BC OWNER BUILDER: BRITISH COLUMBIA LICENSING COMPLETE
EXAM QUESTIONS AND 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS GRADED A+
RECENTLY UPDATED (2026/2027)
Q: 1. What legislation governs owner builders in British Columbia?
ANSWER The Homeowner Protection Act (HPA) and its regulations govern
owner builders in BC, administered by BC Housing.
Q: 2. What is an Owner Builder Authorization (OBA)?
ANSWER An OBA is a permit issued by BC Housing that allows a
homeowner to act as their own general contractor and build or renovate their
principal residence without hiring a licensed residential builder.
Q: 3. How many Owner Builder Authorizations can a person obtain in a
10-year period?
ANSWER A person may obtain only one Owner Builder Authorization every
18 months, and no more than one at a time. They may not obtain more than a
total allowed under the Homeowner Protection Act within a 10-year period.
Q: 4. What is the minimum age to apply for an Owner Builder
Authorization?
, ANSWER The applicant must be at least 19 years of age.
Q: 5. Who administers the Owner Builder Authorization program in BC?
ANSWER BC Housing (the BC Housing Management Commission)
administers the Owner Builder Authorization program.
Q: 6. What is the primary purpose of the Homeowner Protection Act?
ANSWER The HPA protects homebuyers by requiring new homes to be built
by licensed residential builders who provide mandatory home warranty
insurance, or by qualifying owner builders who meet specific conditions.
Q: 7. Can a corporation apply for an Owner Builder Authorization?
ANSWER No. Only an individual natural person (not a corporation,
partnership, or society) can apply for an Owner Builder Authorization.
Q: 8. What must an owner builder do with the home after receiving the
OBA?
ANSWER The owner builder must occupy the home as their principal
residence. They cannot sell the home for 18 months after receiving an
occupancy permit without obtaining home warranty insurance.
Q: 9. What penalty applies if an owner builder sells without the required
warranty?
ANSWER Selling a home within the restricted period without the required
home warranty insurance is an offence under the Homeowner Protection Act
and may result in fines and prosecution.
Q: 10. What is the '18-month rule' for owner builders?
ANSWER An owner builder cannot sell the newly built home within 18
months of receiving an occupancy permit unless the home is covered by third-
party home warranty insurance.
,Q: 11. Is an owner builder required to carry home warranty insurance?
ANSWER Owner builders are generally exempt from mandatory home
warranty insurance if they occupy the home themselves, but must obtain it if
they wish to sell within 18 months of occupancy.
Q: 12. What documents must be submitted when applying for an OBA?
ANSWER The application requires proof of property ownership, a completed
application form, the application fee, a statutory declaration confirming intent
to occupy, and details of the proposed construction project.
Q: 13. Can an owner builder hire subtrades or workers?
ANSWER Yes. An owner builder may hire licensed subtrades (e.g.,
electricians, plumbers, gas fitters) and other workers, but the owner builder
acts as their own general contractor and is responsible for the overall project.
Q: 14. What is a statutory declaration in the context of the OBA?
ANSWER A statutory declaration is a formal sworn statement made before a
commissioner for taking oaths, in which the applicant declares their intent to
occupy the home as their principal residence.
Q: 15. What is the role of BC Housing's Licensing & Consumer Services
(LCS) branch?
ANSWER LCS licenses residential builders, issues Owner Builder
Authorizations, and enforces the Homeowner Protection Act to protect
consumers in BC's new home construction market.
Q: 16. What is a 'principal residence' for OBA purposes?
ANSWER A principal residence is the home where the owner builder
primarily lives, which is their main or primary dwelling place, not a vacation
property, rental, or secondary home.
Q: 17. Can an owner builder build a secondary suite for rental income?
, ANSWER An owner builder may include a secondary suite in their principal
residence project, but must still comply with all municipal zoning, building
code, and OBA conditions.
Q: 18. What happens if an owner builder misrepresents their intent to
occupy?
ANSWER Misrepresentation is an offence under the HPA. BC Housing can
cancel the OBA, and the individual may face fines, penalties, and potential
prosecution.
Q: 19. Does an owner builder need a building permit?
ANSWER Yes. An owner builder must obtain all required building permits
from the local municipal or regional district authority, just like any licensed
builder.
Q: 20. What is the difference between an owner builder and a licensed
residential builder?
ANSWER A licensed residential builder is a company or individual licensed
by BC Housing to build homes for others and must provide mandatory home
warranty insurance. An owner builder builds only their own principal residence
and is personally exempt from mandatory warranty but faces restrictions on
selling.
Q: 21. What is the definition of 'new home' under the Homeowner
Protection Act?
ANSWER A 'new home' under the HPA means a newly constructed dwelling
or a dwelling that has been substantially renovated, which is intended for
residential occupancy.
Q: 22. What section of the HPA deals with owner builder exemptions?
ANSWER Section 20 of the Homeowner Protection Act provides the
exemption allowing owner builders to construct their own principal residence
without a residential builder licence, subject to conditions.
EXAM QUESTIONS AND 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS GRADED A+
RECENTLY UPDATED (2026/2027)
Q: 1. What legislation governs owner builders in British Columbia?
ANSWER The Homeowner Protection Act (HPA) and its regulations govern
owner builders in BC, administered by BC Housing.
Q: 2. What is an Owner Builder Authorization (OBA)?
ANSWER An OBA is a permit issued by BC Housing that allows a
homeowner to act as their own general contractor and build or renovate their
principal residence without hiring a licensed residential builder.
Q: 3. How many Owner Builder Authorizations can a person obtain in a
10-year period?
ANSWER A person may obtain only one Owner Builder Authorization every
18 months, and no more than one at a time. They may not obtain more than a
total allowed under the Homeowner Protection Act within a 10-year period.
Q: 4. What is the minimum age to apply for an Owner Builder
Authorization?
, ANSWER The applicant must be at least 19 years of age.
Q: 5. Who administers the Owner Builder Authorization program in BC?
ANSWER BC Housing (the BC Housing Management Commission)
administers the Owner Builder Authorization program.
Q: 6. What is the primary purpose of the Homeowner Protection Act?
ANSWER The HPA protects homebuyers by requiring new homes to be built
by licensed residential builders who provide mandatory home warranty
insurance, or by qualifying owner builders who meet specific conditions.
Q: 7. Can a corporation apply for an Owner Builder Authorization?
ANSWER No. Only an individual natural person (not a corporation,
partnership, or society) can apply for an Owner Builder Authorization.
Q: 8. What must an owner builder do with the home after receiving the
OBA?
ANSWER The owner builder must occupy the home as their principal
residence. They cannot sell the home for 18 months after receiving an
occupancy permit without obtaining home warranty insurance.
Q: 9. What penalty applies if an owner builder sells without the required
warranty?
ANSWER Selling a home within the restricted period without the required
home warranty insurance is an offence under the Homeowner Protection Act
and may result in fines and prosecution.
Q: 10. What is the '18-month rule' for owner builders?
ANSWER An owner builder cannot sell the newly built home within 18
months of receiving an occupancy permit unless the home is covered by third-
party home warranty insurance.
,Q: 11. Is an owner builder required to carry home warranty insurance?
ANSWER Owner builders are generally exempt from mandatory home
warranty insurance if they occupy the home themselves, but must obtain it if
they wish to sell within 18 months of occupancy.
Q: 12. What documents must be submitted when applying for an OBA?
ANSWER The application requires proof of property ownership, a completed
application form, the application fee, a statutory declaration confirming intent
to occupy, and details of the proposed construction project.
Q: 13. Can an owner builder hire subtrades or workers?
ANSWER Yes. An owner builder may hire licensed subtrades (e.g.,
electricians, plumbers, gas fitters) and other workers, but the owner builder
acts as their own general contractor and is responsible for the overall project.
Q: 14. What is a statutory declaration in the context of the OBA?
ANSWER A statutory declaration is a formal sworn statement made before a
commissioner for taking oaths, in which the applicant declares their intent to
occupy the home as their principal residence.
Q: 15. What is the role of BC Housing's Licensing & Consumer Services
(LCS) branch?
ANSWER LCS licenses residential builders, issues Owner Builder
Authorizations, and enforces the Homeowner Protection Act to protect
consumers in BC's new home construction market.
Q: 16. What is a 'principal residence' for OBA purposes?
ANSWER A principal residence is the home where the owner builder
primarily lives, which is their main or primary dwelling place, not a vacation
property, rental, or secondary home.
Q: 17. Can an owner builder build a secondary suite for rental income?
, ANSWER An owner builder may include a secondary suite in their principal
residence project, but must still comply with all municipal zoning, building
code, and OBA conditions.
Q: 18. What happens if an owner builder misrepresents their intent to
occupy?
ANSWER Misrepresentation is an offence under the HPA. BC Housing can
cancel the OBA, and the individual may face fines, penalties, and potential
prosecution.
Q: 19. Does an owner builder need a building permit?
ANSWER Yes. An owner builder must obtain all required building permits
from the local municipal or regional district authority, just like any licensed
builder.
Q: 20. What is the difference between an owner builder and a licensed
residential builder?
ANSWER A licensed residential builder is a company or individual licensed
by BC Housing to build homes for others and must provide mandatory home
warranty insurance. An owner builder builds only their own principal residence
and is personally exempt from mandatory warranty but faces restrictions on
selling.
Q: 21. What is the definition of 'new home' under the Homeowner
Protection Act?
ANSWER A 'new home' under the HPA means a newly constructed dwelling
or a dwelling that has been substantially renovated, which is intended for
residential occupancy.
Q: 22. What section of the HPA deals with owner builder exemptions?
ANSWER Section 20 of the Homeowner Protection Act provides the
exemption allowing owner builders to construct their own principal residence
without a residential builder licence, subject to conditions.
