Do I Need an Architect to Renovate or Build a Home in Victoria, BC?

When you're planning a custom home or a major renovation in Victoria, BC, one of the first questions that comes up is: Do I need to hire an architect? While the answer depends on the scope and complexity of your project, at Stillwater, we believe the better question is: Would working with an architect add value to my project?

In our experience, the answer is often yes.

Why Stillwater Encourages Collaboration with Architects

At Stillwater, we believe the most successful home projects happen when architects and builders work together from the start. This integrated approach ensures the project is not only beautifully designed, but also practical, buildable, and aligned with your budget and timeline.

Architects bring design excellence. Builders bring construction knowledge. When combined, you get a project that’s both visionary and executable.

The Role of an Architect in a Residential Project

Even when not legally required, architects bring value to every phase of your project:

• Design Leadership
  Architects create thoughtful, functional spaces that reflect how you actually live. From room layout and natural light to flow and finishes, they bring creative solutions that elevate your everyday experience at home.
  
  
• Regulatory Expertise
  Architects are trained to navigate local zoning bylaws, the BC Building Code, and permitting processes. In Victoria, these rules can vary by neighborhood. A skilled architect ensures your project stays compliant from the start.
  
  
• Team Coordination
  Architects often act as design leads, collaborating with engineers, interior designers, and builders. When Stillwater works alongside an architect from the beginning, we’re able to anticipate challenges early, streamline communication, and deliver a smoother, more predictable project.
  
  
• Future-Proofing Your Investment
  A well-designed home typically holds more long-term value. Whether you're optimizing for resale, aging in place, or energy performance, architects think beyond today’s trends to design for how you’ll live in the future.
  
  

When Is an Architect Required in Victoria, BC?

In British Columbia, the Architects Act and the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC) regulate when an architect must be involved.

You’re required to hire a licensed architect for:

• Complex buildings governed under Part 3 of the BC Building Code, such as:
  
  
  • Multi-family residential buildings with more than four units
    
    
  • Buildings taller than three storeys
    
    
  • Buildings over 600 m²
    
    
• Institutional, civic, and commercial buildings like schools and hospitals
  
  

Most single-family homes, duplexes, and small renovations do not legally require an architect.

However, legal requirements are only part of the picture  -  especially when the goal is to create a custom home or transformative renovation.

Do You Need an Architect for Your Project?

Not necessarily. Stillwater regularly completes major renovations and custom home builds where an architect isn’t legally required. But in many cases, having one on the team is a strategic advantage.

If you’re building a custom home, exploring a complex renovation, or wanting to bring a strong design vision to life, we strongly recommend working with an architect. And when you do, we’ll collaborate closely to bring that vision into reality with clarity and precision.

The Stillwater Approach: A Unified Team from Day One

We don’t see architects and builders as separate silos  -  we see them as partners. That’s why we often begin our projects by assembling a unified team that includes:

• You, the homeowner
  
  
• An architect or residential designer
  
  
• Stillwater, your trusted builder and project manager
  
  

This collaborative framework is known as Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)  -  and it results in more aligned expectations, fewer surprises, and better overall outcomes.

We’ll help match you with the right design professionals if you haven’t already found one, and we’ll lead the team through feasibility, design, permitting, budgeting, construction, and final delivery.

Permitting in the Greater Victoria Area

Whether or not an architect is involved, most major projects in Victoria will require a building permit. This includes:

• New construction of single-family homes, duplexes, or multi-unit buildings
  
  
• Major renovations involving structural changes, plumbing, or electrical updates
  
  
• Additions and expansions
  
  
• Demolition of existing structures
  
  

Permits may not be required for minor cosmetic upgrades or small accessory buildings under 10 m², but it’s always best to verify.

Stillwater works directly with municipalities in the Greater Victoria area to ensure your project moves through permitting as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

Let’s Build Your Dream Home Together

At Stillwater, we believe that the best homes are built through collaboration, not separation. While you may not be required to hire an architect, we often find that combining architectural vision with practical construction knowledge leads to better-designed, better-built, and better-loved homes.

Whether you’re just starting to imagine what’s possible or you’ve already begun working with an architect, we’d love to be part of your journey.

Contact Stillwater today to talk about your custom home or renovation in Greater Victoria -  and how we can help you build it right, from the ground up.