Do I Need a Permit for HVAC Work in Burnaby or Vancouver?

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When a permit is required

As a general rule, if you are installing new heating or cooling equipment, replacing existing equipment, or doing anything that touches gas piping or venting, a permit is required. Both the City of Burnaby and the City of Vancouver require permits for this kind of work, and gas appliances fall under Technical Safety BC's provincial gas permit system on top of any municipal requirement.

Common HVAC projects that need a permit include:

• Installing or replacing a gas furnace (municipal mechanical permit plus a Technical Safety BC gas permit)
• Installing or replacing a gas water heater, boiler, or gas fireplace
• Adding or replacing an air conditioner or heat pump, which often involves electrical and sometimes gas disconnection
• New or altered gas piping, venting, or ductwork
• Running a new electrical circuit for a heat pump or AC condenser (that portion needs an electrical permit)

Work that generally does not need a permit includes changing your furnace filter, swapping a thermostat like-for-like, or basic cleaning and maintenance that doesn't alter the equipment or gas connections.

Who is supposed to pull the permit

For gas work in BC, the permit must be pulled by a licensed gas contractor, not the homeowner. This is different from some renovation permits you can apply for yourself. A licensed contractor holds the Technical Safety BC gas licence that makes them eligible to install gas appliances and take responsibility for the work being to code.

When you hire a reputable HVAC company, pulling the correct permits is part of the job and should be built into the quote. At CANRO we handle the Technical Safety BC gas permit and coordinate the municipal side for the furnaces, heat pumps, and gas appliances we install across Metro Vancouver. Our gas licence is LGA0043870 and our boiler licence is LBP0046450, and our installers are Red Seal certified.

Why the permit actually matters

Skipping a permit to save time or money tends to cost more later. A permit means the work is inspected against current safety codes, which is especially important with combustion appliances that produce carbon monoxide. It also protects you in three practical ways:

• Home insurance: an unpermitted gas or electrical install can give an insurer grounds to deny a claim after a fire or water loss
• Selling your home: buyers and their inspectors ask for permit records, and unpermitted work can stall or reduce an offer
• Rebates: CleanBC, FortisBC, and Canada Greener Homes Loan programs generally require permitted, professionally installed equipment to qualify

In other words, the permit is not just a formality. It is the paper trail that shows the work was done correctly and keeps your insurance, resale, and rebate eligibility intact.

How to be sure for your specific project

Requirements vary a little by municipality and by the exact scope of work, so the safest step is to confirm before anything gets installed. A licensed contractor can tell you exactly which permits your project needs when they quote it, and you should be cautious of any installer who suggests skipping permits to lower the price. If you want a straight answer for your Burnaby or Vancouver home, call CANRO at (604) 359-1081 or email info@canroheat.ca and we'll walk you through what applies and include the permit in a free written quote.

Frequently asked questions

Reviewed by the CANRO Heating & Cooling service team — July 07, 2026. Technical Safety BC gas licence LGA0043870 · boiler licence LBP0046450 · Red Seal certified · WorkSafeBC and liability insured · 4.9★ from 85+ Google reviews · serving Metro Vancouver since 1999 · (604) 359-1081.