{"title":"Highlands building permit fees","question":"How much does a building permit cost in Highlands?","slug":"building-permit-fees","place":{"path":"ca/bc/highlands","name":"Highlands","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of Highlands","url":"https://www.highlands.ca"},"short_answer":"In the District of Highlands the building permit fee is based on the value of the work, under a fee schedule we could not read in the posted bylaw. A plan-processing fee of $50 (value under $50,000) or $250 (over $50,000) is paid with the application and credited to the permit fee.","aliases":["building permit cost highlands","permit fees highlands","how much is a building permit highlands"],"cost":"Plan-processing fee $50 (construction value under $50,000) or $250 (over $50,000), credited against the permit fee if the permit is issued. The permit fee is based on value under Appendix J of Bylaw 192; the posted copy has blank appendix pages.","how_long":"The District's pages do not state when the final fee is confirmed. Ask the Building Official.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Building Official / Bylaw Enforcement Officer","value":"250-474-1773"},{"type":"email","label":"Building Official","value":"cleek@highlands.ca"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"1980 Millstream Road, Victoria, BC V9B 6H1"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192 (PDF)","url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420"},{"title":"Construction Values (PDF)","url":"https://www.highlands.ca/sites/31/files/2025-02/Construction%20Values_201306040901063981.pdf"},{"title":"Plumbing Permit Application (PDF)","url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1057"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Highlands building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/building-permit/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Highlands permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/deck-shed-garage-permit/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/langford","name":"Langford","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/view-royal","name":"View Royal","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/central-saanich","name":"Central Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/colwood","name":"Colwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/esquimalt","name":"Esquimalt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/saanich","name":"Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/building-permit-fees/"}],"topic":{"title":"Building permit fees in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit-fees/"},"facts":{"minimum_fee":{"label":"Lowest fee","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"scanned","note":"The dollar rates in Appendix J could not be read in the posted bylaw.","sources":[]},"fee_formula":{"label":"How the fee is worked out","value":"The permit fee is based on the value of the building or structure, set by the Appendix J fee schedule. Value is the contract price or, with no contract price, the floor-area rates in Appendix L (for example $70 per square foot for finished main floor of a single or two-family dwelling).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420","title":"Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.3.3 and s. 3.4.1","quotes":["shall be assessed a separate building permit fee based on the value of the building or structure","A permit fee, calculated in accordance with the forms attached as Appendix C, D, E,"]},{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/building-development-planning/building/building-permits-inspections","title":"Building Permits & Inspections, District of Highlands","section":"Construction Value Calculations","quotes":["The construction value for buildings shall be the contract price or, where there is no contract price, the value shall be calculated according to the following schedule."]},{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/sites/31/files/2025-02/Construction%20Values_201306040901063981.pdf","title":"Construction Values (PDF)","section":"Appendix L","quotes":["Finished Main* Floor Areas","$70.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"application_fee":{"label":"Application or plan review fee","value":"A plan-processing fee is paid with the application: $50 if the construction value is under $50,000, $250 if over $50,000. It is non-refundable but credited against the building permit fee if the permit is issued.","short":"$50 under $50,000 of value; $250 over","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420","title":"Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.4.2 and 3.4.3","quotes":["The plan-processing fee for a building with a construction value of less than $50,000 (fifty thousand dollars) shall be $50 (fifty dollars).","shall be $250 (two hundred and fifty dollars).","The plan-processing fee is non-refundable and shall be credited against the building permit fee if the permit is issued ."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"other_fees":{"label":"Other fees","value":"Re-inspection: $40 for each inspection after the second when more than two are needed because of non-compliance. Starting work without a permit, if a stop work notice is issued: an extra 100% of the permit fee. Reinstating an expired permit for a conditional occupancy certificate: $100. Plumbing: $20 per fixture for the first 10, $15 each after.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420","title":"Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.4.7","quotes":["a re-inspection charge of $40 (forty dollars) shall be paid"]},{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420","title":"Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003 (PDF)","section":"s. 5.1.1(b)","quotes":["pay an additional charge equal to 100% of the required permit fee prior to obtaining the required"]},{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420","title":"Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.6.4(d)","quotes":["for a fee of $100.00."]},{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1057","title":"Plumbing Permit Application (PDF)","section":"Plumbing Permit Application fee schedule","quotes":["Fee (First 10 fixtures)","$20. per fixture","Fee (Additional fixtures)","$15. per fixture"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"how_to_pay":{"label":"How to pay","value":"Permit fee must be paid in full before the permit is issued; the plan-processing fee is paid with the application. The plumbing permit form shows payment by cheque or cash.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420","title":"Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.4.1 and 3.4.2","quotes":["shall be paid in full, prior to issuance of any permit under this bylaw.","A plan-processing fee, as set out below, shall accompany an application made"]},{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1057","title":"Plumbing Permit Application (PDF)","section":"Plumbing Permit Application","quotes":["Payment received by way of"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 3.4 and Appendix J (Permit Fees Schedule); Appendices K and L set construction values.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420","title":"Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003 (PDF)","section":"s. 3.4 and s. 6.1","quotes":["PERMIT FEES","Appendix J - Permit Fees Schedule","Appendix K, L - Construction Values"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe District of Highlands sets building permit fees in its [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420). The permit fee is based on the value of the building or structure, using the Appendix J fee schedule. The value is the contract price or, if there is none, a floor-area rate from Appendix L. The dollar rates in Appendix J could not be read in the posted copy, so ask the Building Official for the current amount.\n\nA plan-processing fee is paid with your application: $50 if the construction value is under $50,000, or $250 if it is over $50,000. It is not refundable, but it is credited against the permit fee if the permit is issued.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Work out the construction value (your contract price, or the Appendix L floor-area rates).\n2. Ask the Building Official for the permit fee under Appendix J.\n3. Pay the plan-processing fee with your application.\n4. Pay the permit fee in full before the permit is issued.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Appendix L floor-area rates include $70 per square foot for the finished main floor of a single or two-family dwelling, $25 for an unfinished basement, $20 for a garage or workshop, $15 for a carport, barn or shed, and $10 for a sundeck. The Construction Values file is from 2013.\n- Re-inspection is $40 for each inspection after the second, when more than two are needed because of non-compliance.\n- If you start work without a permit and a stop work notice is issued, the fee increases by 100% of the permit fee.\n- Reinstating an expired permit for a conditional occupancy certificate is $100.\n- Plumbing permits are $20 per fixture for the first 10 and $15 for each after, according to the District's plumbing permit form.\n- The fee is reduced by 5%, up to $500, for complex buildings with professional letters of assurance.\n- The application is cancelled and the processing fee lost if the permit is not issued and paid for within 180 days of notice that it is ready.\n- The pages read do not state payment methods for permit fees. The plumbing form shows cheque or cash.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420","title":"Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/building-development-planning/building/building-permits-inspections","title":"Building Permits & Inspections, District of Highlands","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/sites/31/files/2025-02/Construction%20Values_201306040901063981.pdf","title":"Construction Values (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.highlands.ca/media/1057","title":"Plumbing Permit Application (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/building-permit-fees/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/building-permit-fees.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/building-permit-fees.json"}}