A Plumbing Permit is required for all plumbing work within a building — including water supply (Supply), drainage (Drain), sanitary piping (Sanitary), and gas piping (Gas). It applies to new commercial construction as well as Tenant Improvement (TI) projects. The Plumbing Permit is typically applied for by the mechanical/plumbing contractor and tied to the issued Building Permit.
Issuing Authority
The permit is issued by the Building Department (City or Municipality) — the same authority that issues the Building Permit. Depending on the project, it may be submitted together with the Building Permit application or filed separately. For commercial projects, a Mechanical/Plumbing Engineer (P.Eng) acts as the Engineer of Record (EoR), stamping the design drawings and submitting Schedule B (Plumbing). Since the Plumbing Permit is applied for once the Building Permit has been issued and construction has begun, always confirm with your plumbing contractor that the permit application has been submitted.
Required Submission Documents
- Plumbing Drawings — Must be stamped by a Mechanical/Plumbing Engineer (P.Eng); submitted with the Building Permit application
- Plumbing Fixture Schedule — Brand, model, and flow rates of all plumbing fixtures
- Drainage & Vent Calculations — Based on BCBC Part 7
- Schedule B (Plumbing) — Submitted as part of the Building Permit Letters of Assurance
- Permit application form and fees
Key Inspections
① Underground Rough-in Inspection
Requested before the concrete slab is poured, when underground piping is being embedded. Before the pipes are covered with concrete, the inspector verifies:
- Pipe sizing and routing match the Plumbing Drawings
- Slope — drain piping must have a minimum slope of 1/8″ per foot (approximately 1%)
- Cleanout locations and accessibility
- Waterproofing membrane penetration treatment
② Above-Grade Rough-in Inspection
Requested after above-ground piping work is complete but before it is concealed behind ceilings or walls — prior to installation of suspended ceilings or drywall. The inspector verifies:
- Water supply pipe sizing and routing
- Vent pipe installation and routing
- Pipe hanger spacing and installation
- Fire-rated assembly penetration treatment
③ Pressure Test
Before concealment, a hydrostatic test or pneumatic test is conducted on water supply and gas lines to check for leaks. The inspector verifies on-site, or the plumbing contractor documents and submits the test results.
④ Final Inspection
Requested once all plumbing work is complete and fixtures are installed. The following must be completed before Final Inspection:
- Water Flow Test: Verify water pressure and flow rates meet design values
- Chlorination Test: Complete chlorination disinfection and submit a Certificate of Chlorination
- Drain Test (Flood Test): Verify all drain lines are functioning properly
- Plumbing Engineer’s Field Review Report and Schedule C-B (Plumbing)
⚠️ GC Note: Coordinate with the plumbing contractor in advance to ensure Schedule C-B is submitted to the Engineer before the Final Inspection. This is a mandatory step to obtain the Occupancy Permit.
What Are the Schedules?
BC construction projects use Letters of Assurance to formally confirm each registered professional’s design and field review responsibilities. The Plumbing permit follows the same Schedule system as the Mechanical Permit — refer to that post for a full breakdown.
| Schedule | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Schedule A | Coordinating Registered Professional oversees the overall project |
| Schedule B | Plumbing design confirmed by the registered P.Eng — submitted at permit application |
| Schedule C-B | Confirms Field Review is complete — required before Final Inspection |
| Schedule C-A | Issued by Coordinating Professional — prerequisite for Occupancy Permit |
Closing Thoughts
Like the Mechanical Permit, the Plumbing Permit generally runs in parallel with the Building Permit, but inspection scheduling and Schedule acquisition must be managed separately. Once the Plumbing Engineer’s Schedule C-B is in hand, the goal is to consolidate all discipline Schedules — mechanical, electrical, structural, and fire suppression (sprinkler) — so the Coordinating Registered Professional can issue Schedule C-A and the project can proceed to Occupancy.
Early coordination with your plumbing contractor and engineer — especially around inspection timing and Field Review scheduling — is the key to avoiding delays at project closeout.
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