---
title: Nanaimo building permit fees
question: "How much does a building permit cost?"
place: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/nanaimo
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Nanaimo
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/building-permit-fees/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/building-permit-fees.json"
---

# Nanaimo building permit fees

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

**Short answer:** A City of Nanaimo building permit costs $105 for the minimum and the first $1,000 of construction value, plus $10 per $1,000 up to $100,000 and $7 per $1,000 above that. Plumbing and other fees are extra. Jobs over $20,000 pay a 10 percent application fee up front.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Nanaimo, https://www.nanaimo.ca)  
**Cost:** $105 minimum and first $1,000; $10 per $1,000 from $1,000.01 to $100,000; $7 per $1,000 above $100,000. Plumbing $40 minimum plus $8 per fixture. Re-inspection $150.  
**Where:**
- Online: Building Permit Fee Calculator, https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/permit-fee-calculator
- Phone: Building Inspections, 250-755-4429
- Email: Building Inspections, building.inspections@nanaimo.ca

## Key facts

- **Lowest fee:** $105, which covers the minimum fee and the first $1,000 of construction value.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336 (PDF, consolidated 2026-JUN-01), Schedule A, Development Services Fees, Building Inspection Section](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7336.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Minimum fee and first $1000 of Construction Value (CV) $105"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How the fee is worked out:** $105 for the first $1,000 of construction value, plus $10 per $1,000 from $1,000.01 to $100,000, plus $7 per $1,000 above $100,000. A 5% reduction applies when an architect or engineer provides a Letter of Assurance and the inspector confirms in writing that the City is relying on it.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336 (PDF, consolidated 2026-JUN-01), Schedule A, Building Permit Value of Construction](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7336.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Minimum fee and first $1000 of Construction Value (CV) $105" … "Additional fee for CV from $1,000.01 - $100,000 $10/$1,000" … "Additional fee for CV from $100,000.01 - Greater $7/$1,000" … "Five percent reduction in the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Application or plan review fee:** When the estimated construction value is over $20,000, an application fee of 10% of the estimated building permit fee (minimum $175) is paid at application. It counts toward the permit fee, but the City keeps it if you do not proceed with the project.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336 (PDF, consolidated 2026-JUN-01), Schedule A, Application Fees](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7336.pdf)
  - Official wording: "of construction exceeds $20,000 shall pay 10 percent of the" … "issuance - minimum $175" … "The fee paid shall be applied towards the total cost of the" … "with the project, the City will retain the fee."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees:** Plumbing permit $40 minimum plus $8 per fixture. Re-inspection $150. Special inspection of an existing building $100. Permit renewal $100 (value up to $50,000) or $250. Bond for new residential construction $750, refundable after occupancy approval if City property is undamaged. Pre-2005 suite authorization $500 minimum. Accelerated single-family review $150 surcharge.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336 (PDF, consolidated 2026-JUN-01), Schedule A, Building Inspection Section](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7336.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Minimum Charge $40" … "Per fixture (includes swimming pools, interceptors, hot water $8" … "shall be $150." … "The fee for a requested inspection of an existing building. $100" … "$0 - $50,000 $100" … "$50,000.01 - greater $250" … "Where a permit is required in order to authorize an illegal suite $500 minimum" … "may request that the Building Permit review be accelerated."
  - Source: [Residential Building Permit Application Guide, Charges for a Building Permit, Bond Fee](https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/property-development/building-permits/residentialbuildingpermitapplicationguide.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Refundable after occupancy approval, providing there is no damage to City services, roads, sidewalks, etc."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to pay:** The application fee (for work over $20,000) is requested after the online application is accepted; the remainder of the fees must be paid before the permit is issued. The pages read do not say which payment methods are accepted for building permits.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336 (PDF, consolidated 2026-JUN-01), Schedule A, Application Fees](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7336.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The remainder of the applicable fees shall be" … "payable prior to issuance of a Building Permit."
  - Source: [Residential Building Permit Application Guide, Application Requirements](https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/property-development/building-permits/residentialbuildingpermitapplicationguide.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The application fee will be requested after your online BP application has been accepted."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336, Schedule A (Development Services Fees, Building Inspection Section)
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336 (PDF, consolidated 2026-JUN-01), s. 1 and 2, Schedule A](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7336.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as "Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336"." … "BUILDING INSPECTION SECTION"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Nanaimo sets building permit fees in Schedule A of the [Fees and Charges Bylaw](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7336.pdf). The main fee depends on the value of the construction. The City's Building Permit Fee Calculator gives a rough figure only; it leaves out connection, plumbing fixture and sprinkler fees.

## Main fee

- $105 covers the minimum fee and the first $1,000 of construction value.
- $1,000.01 to $100,000: add $10 per $1,000.
- Over $100,000: add $7 per $1,000.
- If an architect or engineer provides a Letter of Assurance and the inspector confirms in writing that the City relies on it, the fee is reduced by 5 percent.

## Other fees

- Application fee: when the estimated construction value is over $20,000, 10 percent of the estimated permit fee (minimum $175) is paid at application. It counts toward the permit fee, but the City keeps it if you do not proceed.
- Plumbing permit: $40 minimum plus $8 per fixture.
- Re-inspection: $150. Special inspection of an existing building: $100.
- Permit renewal: $100 (work valued up to $50,000) or $250.
- Bond for new residential construction: $750, refundable after occupancy approval if City property is undamaged.
- Accelerated single-family review: $150 surcharge.
- Authorizing a suite built before 2005: $500 minimum.

## Good to know

- The application fee is requested after the online application is accepted; the rest is paid before the permit is issued. The City's pages do not say which payment methods are accepted, so ask Building Inspections.
- Demolition, moving, sign, sprinkler and service pipe fees are also in the schedule.
- Development Cost Charges and School Site Acquisition Charges are separate.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Permit Fee Calculator](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/permit-fee-calculator)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7336.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Nanaimo building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/building-permit.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)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Gibsons](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/building-permit-fees.md)

## Sources

- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 2021 No. 7336 (PDF, consolidated 2026-JUN-01)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7336.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Permit Fee Calculator, City of Nanaimo](https://www.nanaimo.ca/property-development/building-permits/permit-fee-calculator) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Residential Building Permit Application Guide (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/docs/property-development/building-permits/residentialbuildingpermitapplicationguide.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 City of Nanaimo. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/building-permit-fees/_