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Highlands building permit fees

How much does a building permit cost in Highlands?

Highlands, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

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.

Key facts

Lowest feeNot confirmed. The dollar rates in Appendix J could not be read in the posted bylaw.
How the fee is worked outThe 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).Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 3.3.3 and s. 3.4.1; Building Permits & Inspections, Construction Value Calculations; Construction Values, Appendix L · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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,
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.
Finished Main* Floor Areas
$70.00
Application or plan review feeA 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.Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 3.4.2 and 3.4.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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 .
Other feesRe-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.Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 3.4.7; Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 5.1.1(b); Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 3.6.4(d); Plumbing Permit Application, Plumbing Permit Application fee schedule · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
a re-inspection charge of $40 (forty dollars) shall be paid
pay an additional charge equal to 100% of the required permit fee prior to obtaining the required
for a fee of $100.00.
Fee (First 10 fixtures)
$20. per fixture
Fee (Additional fixtures)
$15. per fixture
How to payPermit 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.Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 3.4.1 and 3.4.2; Plumbing Permit Application · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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
Payment received by way of
BylawBuilding Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 3.4 and Appendix J (Permit Fees Schedule); Appendices K and L set construction values.Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003, s. 3.4 and s. 6.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
PERMIT FEES
Appendix J - Permit Fees Schedule
Appendix K, L - Construction Values

How it works

The District of Highlands sets building permit fees in its Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192. 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

The same question in other places

Langford · View Royal · Central Saanich · Colwood · Esquimalt · Saanich

Building permit fees in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Building Regulation Bylaw No. 192, 2003 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Building Permits & Inspections, District of Highlands (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Construction Values (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Plumbing Permit Application (PDF) (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. How answers are checked.