌 your application is not saved until you click Submit.
Congratulations, your application is submitted. We will contact you in the near future.
Here are some document templates you may need to complete your application:
How long will it take to issue my building permit?
Once the application is submitted through the portal, we will review documents to ensure we have all the information we need for review.
Most applications require Planning Review for Zoning and OCP conformance (setbacks, floodplain elevations, environmental and hazardous conditions etc.). If there are no concerns, this usually takes approximately one week. If we require additional information, reports, or a Development Permit, these requirements must be met prior to building permit review.
If all paperwork is in order, it usually takes one to three weeks for the Building Inspector to review and issue the permit.
Resources
Radon Control For Part 9 Buildings
Radon control options for new construction in low-rise residential buildings
