Factory Built Homes

1. Download or print the planning compliance form
2. Use the Municipal Interactive Mapping System to:
   • Locate the property
   • Check zoning designations 
     • Compare the zoning designation to the information provided in the Zoning Bylaw to understand the permitted uses, building regulations, and any other zoning-related details. 
   • Identify Development Permit Areas: 
     • Refer to any additional information provided by the mapping tool regarding these areas. 
   • Access Agriculture Land Designation to determine if the property lies within Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR).  
3. Review Zoning Bylaw Regulations: 
4. Access and review the Zoning Bylaw on the municipal website for setbacks, lot coverage, and building height restrictions. 
5. Complete the Planning & Compliance Form: 
   • Refer to the municipal interactive mapping and the Zoning Bylaw as needed to ensure your responses are in line with the current regulations and designations. 
6. Verify, sign and submit this form with the building permit application package. 

Make sure you follow the checklist below before you apply. This checklist is intended to provide you with the minimum requirements for a factory-built home permit application. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

• Planning Compliance Form
• Factory-Built Home Application Checklist
• Building Permit Application Form
• Agent Authorization Form (required if property owner is not applying for permit)
• To be obtained by the Land Title Office (or lawyer, notary, real estate office): 
  • Title search (acquired within 30 days of your application date) 
  • Covenants, easements and rights-of-way 
• Confirmation that the factory built home meets the following Canadian Standards Association:
  • (CSA) Z240-MH series standard
  • (CSA) A277 series standard
• Site Plan of subject property to scale
  • North arrow and scale
  • Location of existing and proposed driveways, pathways, and patios
  • Location and dimensions of:
    • proposed building footprint
    • setbacks, existing lot lines, rights-of-ways, easements and covenant areas
• Required Drawings – refer to the Drawing Checklist for specifics 
  • The drawings must be submitted on sheets no smaller than 11” x 17” with minimum scale: 3/16” = 1’ floor and 1/8” = 1’ elevations.  
  • Include footing plan, floor plan, cross-section plan 
• Notice of filing for sewage (required if property does not have access to municipal sewer system)
• Site Disclosure Statement – required by Ministry of Environment

• For the location of a factory built home on a lot within a park
• For moving any factory built home to a new lot within a park

• The owner or applicant is responsible for obtaining a permit and calling for inspections for factory-built home placement, additions, decks, and accessory buildings.

• Planning Compliance Form
• Engineering Compliance Form
• Factory-Built Home Application Checklist
• Building Permit Application Form
• To be obtained by the Land Title Office (or lawyer, notary, real estate office): 
  • Title search (acquired within 30 days of your application date) 
  • Covenants, easements and rights-of-way 
• Application for Highway Access Form (for approval of driveway access)
• Confirmation that the factory built home meets the following Canadian Standards Association:
  • (CSA) Z240-MH series standard
  • (CSA) A277 series standard
• Site Plan of subject property to scale
  • North arrow and scale
  • The proposed and required setbacks of the proposed building
  • Location of proposed retaining wall
  • Proposed driveway including the driveway width, distance to closest lot corner and elevation of the driveway at the street and elevation at the garage floor
  • Include location of sanitary sewer, storm hook-up and the location of the water box.
  • Required drawings – refer to the Drawing Checklist for specifics
    • One set of architectural plans on 11 x 17 or larger, minimum scale 3/16” = 1’ for floor plan and 1/8” = 1’ for elevations. (Include braced wall seismic design or engineered structural plans with a Schedule B). Include:
      • Foundation plan
      • Floor plan
      • Elevations
      • Cross section
• Notice of Filing for Sewerage (if applicable)
• Site Disclosure Statement – required by Ministry of Environment
• Business licence of contractor (if applicable)

The Temporary Trailer Permit (TTP), also known as the Temporary Mobile Home Permit, is a specialized permit authorized by Council, allowing uses not in compliance with the Zoning Bylaw. Once approved, an annual renewal fee is levied to sustain the TTP's validity. All applications for this permit fall under the jurisdiction of Temporary Mobile Home Permit Bylaw No. 1685.

Property owners with rural zoned properties over 2 acres can apply for a Temporary Mobile Home Permit under the CAN/CSA-Z240 MH Series of Standards, subject to meeting specific criteria outlined in the Temporary Mobile Home Bylaw: 

• To accommodate or care for a sick or elderly person
• To accommodate a child needing accommodation for the child’s family.
• To accommodate an owner while the owner’s permanent residence is under construction.
• To accommodate farm help
• For the protection of property against vandalism. Council will only issue a permit for this purpose if the parcel is zoned for an industrial or commercial use.

• Planning Compliance Form
• Engineering Compliance Form
• Factory-Built Home Application Checklist
• Building Permit Application Form
• To be obtained by the Land Title Office (or lawyer, notary, real estate office): 
  • Title search (acquired within 30 days of your application date) 
  • Covenants, easements and rights-of-way 
• Application for Highway Access Form (for approval of driveway access)
• Confirmation that the factory built home meets the following Canadian Standards Association:
  • (CSA) Z240-MH series standard
  • (CSA) A277 series standard
• Site Plan of subject property to scale
  • North arrow and scale
    • The proposed and required setbacks of the proposed building
    • Location of proposed retaining walls
    • Proposed driveway including the driveway width, distance to closest lot corner and elevation of the driveway at the street and elevation at the garage floor
    • Include location of sanitary sewer, storm hook-up and the location of the water box.
• Required drawings – refer to the Drawing Checklist for specifics
  • One set of architectural plans on 11 x 17 or larger, minimum scale 3/16” = 1’ for floor plan and 1/8” = 1’ for elevations. (Include braced wall seismic design or engineered structural plans with a Schedule B). Include:
    • Foundation plan
    • Floor plan
    • Elevations
    • Cross section
• Notice of Filing for Sewerage (if applicable)
• Site Disclosure Statement – required by Ministry of Environment
• Business licence of contractor (if applicable)

If Council approves the Temporary Trailer Permit, a permit will be drafted, authorized, and issued. Concurrently, a Notice of Permit will be registered with the Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia, and will appear on the property title. The permit may stipulate specific conditions and requirements pertinent to the temporary use. Once all these conditions and requirements have been satisfactorily met, one may proceed to apply for and obtain a building permit for a factory-built home.

1. Email a completed Building Permit Application Form to building@northcowichan.ca and request a file upload ShareLink. In the subject line of the email, title it “Request for ShareLink” 
2. Upload the required checklist documentation to Sharelink.

• Once received, your request will be processed.

• The permit fee is set out in the Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784. Contact the Planning & Building Department to confirm amount owed
• Permit fees are payable by: 
  • cash, interact, cheque or money order - made payable to the Corporation of the District of North Cowichan 
  • online payment - please use “North Cowichan – A/R” as the payee, using folder number BP00…. as your account to identify the fee you are paying. We request that you email a copy of your Fee Slip to finance@northcowichan.ca when payment has been made and copy the email to building@northcowichan.ca. Applicants may need to contact their financial institution for vendor account formatting. 
• Credit cards are not accepted.  
• A fee slip with be sent to the applicant once the permit is approved. 
• The permit fee does not include the Development Permit fee if one is determined to be required.