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

# Highlands building permit fees

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Highlands, https://www.highlands.ca)  
**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:**
- Phone: Building Official / Bylaw Enforcement Officer, 250-474-1773
- Email: Building Official, cleek@highlands.ca
- In person: Municipal Hall, 1980 Millstream Road, Victoria, BC V9B 6H1

## Key facts

- **Lowest fee:** Not confirmed. The dollar rates in Appendix J could not be read in the posted bylaw.
- **How the fee is worked out:** 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).
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 3.3.3 and s. 3.4.1](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420)
  - Official wording: "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,"
  - Source: [Building Permits & Inspections, Construction Value Calculations](https://www.highlands.ca/building-development-planning/building/building-permits-inspections)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Construction Values, Appendix L](https://www.highlands.ca/sites/31/files/2025-02/Construction%20Values_201306040901063981.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Finished Main* Floor Areas" … "$70.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Application or plan review fee:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 3.4.2 and 3.4.3](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other fees:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 3.4.7](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420)
  - Official wording: "a re-inspection charge of $40 (forty dollars) shall be paid"
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 5.1.1(b)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420)
  - Official wording: "pay an additional charge equal to 100% of the required permit fee prior to obtaining the required"
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 3.6.4(d)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420)
  - Official wording: "for a fee of $100.00."
  - Source: [Plumbing Permit Application, Plumbing Permit Application fee schedule](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1057)
  - Official wording: "Fee (First 10 fixtures)" … "$20. per fixture" … "Fee (Additional fixtures)" … "$15. per fixture"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to pay:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 3.4.1 and 3.4.2](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Plumbing Permit Application](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1057)
  - Official wording: "Payment received by way of"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 3.4 and Appendix J (Permit Fees Schedule); Appendices K and L set construction values.
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 3.4 and s. 6.1](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420)
  - Official wording: "PERMIT FEES" … "Appendix J - Permit Fees Schedule" … "Appendix K, L - Construction Values"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The 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.

A 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.

## Steps

1. Work out the construction value (your contract price, or the Appendix L floor-area rates).
2. Ask the Building Official for the permit fee under Appendix J.
3. Pay the plan-processing fee with your application.
4. Pay the permit fee in full before the permit is issued.

## Good to know

- 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.
- Re-inspection is $40 for each inspection after the second, when more than two are needed because of non-compliance.
- If you start work without a permit and a stop work notice is issued, the fee increases by 100% of the permit fee.
- Reinstating an expired permit for a conditional occupancy certificate is $100.
- Plumbing permits are $20 per fixture for the first 10 and $15 for each after, according to the District's plumbing permit form.
- The fee is reduced by 5%, up to $500, for complex buildings with professional letters of assurance.
- 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.
- The pages read do not state payment methods for permit fees. The plumbing form shows cheque or cash.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420)
- [Construction Values (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/sites/31/files/2025-02/Construction%20Values_201306040901063981.pdf)
- [Plumbing Permit Application (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1057)

## Related questions

- [Highlands building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/building-permit.md)
- [Highlands permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/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)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/building-permit-fees.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/building-permit-fees.md)

## Sources

- [Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1420) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permits & Inspections, District of Highlands](https://www.highlands.ca/building-development-planning/building/building-permits-inspections) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Construction Values (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/sites/31/files/2025-02/Construction%20Values_201306040901063981.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Plumbing Permit Application (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1057) (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 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Highlands. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/building-permit-fees/_