Engineering

Engineering at the City of Dawson Creek is responsible for providing engineering input on Building and Renovating permits and Planning and Development permits. Engineering also assists with:

Generating and maintaining mapping
Maintains records and data of City infrastructure and utilities for connections
Management of Capital Projects
Reviewing and approving private development proposals to make sure they are constructed following our Subdivision and Servicing Bylaw

Frequently asked questions

Build a fence

The Building and Renovating page holds all the information you need to build a fence.

Connect to City utilities

You will need a Service Connection Permit to connect to City utilities. Visit City Hall to pick up an application and talk about your project with our staff. The size of the services are determined by the Building Inspector and are based on fixture units of the proposed building.

Dig on my property

You must contact BC 1 Call and DigShaw at least three days before you begin digging. This notifies us and all other utility providers in the area. We will send any relevant information we have regarding the City utilities in the area. If you need physical locations of your utilities, specify this when you contact BC 1 Call or contact Engineering to request them. Check out this pamphlet about working near City utilities.

Driveway culvert size

Because of City maintenance limitations and bylaw regulations, a culvert must have a minimum diameter of 400mm (16 inches) with a maximum length of 12 meters (40 feet).

Find my property line or pins

To locate your property line or pins, hire a registered BC Land Surveyor to visit your property and find your property corners. We cannot locate property lines, but we can provide a rough dimension for you with air photos, legal plans and record drawings. These may be up to 5 metres out of alignment.

Fire hydrant use

To use a fire hydrant temporarily, you must purchase a Hydrant Use Permit from City Hall. Water from a fire hydrant cannot be used for a potable water source. Water taken from a hydrant will be metered and billed for at the end of the permit term.

Northern Health Waterworks Construction Permit

Construction permits are required by the Drinking Water Protection Act and must be obtained before the construction, installation, alteration, or extension (but not routine maintenance) of a water supply system.

Repair water or sewer service lines

You will not need a Service Connection Permit to repair water or sewer service lines on private property. If you believe the issue is in the City Right-of-Way, please contact our Public Works Department. You may need a Plumbing Permit if you are working inside of a building.

Report a pothole

Email pothole@dawsoncreek.ca or use the City of Dawson Creek app to report a pothole. Include the exact location and a photo if possible.

Widen my driveway

You will need a Curb Cut Permit if the curb is concrete. There is no fee for the permit; however, it has useful information regarding how to properly cut the curb for a driveway letdown to ensure it is correctly done and it can still function as intended.
If the curb-cut proceeds within any other manner, the section of curb and gutter affected – as determined by the City – will be removed and replaced at the Owner’s expense, including any asphalt patching required.
All curb cuts to concrete, barrier-style, integral curb and gutter will be made horizontally with a concrete saw so that the driveway lip left intact will be ±40mm (1½") above the gutter line. The ends of the curb cut will be cut diagonally on a 30° slope to the top of the curb.
Maximum allowed driveway widths:
- For single family residential zones, a maximum of 9 meters (29.5 ft) or 45% of the frontage, whichever is less.
- For multi-family residential zones, a maximum of 9 meters (29.5 ft).
- All other zones, maximum widths are approved be General Manager of Development Services on a case-by-case basis.
- Single family residential properties must only have one driveway access per road frontage.
- Multi-family residential, commercial, and industrial properties must only have one driveway access per road frontage, unless there is a demonstrated need and approval is obtained from the General Manager of Development Services.
- Driveways must be located a minimum of 1 m from hydrants, poles, street lights, street signs, and property lines.
- Excluding Industrial zones, all off-street parking and loading spaces and access aisles shall be surfaced with permeable paving, asphalt, concrete or similar pavement to provide a surface that is durable and dust free.
- Driveways located near an intersection must be no closer than shown in the table below. Distance is measured from the intersection of the property lines at the corner.

Measurements for driveways located near intersections
Road Classification	Signalized Intersection	Unsignalized Intersection
Arterial	70m	35m
Collector	55m	25m
Local	5m	5m

Work on a boulevard

Complete and submit a Right-of-Way Disturbance Permit application for construction to work on a City-owned boulevard, lane or road. You must also provide the following information with the application:

A current letter of account indicating that the Prime Contractor is in compliance with the applicable requirements of WorkSafe BC
A copy of the Prime Contractor’s insurance with the City as a Certificate Holder and with a liability of no less than 5 Million
A letter from the Prime Contractor outlining in detail the remediation efforts that will be made until the road can be repaired permanently
Written confirmation of the traffic control procedures that will be in place

Engineering

Frequently asked questions

Useful documents and links