Requirements & Policies

Onsite Requirements

Development Cost Charges

Please refer to the Development Cost Charges Bylaw No. 3460 [PDF - 5.7 MB] for charges to be paid within respective areas.

Building Permits

Building Bylaw No. 3172 [PDF - 214 KB]

  • Building and servicing requirements as per the BC Building Code and BC Plumbing Code.
  • Permit & Inspection requirements and fees.

Site Servicing Standards

In accordance with Municipal Policy, established August 14, 1991, and as per the Building Bylaw, the following is required for all multi-family, commercial and industrial building permit applications:

  1. Preliminary plan(s) showing siting, parking, landscaping, access and schematic servicing shall be submitted to the Building Department for review by the Municipal Engineer, Municipal Planner and Fire Protection Officer, prior to consideration of detailed site servicing design.
  2. Site Servicing plan(s) prepared and certified by a Professional Engineer shall be submitted to the Building Department for review by the Director of Engineering and Operations.
  3. As-built drawings prepared and certified by a Professional Engineer shall be submitted to the Municipality prior to the issuance of an occupancy permit.

Site services, access and parking subject to review and inspection by the Engineering Department.

Fire protection requirements (access, hydrants, etc.) subject to review by Local Assistant Fire Commissioner.

Offsite Requirements

Works and Services

Works and Services Bylaw No. 2275 [PDF - 164 KB]

  • Governs offsite works and services which may be required as a condition of Building Permit to conform to Service Level requirements.
  • Service Levels are shown on plans which may be viewed at the Engineering and Planning Departments.

Service Level Requirements

Summary - also see Subdivision Bylaw No. 1851 [PDF - 95 KB]

  • Service Level 1:  paved roads, storm drains, sanitary sewers, concrete sidewalks, concrete curbs and gutters, watermains and hydrants, lot connections.
  • Service Level 2:  paved roads, storm drains, sanitary sewers, concrete sidewalks (on one side of the road), concrete curbs and gutters, watermains and hydrants, lot connections.
  • Service Level 3:  paved roads, watermains and hydrants, storm drains and concrete curbs and gutters, lot connections, private percolation sites for sewage disposal.
  • Service Level 4:  paved roads, ditching and driveway culverts, additional drainage where required by Municipal Engineer, private wells, private percolation sites for sewage disposal.

Offsite Construction

  • Required offsite water, sewer and storm drainage works are usually installed by the Municipality at the developer's expense. Cost estimates can be provided upon request.

Other offsite works and services are to be installed as per the following

  1. All works and services required must be installed at the developer's expense to Municipal specifications by a qualified contractor.
  2. A Professional Engineer must submit design drawings for approval, supervise construction and submit certified as-built drawings. Design standard shall be in accordance with Municipal engineering standards. Download the Engineering Standards Manual.
  3. A performance bond, equal to 150% of the estimated construction cost is required to guarantee completion of works. This bond must be posted with the Municipality prior to the issuance of the Building Permit.
  4. Prior to undertaking the offsite construction, the contractor must obtain a Highway Construction Permit [PDF - 78 KB] along with a completed Appendix A - Prime Contractor's Main Responsibilties Form [PDF - 240 KB]from the Municipality at a cost of $100.
  5. Completion of all works and services includes a one-year maintenance agreement with bonding at 10% of the construction cost.
  6. All bonding will either be in the form of a cash deposit, certified cheque or Letter of Credit which is extended automatically at the expiry date unless notification from the Municipality of North Cowichan is received that the bond can be cancelled.
  7. Specific conditions as determined by the Municipal Engineer may apply to particular projects. The developer is also responsible for obtaining approvals from other authorities and agencies as may be required.

Cash bonding in lieu of construction of offsite works and services may be required in some circumstances.

Specific details regarding offsite requirements and costs to be discussed with the Engineering Department.

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