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

# Duncan building permit fees

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Duncan a building permit costs $8 per $1,000 of construction value up to $100,000 (minimum $50), and $800 plus $5 per $1,000 over $100,000. A plan review fee of $50 or more is charged per submission. Building without a permit costs double.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Duncan, https://duncan.ca)  
**Cost:** Plan review per submission: $50 (up to $25,000 of value), $100 (over $25,000 to $50,000), $200 (over $50,000 to $100,000), $200 plus $1.25 per $1,000 over $100,000. Building permit: minimum $50; $8 per $1,000 up to $100,000; $800 plus $5 per $1,000 over $100,000. Plumbing $12 per fixture, minimum $24. Demolition of a building $100. Callback inspection $50. Damage deposit where applicable $1,150 (includes a non-refundable $150 damage inspection fee).  
**How long:** Not stated on the City's pages.  
**Where:**
- In person: City Hall (Development Services), 200 Craig Street, Duncan, BC V9L 1W3
- Phone: Development Services, 250-746-6126
- Email: Development Services, developmentservices@duncan.ca
- Online: Online credit card payments (OptionPay), https://duncan.ca/city-hall/online-payments/

## Key facts

- **Lowest fee:** $50 minimum building permit charge.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to August 24, 2026), Schedule E, Schedule E (Development Services), F. Permit Fees - Building](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386)
  - Official wording: "an owner or applicant is using the City's pre-approved template building permit plans, provided there are no alterations to the plans. F. PERMIT FEES - BUILDING** 1. Minimum charge $50.00 2. Value up to $100,000. $8/$1,000 value"
  - Source: [Building Permit - Fees and Charges, Building Permit Fees](https://duncan.ca/download/building-permit-application-processing-fees/)
  - Official wording: "Building Permit Fees  Minimum charge $50  Value up to $100,000 $8 per $1,000 value"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How the fee is worked out:** Based on construction value: $8 per $1,000 up to $100,000; over $100,000, $800 plus $5 per $1,000 over $100,000. Building without a permit: double the permit fee. The City may require an appraisal of the value.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to August 24, 2026), Schedule E, Schedule E, F. Permit Fees - Building](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386)
  - Official wording: "2. Value up to $100,000." … "$8/$1,000 value" … "3. Value over $100,000." … "$800.00 plus $5.00/ $1,000." … "Double the Building Permit Fee" … "4. Construction without obtaining a permit"
  - Source: [Building Permit - Fees and Charges, Building Permit Fees](https://duncan.ca/download/building-permit-application-processing-fees/)
  - Official wording: "Value up to $100,000" … "$8 per $1,000 value" … "$800 plus $5 per $1,000 over $100,000"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Application or plan review fee:** Plan review fee per submission: $50 up to $25,000 of value; $100 over $25,000 to $50,000; $200 over $50,000 to $100,000; over $100,000, $200 plus $1.25 per $1,000 of value over $100,000. Due when applying; the first plan check is credited toward the permit fee, and the City keeps it if the project does not proceed.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to August 24, 2026), Schedule E, Schedule E, E. Plan Review Fee](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386)
  - Official wording: "1. Plan review fees (per submission):" … "Up to $25,000.00 of value*" … "$50.00" … "$100.00" … "plus $1.25/$1,000 in value"
  - Source: [Building Permit Application, Application form fees](https://duncan.ca/download/building-permit-application-2/)
  - Official wording: "Fees are due at the time of application" … "the first one only will be credited toward the" … "If the project does not proceed, the City will retain the fees."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees:** Plumbing $12 per fixture (minimum $24); demolition of a building $100; demolition or moving without a permit $200; callback inspection $50; secondary suite inspection $100; damage deposit $1,150 where applicable (includes a non-refundable $150 damage inspection fee); copy of occupancy permit $50.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to August 24, 2026), Schedule E, Schedule E, G and H](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386)
  - Official wording: "1. Demolition of building" … "$100.00" … "3. Demolition of or moving a building without obtaining a" … "$200.00" … "H. PERMIT FEES – PLUMBING" … "1. Per Fixture" … "$12.00" … "2. Minimum Fee" … "$24.00" … "4. Callback Inspection" … "7. Secondary Suite Inspection Fee" … "$100.00" … "5. Damage deposit where applicable $1,150.00, including a" … "fee of $150.00" … "4. Copies of Occupancy Permits" … "$50.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to pay:** Fees are due when you apply. The City also takes online credit card payments for permits, fees and damage deposits through OptionPay, a third-party service that adds a fee.
  - Source: [Building Permit Application, Application form](https://duncan.ca/download/building-permit-application-2/)
  - Official wording: "Fees are due at the time of application"
  - Source: [Online Payments, Other Online Credit Card Payments](https://duncan.ca/city-hall/online-payments/)
  - Official wording: "The City of Duncan offers an online credit card payment option for a variety of transactions through OptionPay." … "Permits/Fees"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020, Schedule E (Development Services), consolidated to August 24, 2026
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to August 24, 2026), Schedule E](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386)
  - Official wording: "Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020" … "PERMIT FEES – BUILDING"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Duncan sets building fees in [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386), Schedule E (Development Services). Fees are based on construction value, and the City may require an appraisal of the value. Fees are due when you apply. The City also takes online credit card payments for permits and fees through OptionPay, a third-party service that adds a fee.

## Good to know

Fee schedule:

1. Plan review, per submission: $50 up to $25,000 of value; $100 over $25,000 to $50,000; $200 over $50,000 to $100,000; $200 plus $1.25 per $1,000 of value over $100,000.
2. Building permit: $50 minimum; $8 per $1,000 of value up to $100,000; $800 plus $5 per $1,000 over $100,000.
3. Plumbing permit: $12 per fixture, $24 minimum.
4. Demolition of a building $100. Demolishing or moving a building without a permit $200.
5. Other: callback inspection $50; secondary suite inspection $100; copy of an occupancy permit $50; sprinklers $2 per head; sewer or water line on private property $50 each; new wood-burning appliance $50.

- Starting construction without a permit costs double the building permit fee.
- The first plan check is credited toward the permit fee. If the project does not go ahead, the City keeps the fees.
- A 90% reduction of the plan review fee is credited to the permit fee for aspects certified by a registered professional engineer or architect. This does not apply to plumbing or demolition permits.
- Plan review and permit fees are waived for a detached secondary suite built, unchanged, from the City's pre-approved template plans.
- A damage deposit of $1,150 (including a non-refundable $150 damage inspection fee) applies where the City requires it.
- Moving a building: $100 onto a site in Duncan, $50 to another jurisdiction, $25 through the City.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Permit - Fees and Charges (PDF)](https://duncan.ca/download/building-permit-application-processing-fees/)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212 (PDF)](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386)

## Related questions

- [Duncan building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/building-permit.md)
- [Duncan secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/secondary-suite.md)
- [Duncan permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Building permit fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit-fees.md)
- [North Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/building-permit-fees.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/building-permit-fees.md)

## Sources

- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3212, 2020 (PDF, consolidated to August 24, 2026), Schedule E](https://duncan.civicweb.net/document/181386) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Permit - Fees and Charges (PDF), City of Duncan](https://duncan.ca/download/building-permit-application-processing-fees/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Permit Application (PDF), City of Duncan](https://duncan.ca/download/building-permit-application-2/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Online Payments, City of Duncan](https://duncan.ca/city-hall/online-payments/) (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 Duncan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/building-permit-fees/_