---
title: Fort St James building permit fees
question: "How much does a building permit cost in Fort St James?"
place: Fort St James, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/fort-st-james
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Fort St James
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/building-permit-fees/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/building-permit-fees.json"
---

# Fort St James building permit fees

**Question:** How much does a building permit cost in Fort St James?

**Short answer:** In Fort St James a building permit costs 0.6% of the construction value ($6 per $1,000), with a $50 minimum, under Schedule A of the Building Bylaw. A manufactured home is $150 for a single wide and $300 for a double wide. The fee is paid before the permit is issued.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Fort St James, https://www.fortstjames.ca)  
**Cost:** 0.6% of construction value ($6 per $1,000); minimum $50.  
**How long:** The fee is calculated once the District has the application and supporting documents, and is paid before the permit is issued.  
**Where:**
- In person: District Office, 477 Stuart Drive West, P.O. Box 640, Fort St. James, BC V0J 1P0
- Phone: District Office, 250-996-8233
- Email: District Office, district@fortstjames.ca

## Key facts

- **Lowest fee:** $50 (minimum building permit fee).
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 932, 2014, Schedule A Building Permit Fees (PDF, office consolidation November 13, 2024), Schedule A (k)](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/932%20Building%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20Nov%202024%5D.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Minimum Building Permit Fee" … "$50.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How the fee is worked out:** Residential (dwellings, garages, carports, patios) and commercial, industrial or institutional work: 0.6% of construction value ($6 per $1,000). Same rate for moving or demolishing a building and for minor alterations, additions and repairs. Manufactured home: $150 single wide, $300 double wide.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 932, 2014, Schedule A Building Permit Fees (PDF, office consolidation November 13, 2024), Schedule A (a) to (h)](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/932%20Building%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20Nov%202024%5D.pdf)
  - Official wording: "0.6% of construction value" … "($6.00 per $1,000.00)" … "Manufactured Home (Single Wide)" … "$150.00" … "Manufactured Home (Double Wide)" … "$300.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Application or plan review fee:** None set. The Building Bylaw has no separate application or plan review fee.
- **Other fees:** Wood-burning appliance and chimney (new installations): $100. Change of occupancy: $100 plus 0.6% of construction value. Cancelling the note against land title: $200. Work started without a permit after a Stop Work Notice: extra 25% of the fee (50% if outstanding 30 days). Security may be required for damage to public property; no amount set.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 932, 2014, Schedule A Building Permit Fees (PDF, office consolidation November 13, 2024), Schedule A (e), (i), (j); s. 20.3, 20.4](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/932%20Building%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20Nov%202024%5D.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Wood Burning Appliance and Chimney" … "$100.00" … "Change of Occupancy" … "$200.00" … "pay an additional charge equal to 25% of the" … "pay an additional charge equal to 50% of the" … "When required, the building official may require security for the repair or replacement of"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to pay:** The District calculates the fee once it receives the application and supporting documents, and the fee must be paid before the permit is issued. The pages read do not say how to pay.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 932, 2014, Schedule A Building Permit Fees (PDF, office consolidation November 13, 2024), s. 8.1.3](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/932%20Building%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20Nov%202024%5D.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the applicant for a building permit has paid the building permit fee as prescribed in"
  - Source: [Building Permit Application (fillable PDF), Page 3, footer](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-01/Building%20Permit%20Application%20%28fillable%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "PERMIT FEE WILL BE CALCULATED UPON RECEIPT OF THIS APPLICATION AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 932, 2014, Schedule “A” Building Permit Fees
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 932, 2014, Schedule A Building Permit Fees (PDF, office consolidation November 13, 2024)](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/932%20Building%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20Nov%202024%5D.pdf)
  - Official wording: "SCHEDULE “A” BUILDING PERMIT FEES"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The fees come from Schedule A of the District's [Building Bylaw No. 932](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/932%20Building%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20Nov%202024%5D.pdf). The District calculates your fee once it receives the application and supporting documents, and the fee must be paid before the permit is issued. The building official may set the construction value using the District's "Formula for Estimated Value of Construction Policy", which was not found on the website.

## Fees

- **Minimum fee:** $50.
- **Residential** (dwellings, garages, carports, patios) **and commercial, industrial or institutional work:** 0.6% of construction value ($6 per $1,000).
- **Moving or demolishing a building, and minor alterations, additions and repairs:** the same rate.
- **Manufactured home:** $150 single wide, $300 double wide.
- **Wood-burning appliance and chimney (new installations):** $100.
- **Change of occupancy:** $100 plus 0.6% of construction value.
- **Cancelling the note against land title:** $200.
- **Work started without a permit after a Stop Work Notice:** an extra 25% of the fee (50% if outstanding 30 days).

## Good to know

- The bylaw has no separate application or plan review fee.
- If a permit is returned within six months without work starting, 75% of the fee is refunded.
- Security may be required for damage to public property; the bylaw sets no amount.
- The pages read do not say how to pay. Call the District office (250-996-8233).
- A 2026 amending bylaw to the District's fees could not be read, so confirm the current fees with the District.

## What you'll need

- Completed Building Permit Application form and supporting documents, so the District can calculate the fee

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Bylaw No. 932, 2014, Schedule A (PDF)](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/932%20Building%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20Nov%202024%5D.pdf)
- [Building Permit Application (fillable PDF)](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-01/Building%20Permit%20Application%20%28fillable%29.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Fort St James building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/building-permit.md)
- [Fort St James permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Fort St James zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Building permit fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Fraser Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/building-permit-fees.md)

## Sources

- [Building Bylaw No. 932, 2014, Schedule A Building Permit Fees (PDF, office consolidation November 13, 2024)](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/932%20Building%20Bylaw%20%5BConsolidated%20Nov%202024%5D.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permit Application (fillable PDF), District of Fort St James](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2025-01/Building%20Permit%20Application%20%28fillable%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact Us, District of Fort St James](https://www.fortstjames.ca/contact-us) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Fort St James. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/building-permit-fees/_