All homeowners doing regulated electrical work are required to obtain a permit before they begin. For more information on performing electrical work, getting your permit, municipalities who issue their own electrical permits and working with contractors, please visit our Thinkpermit website.
Homeowners Electrical Safety Guide
A great starting point in understanding how to obtain your permit and what to expect once you have one is the Electrical Safety Homeowner Information Guide.
Applying for your homeowner electrical permit
To apply for a homeowner electrical permit you must complete and submit the following:
- Electrical Homeowner Installation Permit Form 1259
- Your appropriate payment,
- the Homeowner's calculated load demand sheet Form 1379
- the Homeowner Electrical Permit Questionnaire form 1378
to a BCSA local office or Service BC Centre.
For details on permit fees, see the Homeowner permit fee schedule.
Inspecting your work
You must request that a Safety Officer inspect your electrical work before any wiring is concealed or connected to a supply source. This also applies to any wiring for underground installations or installations that will become encased in concrete. Every 180 days, from the date when the homeowner permit for electrical was issued, a Safety Officer is required to conduct an inspection. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to request the inspections, even if no work was completed between the inspections. The completed electrical work must also pass the final inspection by a Safety Officer.
Request these inspections by completing the Electrical Homeowner Inspection Request Form 1011 and submitting it to a BCSA or Service BC Centre.
Owners of other types of buildings
Owners of a strata, non-strata duplex or home with legal suites, and those operating a business from their home, cannot obtain homeowner permits and must hire a licensed contractor to perform legal, permitted work. For more information, please read the Homeowner Scope of Work Directive.