Do you need a permit for a hot tub in BC?
Technical Safety BC requires a permit before regulated electrical work starts unless an exemption applies, and a new circuit for a hot tub is electrical installation work. The contractor you hire usually applies for it.
Do you need an electrical permit for a hot tub in BC?
Technical Safety BC says a permit is required before regulated electrical work starts, unless an exemption applies. In general, you need one when you install, alter or extend an electrical system. A new circuit from your panel to a hot tub is electrical installation work, and your electrician confirms the permit for your job.
Ask about the permit before the work begins. Technical Safety BC tells homeowners to check that a permit is in place before work starts.
Who applies for the electrical permit?
If you hire a licensed contractor, the contractor applies for the permit for you. Technical Safety BC says licensed contractors typically obtain the permits for the work they are hired to do.
Homeowners can apply for a permit themselves in some cases. Owners of a strata unit, owners of a non-strata duplex and people who run a business from home cannot get a homeowner permit, and they must hire a licensed contractor. Depending on where your property is, either Technical Safety BC or your municipality issues the permit.
Do you need a building permit for a hot tub?
Building rules for a hot tub depend on where you live, and the right office to ask is your own municipality or regional district. Call the building department for your address and tell them the tub's size, the spot you have in mind and whether it sits on a pad or a deck.
Ask what they require, and write down the answer. Ask for it in writing if you can, so you and your electrician work from the same information.
What should you say when you call, and in what order?
Give the building department the facts about the tub and the spot, then ask what it requires. Have these ready.
Start with the calls that decide the rest, and keep the paperwork in one place.
- The One Model's acrylic shell is 86 by 86 inches, and the tub stands 38 inches high.
- The tub holds 345 US gallons, about 1,300 litres.
- The tub will sit on a pad or a deck, and the spot is at your address.
- The tub needs a dedicated 240V circuit on 50 amps, installed by a licensed electrician.
- Ask whether anything beyond the electrical permit is required.
- Call your municipality or regional district about building rules for the tub and the spot.
- Get a quote from a licensed electrician, and ask whether the permit cost is in it.
- Confirm with the electrician that the permit is in place before the work begins.
- Have the video call with the Good Hot Tubs team, so the yard, the route and any crane are settled.
- Keep a copy of the permit once the job is done.
What is Nanaimo's rule for a hot tub on a deck?
The City of Nanaimo's deck guide has a rule for hot tubs on decks. It says a structural engineer will be required for the design and field review of deck structures supporting a hot tub. The engineer provides sealed plans and letters of assurance, one when you apply and one when the work is complete.
The guide adds that building owners are responsible for full compliance. If your tub is going on a deck in Nanaimo, start with the engineer. For any other address, check with your own municipality or regional district.
Why use a licensed worker and a permit?
The King County public health hot tub guide (Seattle and King County, Washington) recommends licensed workers for all utility work, done under the permits your local government issues. It calls the permit an opportunity to make sure the tub and its equipment are installed safely and correctly.
Ask your electrician for a copy of the permit when the job is finished, and keep it with your home records.
How does the One Model handle permits?
The One Model needs a dedicated 240V circuit on 50 amps, installed by a licensed electrician. That electrician usually applies for the electrical permit. Ask whether the permit cost is in the quote. On Vancouver Island, Good Hot Tubs' average for the electrical work is $1,500 to $2,000.
The video call before you order looks at your yard, so any deck, pad or crane question comes up before you buy. A local expert delivers and sets up the tub once the pad and the circuit are ready.
Questions
Do you need a permit to install a hot tub in BC?
Technical Safety BC requires a permit before regulated electrical work starts. For building rules, check with your municipality or regional district.
Do I need a permit for a hot tub in Nanaimo?
Nanaimo's deck guide says a structural engineer will be required for deck structures supporting a hot tub, with sealed plans and letters of assurance. For a tub on the ground, ask Nanaimo's building department.
Who checks that the electrical permit is in place?
Technical Safety BC says to check that a permit is in place before work begins. Your electrician confirms the permit for your job.
Can a homeowner get an electrical permit in BC?
Often yes, but owners of a strata unit, a non-strata duplex or a home business must hire a licensed contractor. If you hire a contractor, the contractor applies for you.
Sources
General facts on this page come from these public sources. Facts about the One Model come from Good Hot Tubs.
- Electrical Installation Permits. Technical Safety BC.
- Homeowner Electrical Permits. Technical Safety BC.
- Deck Addition Guide with Sample Plans (PDF). City of Nanaimo.
- Staying Happy and Healthy in Your Hot Tub, sixth edition (PDF). Public Health, Seattle and King County.
Related answers
Is the One Model right for you?
Ten questions about your home and how you would use a hot tub. You see your result before you give any contact details, and you can ask for a test soak on Vancouver Island when you send it.