Blasting

Blasting may be required for some construction or development projects to remove rock or prepare land for building. To help keep everyone safe, blasting within the District of Sooke must follow provincial regulations and local requirements, such as those in the Blasting Regulation Bylaw.

What you need to know:

Regulation and Safety: WorkSafeBC oversees all blasting activities in British Columbia, ensuring workplace safety and certifying blasting professionals.
Insurance Compliance: Blasting companies must also follow their insurance companies’ requirements.
Permits: A Blasting Notification Permit is needed before any blasting work can begin. The permit ensures the work is completed safely, by qualified professionals, and that nearby residents are notified.
Wildfire Act: Blasting must comply with provincial regulations under section 6 of the Wildfire Act due to its high-risk nature.

Blasting Permitting

Before any blasting begins, a Blasting Permit must be approved by the District of Sooke.

This process helps ensure the work is completed safely, by certified professionals, and with proper notice to nearby residents.

Use the sections below to learn how to apply and what’s required before, during, and after blasting work.

Apply for a Permit

To apply, submit the following to Engineering Services at Municipal Hall or by email at engineering@sooke.ca:

A completed Blasting Permit Application Form (PDF)
A copy of the blaster’s certification (valid under the Workers Compensation Act)
Proof of Comprehensive General Liability Insurance, naming the District of Sooke as additional insured (minimum $5 million coverage)
A map or plan showing the blasting area, distances to structures, and nearest utilities
A schedule of blasting activities and public notification plan
Letter(s) of consent from adjacent property owners, if blasting will occur within 8 metres of a property line

Applications must be reviewed and approved before any blasting begins. Please allow adequate processing time.

Notification Requirements

Before any blast, the permit holder must:

Obtain a Blasting Permit from the District of Sooke, and pay applicable fees.
Give written notice to all owners and occupants within 100 metres of the blast site (minimum 24 hours in advance) (note: within 300 metres of schools)
Post warning signs in visible locations around the site
Conduct blasting only during approved hours:
- Monday to Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- No blasting on Sunday or statutory holidays

Safety and Compliance

All blasting must comply with:

The Workers Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, Part 21 — Blasting Operations
District of Sooke Bylaws
All conditions listed on the approved Blasting Permit

Failure to follow these requirements may result in fines, suspension or revocation of the permit, or other enforcement actions.

Notifications

When a Blasting Permit is issued, permit information is posted here, including contact information and the sites where approved blasting activities are occurring or are set to occur.

Specific dates and times of blasting activities are not available through the District. However, under the District’s Blasting Regulation Bylaw, blasters must:

Give written notice to all owners and occupants within 100 metres of the blast site at least 24 hours in advance, or within 300 metres when blasting is near a school;
Post warning signs in visible locations around the site; and
Conduct blasting only during approved hours: Monday to Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Blasting is not permitted on Sundays or statutory holidays.

Questions? Once a permit is issued, please contact the blasting company listed on the notice for project-specific details, such as timing, vibration monitoring and related site activity. If you have a safety concern, please contact WorkSafeBC at 1-888-621-7233 (1-888-621-SAFE).

If you are concerned that blasting activity is occurring and a permit may not have been issued or appropriate notification has not been provided to nearby residents, please REPORT A BYLAW CONCERN. Be sure to include the date, time and location of the activity, along with the company name if known.

Anticipated End Date	Duration	Area (Address)	Contact
December 1, 2026	Starting December 1, 2025	7350 West Coast Road	Site superintendent, Jake Bain 250-716-6421
November 30, 2025	Starting November 30, 2024 for approximately 1 year	Maple Park Terrace	Chris Conley, Little Rock Drillings and Blasting Ltd. 250-365-9833

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