City Hall issues response on building permit back log

The City of Prince George assures residents that staff are actively working to address concerns about wait times for building inspection services and the potential impact on local business operations.

While the Building Inspection team continues to work diligently, the City is experiencing staffing shortages impacting building inspection timelines. 

Numerous local governments are currently recruiting for similar positions including Kamloops, Burnaby, Penticton, White Rock, Sparwood, the Fraser Valley Regional District, North Cowichan, Sooke, and Nanaimo.

These vacancies span all levels of building inspection roles, from entry-level to chief building officials.

In response, the City of Prince George has taken several proactive steps to reduce impacts on service delivery and support local development:

1. Filling vacancies and staff training. Recruitment for vacant building inspector positions is ongoing and new staff are receiving training and mentorship to begin conducting inspections and plan reviews as soon as possible.
2. Contracting inspection services. To help minimize delays, the City has secured contract inspectors on a short-term basis to assist with both Part 9 and Part 3 building permit processing and inspections.

“We are confident that these measures are already resulting in service improvements. Ensuring continuity of service to the public remains a top priority, and we have been extremely proactive in responding to these issues” Director of Planning and Development Deanna Wasnik said.

Since March there has been a decrease in the backlog of building permit applications by 73 per cent.

“It is important to emphasize that the City is committed to supporting development. We want businesses to open, grow, and succeed. At the same time, we have a duty to ensure all construction projects meet the health and safety requirements outlined in the BC Building Code and the BC Fire Code. That responsibility cannot be compromised.”

2024 was a record-breaking year for issued building permits, with 417 permits issued, representing a combined value of $267 million.

For 2025 the year-to-date total at the end of April is 109 permits worth a combined $143.3 million.