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

# Lake Cowichan building permit fees

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Lake Cowichan, https://www.lakecowichan.ca)  
**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:**
- Phone: Town Hall, 250-749-6681
- Phone: Building Inspector, 250-749-6681 ext. 104 (Tuesdays and Wednesdays, except holidays)
- In person: Town Hall, 39 South Shore Road, Lake Cowichan, BC V0R 2G0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed statutory holidays)

## Key facts

- **Lowest fee:** $100 for construction value not exceeding $5,000.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022, Schedule A](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1075-2022%20Building%20Regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Construction Value not exceeding $5,000" … "of $100 payable"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How the fee is worked out:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022, Schedule A and B](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1075-2022%20Building%20Regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Application or plan review fee:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022, Schedule A (Other)](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1075-2022%20Building%20Regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Reviewing plans before inspection" … "Building permit application refund if no work has begun." … "70 percent (70 %)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other fees:** 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 $3,000.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022, Schedule A](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1075-2022%20Building%20Regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Minimum fee (One or two fixtures)" … "$ 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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to pay:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022, s. 6(1)](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1075-2022%20Building%20Regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022, Schedule A (Schedule of Permit Fees and Deposits for Building Construction) and Schedule B (Construction Valuation Schedule)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022, Schedules A and B](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1075-2022%20Building%20Regulations.pdf)
  - Official wording: "SCHEDULE OF PERMIT FEES AND DEPOSITS FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION" … "CONSTRUCTION VALUATION SCHEDULE"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Fees 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.

- Value of $5,000 or less: $100.
- 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.
- 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.
- Work done without a valid permit: double fee.

## Steps

1. Ask the Building Inspector (250-749-6681 ext. 104) for the valuation of your project.
2. 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.

## Good to know

- 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.
- 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.
- The fee drops 10% for plans certified by an architect with Schedules A, B-1 and B-2.
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022 (PDF)](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1075-2022%20Building%20Regulations.pdf)
- [Fees and Charges for Services Bylaw No. 1127-2025 (PDF)](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1127-2025%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20for%20Services.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Lake Cowichan building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/building-permit.md)
- [Lake Cowichan permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [Lake Cowichan zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Building permit fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Duncan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/building-permit-fees.md)
- [North Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/building-permit-fees.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/building-permit-fees.md)

## Sources

- [Building Bylaw No. 1075-2022 (PDF)](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1075-2022%20Building%20Regulations.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges for Services Bylaw No. 1127-2025 (PDF)](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/dl/1127-2025%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20for%20Services.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Inspection, Town of Lake Cowichan](https://www.lakecowichan.ca/building-inspection.php) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Lake Cowichan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/building-permit-fees/_