{"title":"Lake Cowichan building permit fees","question":"How much does a building permit cost in Lake Cowichan?","slug":"building-permit-fees","place":{"path":"ca/bc/lake-cowichan","name":"Lake Cowichan","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":"Town of Lake Cowichan","url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca"},"short_answer":"In Lake Cowichan a building permit costs $100 for work valued at $5,000 or less. Above that, Schedule A of the Building Bylaw sets 1% of the estimated value plus a minimum of $100. Work started without a permit costs double.","aliases":["building permit fee lake cowichan","building permit cost lake cowichan","plumbing permit fee lake cowichan","demolition permit fee lake cowichan"],"cost":"$100 for construction value not exceeding $5,000. Over $5,000, 1% of estimated value plus a minimum of $100, as Schedule A words it. Plumbing minimum $24.","how_long":"The bylaw and Town pages state no processing time.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Town Hall","value":"250-749-6681"},{"type":"phone","label":"Building Inspector","value":"250-749-6681 ext. 104","note":"Tuesdays and Wednesdays, except holidays"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Town Hall","value":"39 South Shore Road, Lake Cowichan, BC V0R 2G0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed statutory holidays"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022 (PDF)","url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1075-2022%20Building%20Regulations.pdf"},{"title":"Fees and Charges for Services Bylaw No. 1127-2025 (PDF)","url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1127-2025%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20for%20Services.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Lake Cowichan building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/building-permit/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Lake Cowichan permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Lake Cowichan zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/ladysmith","name":"Ladysmith","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/duncan","name":"Duncan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-cowichan","name":"North Cowichan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nanaimo","name":"Nanaimo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-saanich","name":"North Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/highlands","name":"Highlands","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/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":"$100 for construction value not exceeding $5,000.","short":"$100 (value up to $5,000)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1075-2022%20Building%20Regulations.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["Construction Value not exceeding $5,000","of $100 payable"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fee_formula":{"label":"How the fee is worked out","value":"Over $5,000: 1% of estimated value plus a minimum of $100, as Schedule A words it. Value can be a professional appraisal or Schedule B rates per ft² of gross floor area (for example main floor with full basement $180, crawlspace or slab $140, second floor $100, finished garage $50, deck $40). Work without a valid permit: double fee.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1075-2022%20Building%20Regulations.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A and B","quotes":["Additional fee for construction value exceeding $5,000","1% of estimated value plus minimum","Main floor with full basement 180.00","Main floor with crawlspace 140.00","Garage (finished) (attached or detached) 50.00","Deck 40.00","Construction without a valid permit"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"application_fee":{"label":"Application or plan review fee","value":"Plan review before inspection: $100. The bylaw does not say whether it counts toward the permit fee. 70% of the permit fee is refundable if no work has begun.","short":"$100 plan review","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1075-2022%20Building%20Regulations.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A (Other)","quotes":["Reviewing plans before inspection","Building permit application refund if no work has begun.","70 percent (70 %)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"other_fees":{"label":"Other fees","value":"Plumbing: $24 minimum (one or two fixtures), then $12 per fixture. Demolition permit $100. Permit to move a building $500. Re-inspection or callback $50. Deposits: demolition $5,000, damage to Town property $3,000.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1075-2022%20Building%20Regulations.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["Minimum fee (One or two fixtures)","$ 24.00","$ 12.00 per fixture","Demolition of building or structure (does not include disconnection","$500.00","Callback inspection","Security for demolishing building or structure","$ 5,000","Security for Damage to Town Property","$ 3,000"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"how_to_pay":{"label":"How to pay","value":"The Building Inspector must issue the permit once the applicant pays the Schedule A permit fee and all other fees and charges. The pages read do not state payment methods.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1075-2022%20Building%20Regulations.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022 (PDF)","section":"s. 6(1)","quotes":["the owner or owner’s agent pays the permit fee prescribed by Schedule “A”; and","the owner or owner’s agent pays all other fees and charges and meets all requirements"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022, Schedule A (Schedule of Permit Fees and Deposits for Building Construction) and Schedule B (Construction Valuation Schedule)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1075-2022%20Building%20Regulations.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022 (PDF)","section":"Schedules A and B","quotes":["SCHEDULE OF PERMIT FEES AND DEPOSITS FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION","CONSTRUCTION VALUATION SCHEDULE"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nFees are in Schedule A (permit fees and deposits) and Schedule B (construction valuation) of the [Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1075-2022%20Building%20Regulations.pdf). The Town's Fees and Charges Bylaw has no building permit schedule.\n\n- Value of $5,000 or less: $100.\n- Value over $5,000: 1% of the estimated value plus a minimum of $100, as Schedule A words it. The wording is unclear about whether the 1% applies to the whole value or only the part over $5,000, so ask the Building Inspector.\n- The value can be a professional appraisal or the Schedule B rates per ft² of gross floor area. Examples: main floor with full basement $180, crawlspace or slab $140, second floor $100, finished garage $50, deck $40.\n- Work done without a valid permit: double fee.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Ask the Building Inspector (250-749-6681 ext. 104) for the valuation of your project.\n2. Pay the Schedule A permit fee and all other fees and charges. The Building Inspector must issue the permit once you have paid them. The Town's pages do not state payment methods.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Plan review before inspection: $100. The bylaw does not say whether it counts toward the permit fee.\n- 70% of the permit fee is refundable if no work has begun.\n- Plumbing: $24 minimum (one or two fixtures), then $12 per fixture.\n- Demolition permit $100. Permit to move a building $500. Re-inspection or callback $50.\n- Deposits: demolition $5,000; damage to Town property $3,000.\n- The fee drops 10% for plans certified by an architect with Schedules A, B-1 and B-2.\n- The [Fees and Charges for Services Bylaw 1127-2025](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1127-2025%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20for%20Services.pdf) (effective February 1, 2026) lists a Zoning Compliance letter of comfort at $250 and a Building Permit Register at $15 per monthly report.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1075-2022%20Building%20Regulations.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1127-2025%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20for%20Services.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges for Services Bylaw No. 1127-2025 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.lakecowichan.ca/building-inspection.php","title":"Building Inspection, Town of Lake Cowichan","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 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/building-permit-fees/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/building-permit-fees.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/building-permit-fees.json"}}