Permit Connect B.C.
Last updated on March 13, 2025
The B.C. government is streamlining and simplifying the way permits are issued by the provincial government. It is coordinating the permit process based on priority initiatives. From this page you can access the permit process for each type of initiative and learn about how permitting works in each area.
On this page
Permit Connect Navigator Service
The Permit Connect Navigator Service (PCNS) is a portal for registering your housing or electrification project. Through this service, you can talk to a navigator who will help to coordinate the permitting process and identify which natural resource provincial permits you will need.
You will need a BCeID to access the PCNS.
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How the service works
The Permit Connect Navigator Service contains dedicated staff, called navigators, who partner with applicants to navigate the natural resource authorizations required for housing and electrification projects.
All housing, connectivity and electrification enquiries can be directed to the navigators, who work with applicants to answer questions and resolve issues, before and after application submission. The completion of a project intake form collects geographic coordinates and additional project-specific information to ensure that all applications for a project are prioritized and coordinated efficiently.
What the service provides
The Permit Connect Navigator Service provides a specialized client service by actively supporting and guiding applicants through the applications and the permitting process to determine which natural resource permits may be required. It also provides:
- Help with sequencing permits where necessary
- A central point of contact for enquiries
- Timely permit application status/progress updates to applicants
- A way to identify linked authorizations and coordination efforts for multi-authorization projects
- A tailored report with location-based permit information “status” of the application area
Navigators help answer:
- Questions about project permitting (such as status updates)
- Questions about what permits are needed or not needed
- General housing, connectivity and electrification questions
Electrification
The B.C. government has announced new legislation to come in spring 2025 allowing the regulation of renewable energy projects, such as wind and solar, to move under the authority of the BC Energy Regulator (BCER). BCER will also regulate the construction of the North Coast Transmission Line (NCTL) and other high-voltage electricity transmission projects.
Until that transition to the BCER is made, this section outlines the current information needed for electrification permitting.
The B.C. government is building British Columbia’s energy future. BC Hydro’s Capital Plan outlines investments in B.C.’s electricity system to power a growing clean economy, provide safe and reliable community needs and meet CleanBC commitments.
- You can learn more about the Capital Plan on BC Hydro’s webpage.
Clean energy projects
In April 2024, BC Hydro launched a Call for Power to help ensure B.C. has sufficient clean or renewable energy to meet future needs. BC Hydro has indicated that future Calls for Power are anticipated.
- For more information on BC Hydro’s Call for Power please access BC Hydro Call for Power
Clean Energy Projects include projects focused on producing energy from wind, water, solar, tidal or biomass power. Clean Energy Projects otherwise called Independent Power Projects require a variety of provincial permits.
- For specific application forms please visit Natural Resource Online Services
Independent Power Projects may also require federal permitting depending on the type of project proposed.
- To learn more about federal permitting, visit Permitting Coordination for Clean Growth Projects
To learn more about Independent Power Projects and electrification permitting in B.C. visit the Permit Connect Electrification page.
Connectivity
High-speed internet is important for communities of all sizes. It improves access to the services people in B.C. count on, including education, healthcare and economic opportunities. It also enables local businesses to reach national and international markets. Expanding internet service areas is especially vital for rural communities, where access to reliable high-speed internet service is often limited.
The government of B.C. is funding programs to support the expansion of high-speed internet services to all underserved households in the province. This funding supports the target to provide highspeed internet access (minimum 50/10 MBPS) to all households in B.C. by 2027, as well as a key item in the Declaration Act Action Plan (4.36) (PDF, 3.8MB) to connect all Indigenous communities to high-speed internet services by 2027.
- To learn more about connectivity permitting in B.C., visit the Connectivity page
- To find out more about funding programs to achieve high-speed internet throughout B.C., visit the Connecting Communities BC page
Housing
The B.C. government is making housing development projects easier with a new simplified approach.
The coordinated housing approach involves:
- Streamlining the intake of applications
- Offering direct project support for applicants
- Improving housing project permit processes and policies
- Creating digital tools to improve project efficiency
To learn more about the PCNS, and to learn about which natural resource housing-related permits you may need, visit the Permit Connect Housing page.