Can I act as my own general contractor in British Columbia?

Yes, you can act as your own general contractor in British Columbia for most residential renovation projects, but there are important legal requirements and limitations you need to understand.

Acting as your own general contractor means you'll coordinate all trades, manage schedules, handle permits, and ensure code compliance. While this can save money on contractor markup (typically 15-25%), it requires significant time, construction knowledge, and project management skills.

Legal Requirements and Limitations

In BC, homeowners can general contract their own principal residence renovations, but you cannot do all the work yourself. Electrical work must be performed by a licensed electrical contractor registered with Technical Safety BC (TSBC), and gas work requires a licensed gas contractor also registered with TSBC. Plumbing work beyond simple fixture replacements requires a licensed plumber. These aren't suggestions—they're legal requirements, and insurance claims can be denied for unpermitted work.

For new home construction or laneway houses, you must use a Licensed Residential Builder registered with BC Housing under the Homeowner Protection Act. This ensures your new home is covered by the mandatory 2-5-10 home warranty insurance. However, for renovations to existing homes, you can act as your own general contractor.

What You'll Be Responsible For

As your own general contractor, you'll need to obtain building permits from your municipal building department, coordinate inspections at required stages, ensure all work meets the BC Building Code (BCBC 2024), manage WorkSafeBC requirements if you hire employees, and maintain proper insurance coverage. You'll also need to understand the Builders Lien Act—contractors and suppliers can place liens on your property for unpaid work, so managing payments and holdbacks properly is crucial.

Vancouver's permitting process is notoriously slow, often taking 4-8 weeks for simple permits and 3-6+ months for complex projects. If you're in a strata property (condo or townhouse), you'll need written strata council approval before starting work, and your contractors must provide proof of $2M+ liability insurance. Most stratas also require damage deposits and restrict construction hours to weekdays 8am-5pm.

When to Reconsider

While legally possible, acting as your own general contractor isn't always wise. Complex projects involving structural changes, major electrical/plumbing work, or heritage properties require expertise that can prevent costly mistakes. Licensed general contractors carry liability insurance, understand code requirements, have established trade relationships, and can often get better material pricing.

If you decide to proceed, start by getting your building permit, ensure you have adequate insurance coverage, create detailed contracts with all trades, and familiarize yourself with inspection requirements.