---
title: Kelowna building permit fees
question: "How much does a building permit cost in Kelowna?"
place: Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/kelowna
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Kelowna
sources_read: 2026-11-09
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/building-permit-fees/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/building-permit-fees.json"
---

# Kelowna building permit fees

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

**Short answer:** Kelowna’s value-based building permit fee starts at $175 for construction valued at $1 to $10,000. For the next $90,000, add $9.55 for each additional $1,000 or part. Higher bands have different rates.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Kelowna, https://www.kelowna.ca)  
**Cost:** For construction valued at $1–$10,000 the fee is $175, non-refundable.  
**Where:**
- Phone: The building department, 250-469-8960

## Key facts

- **Lowest fee:** For construction valued at $1–$10,000 the fee is $175, non-refundable.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 7245, Schedule A, PDF p. 26](https://apps.kelowna.ca/CityPage/Docs/PDFs/Bylaws/Building%20Bylaw,%201993,%20No.%207245.pdf)
  - Official wording: "SCHEDULE "A" CITY OF KELOWNA BUILDING BYLAW NO. 7245 SCHEDULE OF PERMIT FEES 1. VALUE OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FEES $1.00 - $10,000.00 $175.00 non-refundable"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **How the fee is worked out:** For each $1,000 or part within the applicable band, add $9.55 to a $175 base from $10,001–$100,000, $8.05 to $1,034.50 from $100,001–$500,000, or $7.20 to $4,254.50 from $500,001 up.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 7245, Schedule A, PDF p. 26](https://apps.kelowna.ca/CityPage/Docs/PDFs/Bylaws/Building%20Bylaw,%201993,%20No.%207245.pdf)
  - Official wording: "1. VALUE OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FEES $1.00 - $10,000.00 $175.00 non-refundable $10,001.00 - $100,000.00 $175.00 + $9.55 per $1000.00 or portion thereof $100,001.00 - $500,000.00 $1034.50 + $8.05 per $1000.00 or portion thereof $500,001.00 + and up $4254.50 + $7.20 per $1000.00 or portion thereof"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Application or plan review fee:** Not confirmed. Checked City of Kelowna; not found there.
- **Other fees:** Not confirmed. Checked City of Kelowna; not found there.
- **How to pay:** For the residential application process, the City emails the applicant a link to pay the application fee online. Payment is part of a complete application.
  - Source: [Single family homes and carriage houses, permit applications, Residential building applications, online payment instructions](https://www.kelowna.ca/homes-building/building-permits-inspections/apply-building-permit/single-family-homes-carriage-houses)
  - Official wording: "* Cosmetic changes such as painting, flooring, replacing baseboards and resurfacing cabinets do not require a building permit. Please refer the building bylaw to see when a permit is required. * A separate application is required for each building. * Building permit application fees will be emailed to you with a link to pay online, payment of the fee is a required part of a complete application. Need help? Contact us at [email protected] or 250-469-8960."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 7245, Schedule A.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 7245, Schedule A, PDF p. 26](https://apps.kelowna.ca/CityPage/Docs/PDFs/Bylaws/Building%20Bylaw,%201993,%20No.%207245.pdf)
  - Official wording: "SCHEDULE "A" CITY OF KELOWNA BUILDING BYLAW NO. 7245 SCHEDULE OF PERMIT FEES 1. VALUE OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FEES"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09

## How it works

Start an estimate by identifying the kind of work, its construction value and which stage you are paying for. An amount collected when plans are submitted may cover a different part of the application than the final permit charge. For each $1,000 or part within the applicable band, add $9.55 to a $175 base from $10,001–$100,000, $8.05 to $1,034.50 from $100,001–$500,000, or $7.20 to $4,254.50 from $500,001 up.

## Steps

1. Find the charges for your project in [Commercial building permit guide (PDF)](https://www.kelowna.ca/sites/files/1/docs/homes-building/commercial_permit_brochure.pdf). Find the line for your project in the fee schedule. Read the column heading, unit of value and any minimum before doing the calculation.
2. If the project crosses a fee band, check how the schedule treats the first band and the remaining value. Ask how the office determines construction value if your estimate includes several kinds of work.
3. For the residential application process, the City emails the applicant a link to pay the application fee online. Payment is part of a complete application.

## Good to know

- Submit a separate building permit application for each building and attach only the documents for that building.
- Call Development Services at 250-469-8960 for building enquiries. For inspection bookings, call 250-469-8977.
- When comparing the amount due with a quote, itemize any plan review, inspection or other charges separately. This makes it easier to ask which payment is credited toward the balance.
- Read the applicable provisions in [Building Bylaw No. 7245, Schedule A (PDF)](https://apps.kelowna.ca/CityPage/Docs/PDFs/Bylaws/Building%20Bylaw,%201993,%20No.%207245.pdf).

## Official forms and pages

- [Single family homes and carriage houses, permit applications](https://www.kelowna.ca/homes-building/building-permits-inspections/apply-building-permit/single-family-homes-carriage-houses)

## Related questions

- [Kelowna building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/building-permit.md)
- [Kelowna permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/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)
- [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Coldstream](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/building-permit-fees.md)

## Sources

- [Commercial building permit guide (PDF)](https://www.kelowna.ca/sites/files/1/docs/homes-building/commercial_permit_brochure.pdf) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Building Bylaw No. 7245, Schedule A (PDF)](https://apps.kelowna.ca/CityPage/Docs/PDFs/Bylaws/Building%20Bylaw,%201993,%20No.%207245.pdf) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Apply for a building permit](https://www.kelowna.ca/homes-building/building-permits-inspections/apply-building-permit) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Kelowna municipal office contact information](https://www.kelowna.ca/parks-recreation/recreation-facilities/city-hall) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Single family homes and carriage houses, permit applications](https://www.kelowna.ca/homes-building/building-permits-inspections/apply-building-permit/single-family-homes-carriage-houses) (read 2026-11-09)
- [Building Bylaw, City of Kelowna](https://www.kelowna.ca/city-hall/city-government/bylaws-policies/building-bylaw) (read 2026-11-09)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Kelowna. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/building-permit-fees/_