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

# Fort St. John building permit fees

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

**Short answer:** A City of Fort St. John building permit costs $6 per $1,000 of construction value, plus a plan processing fee of $150 for a new standard building or $300 for a new complex one. Deck, shed and security fence permits have a $60 basic fee. Starting work without a permit raises the rate to $9 per $1,000.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Fort St. John, https://www.fortstjohn.ca)  
**Cost:** $6 per $1,000 of construction value; plan processing $150 (new standard), $300 (new complex), $90 to $180 (additions and renovations). Deck, shed, demolition, moving, solid fuel appliance and re-inspection $60 each; plumbing $60 plus $6 per fixture.  
**How long:** Not applicable. The fee is paid before the permit is issued.  
**Where:**
- Online: Building Permit Fees page, https://www.fortstjohn.ca/business-building-and-development/building/building-permits/building-permit-fees
- Phone: Building Inspection, 250-787-8150

## Key facts

- **Lowest fee:** The Building Bylaw sets no minimum building permit fee. The basic fee for a deck, shed or security fence permit is $60 each. Smallest plan processing fee is $90.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, Schedule A](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/building-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "SECURITY FENCE PERMIT, DECK AND SHED PERMITS" … "Basic Fee for Each" … "To construct an addition/renovation on a Standard Building up to 50m2"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How the fee is worked out:** $6 per $1,000 of construction value, to a maximum fee of $500,000. If construction started without a permit and a stop work notice was issued: $9 per $1,000, to a maximum of $750,000.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, Schedule A](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/building-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Fee for each $1,000.00 of Value of Construction" … "$6.00 per $1,000.00" … "$9.00 per $1000.00" … "to a maximum fee of $750,000.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Application or plan review fee:** Plan processing fee is part of the building permit fee and is paid when applying: new standard building $150, new complex building $300, addition/renovation to a standard building up to 50 m² $90 (51 m² or larger $120), complex building up to 100 m² $120 (101 m² or larger $180). Not refundable.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, Schedule A](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/building-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "To construct a new Standard Building" … "To construct a new Complex Building" … "To construct an addition/renovation on a Complex Building up to 100m" … "$180.00"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, Schedule A, s. 81](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/building-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "The plan-processing component of the Building Permit fee is payable at the time of the" … "c) The plan-processing component of the Building Permit fee is not refundable under any"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees:** Plumbing permit $60 plus $6 per fixture; fire sprinkler permit $60 plus $0.60 per head; demolition $60; moving $60; solid fuel appliance $60; re-inspection $60 (each inspection after the first); damage deposit $5,000; landscaping and paving security as per Form F.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, Schedule A](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/building-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Additional Fee per Plumbing Fixture" … "Additional Fee per Sprinkler Head" … "DAMAGE DEPOSIT" … "$5,000.00" … "LANDSCAPING AND PAVING SECURITY DEPOSIT" … "RE-INSPECTION FEE"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, Schedule A, s. 86](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/building-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "for each inspection after the first inspection,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to pay:** The permit fee must be paid in full before the permit is issued; the plan processing fee is paid when the application is submitted. An application is cancelled and the plan fee forfeited if the rest is not paid within 180 days after the City says the permit is ready.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, Schedule A, s. 80, 81, 83](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/building-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "fee, in the amount established by Schedule A of this Bylaw, shall be paid in full prior to" … "paid the remainder of the Building Permit fee within 180 days of the date of written"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, Schedule A (Fees and Charges)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, Schedule A](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/building-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024 Page 40 SCHEDULE A FEES AND CHARGES BUILDING PERMIT FEE Fee for each $1,000.00 of Value of Construction $6.00 per $1,000.00"
  - Source: [Building Permit Fees, Fees page](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/business-building-and-development/building/building-permits/building-permit-fees)
  - Official wording: "Building Permit Fees are set out in the Building Bylaw."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Fees are set in Schedule A of [Building Bylaw 2589, 2024](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/building-bylaw). The permit fee is $6 per $1,000 of construction value, to a maximum fee of $500,000. The plan processing fee is part of the building permit fee, is charged on top of the per-$1,000 amount, is paid when you apply, and is not refundable. The bylaw sets no minimum building permit fee.

## Steps

1. Pay the plan processing fee when you submit your application. A new standard building is $150 and a new complex building is $300.
2. For an addition or renovation to a standard building, the plan fee is $90 (up to 50 m²) or $120 (51 m² or larger). For a complex building it is $120 (up to 100 m²) or $180 (101 m² or larger).
3. Pay the rest of the permit fee in full before the permit is issued.
4. Add any separate permits you need (see below).

## Good to know

- If construction started without a permit and a stop work notice was issued, the rate is $9 per $1,000, to a maximum of $750,000.
- Other fees: a plumbing permit is $60 plus $6 per fixture; a fire sprinkler permit is $60 plus $0.60 per head; deck, shed, security fence, demolition, moving and solid fuel appliance permits are $60 each; each inspection after the first is a $60 re-inspection. There is no re-inspection fee for multiple framing and insulation inspections in winter months.
- A damage deposit of $5,000 applies. The landscaping and paving security is set by Form F; contact Building Inspection for the amount.
- If you do not pay within 180 days after the City says the permit is ready, the application is cancelled and the plan processing fee is forfeited.
- Development cost charges and school site acquisition charges are separate.
- The bylaw and fee page do not state payment methods; ask the City.
- The City's fee web page labels some addition rows differently from the bylaw. This answer follows the bylaw; confirm with the City.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Bylaw 2589, 2024, Schedule A (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/building-bylaw)

## Related questions

- [Fort St. John building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/building-permit.md)
- [Fort St. John permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/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)
- [Taylor](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/taylor/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Dawson Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/building-permit-fees.md)

## Sources

- [Building Permit Fees, City of Fort St. John](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/business-building-and-development/building/building-permits/building-permit-fees) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 2589, 2024, Schedule A (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/building-bylaw) (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 Fort St. John. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/building-permit-fees/_