---
title: Castlegar building permit fees
question: "How much does a building permit cost?"
place: Castlegar, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/castlegar
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Castlegar
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/building-permit-fees/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/building-permit-fees.json"
---

# Castlegar building permit fees

**Question:** How much does a building permit cost?

**Short answer:** A City of Castlegar building permit costs $100 for the first $5,000 of construction value, plus $8 for each $1,000 or part of $1,000 over $5,000. A new secondary suite is $500. Other fees and a security deposit may apply. Fees are set in Building Bylaw 1338, Schedule A.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Castlegar, https://www.castlegar.ca)  
**Cost:** $100 for the first $5,000 plus $8 per $1,000 or part over $5,000. New secondary suite $500; demolition $50 residential, $200 commercial or industrial; wood-burning appliance $200; plumbing and irrigation basic fee $100; re-inspection minimum $60.  
**How long:** Fees are calculated after the City reviews your application. The Building Permit Guide says they are payable when the permit is issued.  
**Where:**
- Email: Development Services, devserv@castlegar.ca
- Phone: Development Services, 250-365-8964
- In person: City Hall, 460 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar, BC V1N 1G7

## Key facts

- **Lowest fee:** $100 basic fee, which covers construction values up to $5,000.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 1338 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule A](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bylaw-1338-Consolidated-Building.pdf)
  - Official wording: "$100 for Construction Value to" … "Basic Fee (covers construction values up to $5000)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How the fee is worked out:** $100 for the first $5,000 of construction value, plus $8 for each $1,000 or part of $1,000 over $5,000.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 1338 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule A](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bylaw-1338-Consolidated-Building.pdf)
  - Official wording: "$8 for each $1000 or part thereof" … "Additional Fees to the Basic Fee"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Application or plan review fee:** Schedule A lists $100 or 10% of the building permit fee, whichever is greater, for submission of new or substantially revised plans; it does not say when it is paid or whether it is credited. The security deposit is paid at the time of application (s. 22.1).
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 1338 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule A](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bylaw-1338-Consolidated-Building.pdf)
  - Official wording: "$100 or 10% of Building Permit Fee," … "Submission of NEW or substantially REVISED plans" … "An applicant for a Building Permit must pay to the City, at the time of the application, the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees:** Secondary suite (new): $500. Re-inspection minimum: $60. Demolition: $50 residential, $200 commercial or industrial. Wood-burning appliance: $200. Plumbing and irrigation basic fee: $100. Damage deposit by permit value: $500 ($50,000 to $200,000), $1,000 ($201,000 to $500,000), $1,500 (over $500,001). (Sources differ: Where the Building Permit Guide's schedule differs from the bylaw, the bylaw is followed and those items are left out of the value: double-wide mobile home siting (guide $200, bylaw $300), below-grade exterior water or sewer service (guide $500 or $100/10%, bylaw $50 or $20), automatic sprinkler basic fee (guide $60, bylaw $100), plumbing fixture count (guide $200, bylaw $100). The bylaw copy is consolidated December 2021 and the guide is later, so the bylaw may have been amended; confirm with Development Services.)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 1338 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule A](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bylaw-1338-Consolidated-Building.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Application for NEW Secondary Suite" … "Minimum Fee for Re-Inspections" … "Demolition Residential" … "Demolition Commercial or Industrial" … "Wood Burning Appliance" … "Basic Fee (plumbing and irrigation permit)" … "Damage Deposit for Building Permit Valued between"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to pay:** The Building Permit Guide says fees are payable when the permit is issued, and can be submitted in person or electronically to Development Services (devserv@castlegar.ca). The security deposit is paid at the time of application (bylaw s. 22.1).
  - Source: [Building Permits for Construction (guide, PDF), Step 2: Submit Application](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Building-Permit-Guide-NEW.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Building Permit fees are payable at the time of issuance." … "Applications and fees can be submitted in person or electronically to Development Services at"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 1338 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule A, s. 22.1](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bylaw-1338-Consolidated-Building.pdf)
  - Official wording: "An applicant for a Building Permit must pay to the City, at the time of the application, the"
  - Source: [Pay Online, Building Permits](https://castlegar.ca/pay-online/)
  - Official wording: "The Development and Licensing Clerk will assign your building permit number before submitting your payment."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 1338, 2020, Schedule A (Fees and Charges)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 1338 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule A](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bylaw-1338-Consolidated-Building.pdf)
  - Official wording: "SCHEDULE A: FEES AND CHARGES"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 1338 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule A, s. 1.1](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bylaw-1338-Consolidated-Building.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as ‘Building Bylaw No. 1338, 2020’."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Building permit fees in the City of Castlegar are set in Schedule A of [Building Bylaw 1338](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bylaw-1338-Consolidated-Building.pdf) and depend on the construction value. The basic fee is $100 and covers construction values up to $5,000. Above that, add $8 for each $1,000 or part of $1,000.

## Steps

1. Estimate the construction value of your project.
2. Add any flat fees for your project type (see below).
3. Submit your application in person or electronically to Development Services (devserv@castlegar.ca). The City calculates the final fee after review.
4. Pay the fees. The Building Permit Guide says fees are payable when the permit is issued, and the bylaw says a permit issues once all applicable Schedule A fees are paid. The security deposit is paid at the time of application.

## Good to know

- Other fees: new secondary suite $500; demolition $50 residential and $200 commercial or industrial; wood-burning appliance $200; plumbing and irrigation basic fee $100; re-inspection $60 minimum.
- Schedule A lists $100 or 10% of the building permit fee, whichever is greater, for submitting new or substantially revised plans. The bylaw does not say when this is paid or whether it is credited to the permit fee.
- Security deposit (damage to City property) by permit value: $500 for $50,000 to $200,000, $1,000 for $201,000 to $500,000, and $1,500 over $500,001.
- Section 10.8 of the bylaw reduces the permit fee by 5% of the fees payable, up to $500, when a registered professional certifies the design of a building. Read that section for when it applies.
- The Building Permit Guide shows different amounts for a few other fees. The bylaw is followed here, but its copy is dated December 2021, so confirm current fees with Development Services.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Bylaw 1338, Schedule A Fees and Charges (PDF)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bylaw-1338-Consolidated-Building.pdf)
- [Building Permit Guide (PDF)](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Building-Permit-Guide-NEW.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Castlegar building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/building-permit.md)
- [Castlegar secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/secondary-suite.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Building permit fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/building-permit-fees.md)

## Sources

- [Building Bylaw 1338 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule A, City of Castlegar](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Bylaw-1338-Consolidated-Building.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Permits for Construction (guide, PDF), City of Castlegar](https://castlegar.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Building-Permit-Guide-NEW.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Apply for a Building Permit, City of Castlegar](https://castlegar.ca/planning-building-business/construction-permits/apply-for-a-building-permit/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Pay Online, City of Castlegar](https://castlegar.ca/pay-online/) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Castlegar. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/building-permit-fees/_