When is a Building Permit Required?

Work that is a building operation requires a Building Permit.

It is an offence under the Building Act 1988 to perform any of the works listed below unless a permit has been obtained in writing from the Building Official.

Residential Buildings

  • the excavation or quarrying of any land, including that under an existing building;
  • the demolition of any building or structure except where the following conditions are met:
    1. the building or structure is located a minimum of 25 feet from any road or boundary; and
    2. the building does not contain any old vinyl floor tiles (exceeding 30 years old) or any pipe insulation (exceeding 30 years old) or asbestos corrugated roofing; and the Department of Health has conducted a preliminary inspection to confirm the above.
  • the erection of any building or structure, whether permanent or temporary;
  • the carrying out of any structural alteration or extension of any building, including the removal of any parts of internal load bearing walls or of fire partitions or walls;
  • the carrying out of works for the purpose of effecting a material change in use of the building or premises;
  • the installation or renewal of an electrical system;
  • the installation or renewal of any plumbing or drainage or sewage disposal system;
  • the installation or renewal of any gas fuel system;
  • the reconstruction of a building;
  • the conversion of a movable object into a building;
  • the removal of a building from one site and its re‐erection elsewhere;
  • the roofing over of an open space between walls or buildings;
  • the installation, renewal, renovation or change of any mechanical system containing more than 6.6 lbs (3kg) of refrigerant; and,
  • the installation of any fuel burning system other than a cook top or oven even if the fuel burning system piping is not being altered.

Commerical Buildings

  • the excavation or quarrying of any land, including that under an existing building;
  • the demolition of any building or structure that is within 25 feet of a road or to which the public has access;
  • the erection of any building or structure, whether permanent or
    temporary;
  • the carrying out of any structural alteration or extension of any building, including the removal of any parts of internal load bearing walls or of fire partitions or walls;
  • the carrying out of works for the purpose of effecting a material change in use of the building or premises. A material change in use shall mean a change from one use group to another in accordance with the building codes;
  • the installation or renewal of an electrical system;
  • the installation or renewal of any plumbing or drainage or sewage
    disposal system;
  • the installation or renewal of any gas fuel system;
  • the installation or renewal of any mechanical systems;
  • the installation, renewal, renovation or change to any mechanical system
    containing more than 6.6 pounds (3 kg) of refrigerant;
  • the reconstruction of a building;
  • the conversion of a movable object into a building;
  • the removal of a building from one site and its re-erection elsewhere;
    and,
  • the roofing over of an open space between walls or buildings.

Letters of objection and/or representation should be emailed to planningfrontdesk@gov.bm referencing the PLAN or SUB number in the subject line.

Seven Arches Building, 3rd Floor, 44 Church Street, City of Hamilton, HM12, Bermuda

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