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

# Nelson building permit fees

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

**Short answer:** A Nelson building permit costs $100 for work valued up to $5,000, plus $9 for each $1,000 or part of $1,000 above that. Larger projects also pay a damage deposit of $600 to $1,700. Demolition, wood stoves and plumbing have their own fees.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Nelson, https://www.nelson.ca)  
**Cost:** $100 base (value to $5,000) plus $9 per $1,000 or part over $5,000. Damage deposit $600 (value $50,000 to $200,000), $1,100 ($200,001 to $500,000) or $1,700 (over $500,000).  
**Where:**
- Phone: Development Services and Engineering, 250-352-8260 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Email: Development Services, development@nelson.ca

## Key facts

- **Lowest fee:** $100 basic fee, covering construction value up to $5,000.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3092 (Consolidated, revised April 28, 2026, PDF), Schedule A, BUILDING](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/6404)
  - Official wording: "Charges/Notices on title BUILDING Basic Fee (covers $100 for Construction 1140250-000 construction values up to value to $5000 $5000.00)" … "BUILDING Basic Fee (covers $100 for Construction 1140250-000 construction values up to value to $5000 $5000.00) Additional Fees to the Basic $9.00 for each $1000 or 1140250-000"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How the fee is worked out:** $100 for the first $5,000 of construction value, plus $9 for each $1,000 or part of $1,000 over $5,000. Value of the work is the greater of the declared value or the Marshall Valuation Service figure.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3092 (Consolidated, revised April 28, 2026, PDF), Schedule A, BUILDING](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/6404)
  - Official wording: "Additional Fees to the Basic" … "$9.00 for each $1000 or" … "part thereof of" … "construction value over"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3456, 2019 (Consolidated, PDF), s. 2.1 'Value of the work'](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/77460)
  - Official wording: "(a) for all construction, the greater of:" … "the declared value of the work; or" … "the value calculated using a method stipulated in the “Marshall"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Application or plan review fee:** The schedule lists the building permit fee as $100 for the first $5,000 of construction value plus $9 per $1,000 above that. Submitting new or substantially revised plans costs $100 or 10% of the building permit fee, whichever is greater. It does not say whether this counts toward the permit fee.
  - Source: [Building Permits, City page, Applications](https://www.nelson.ca/162/Building-Permits)
  - Official wording: "Please include the appropriate fee and necessary attachments detailed on the required checklist."
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3092 (Consolidated, revised April 28, 2026, PDF), Schedule A, BUILDING](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/6404)
  - Official wording: "Submission of new or" … "$100 or 10% of the" … "Building Permit fee," … "whichever is greater" … "Submission of new or $100 or 10% of the 1140250-000" … "substantially revised plans Building Permit fee,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees:** Plumbing: $100 basic fee for a homeowner or $50 for a licensed plumber (includes first fixture). Demolition: $50 residential, $200 commercial. Re-inspection: minimum $60, charged from the third re-inspection. Building permit renewal: $100. Damage deposit: $600, $1,100 or $1,700 by value of work.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3092 (Consolidated, revised April 28, 2026, PDF), Schedule A, PLUMBING and BUILDING](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/6404)
  - Official wording: "Basic Fee (includes first" … "$100/$50" … "Homeowner/Licensed" … "Demolition -" … "$50/$200" … "Minimum Fee For Re-" … "$60" … "Building Permit Renewal" … "Building Permit Valued" … "between $50,000 and" … "$200,000" … "$600" … "$1,100" … "$1,700"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3456, 2019 (Consolidated, PDF), s. 11.9, 11.45](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/77460)
  - Official wording: "An applicant for a building permit must pay to the City, at the time of the application, the security deposit as determined in the City Fees and Charges Bylaw." … "a third and each subsequent re-inspection" … "a third and each subsequent re-inspection where it has been determined by the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to pay:** The permit fee must be paid before the permit is issued; the City's page says to include the fee with the application. The damage deposit is paid at the time of application. Methods for building permit fees are not stated.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3456, 2019 (Consolidated, PDF), s. 11.8, 11.9](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/77460)
  - Official wording: "Before receiving a building permit for a building or structure, the owner must first pay to the City:" … "the building permit fee prescribed in the City Fees and Charges Bylaw; and" … "pay to the City, at the time of the application, the security deposit"
  - Source: [Building Permits, City page, Applications](https://www.nelson.ca/162/Building-Permits)
  - Official wording: "Please include the appropriate fee and necessary attachments detailed on the required checklist."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3092, 2008, Schedule A (Development Service Fees), BUILDING and PLUMBING; Building Bylaw No. 3456, 2019, ss. 11.8 to 11.18
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3092 (Consolidated, revised April 28, 2026, PDF), Schedule A](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/6404)
  - Official wording: "BYLAW NO. 3092" … "REVISED: April 28, 2026" … "Schedule “A” Development Service Fees"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 3456, 2019 (Consolidated, PDF), s. 11.8](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/77460)
  - Official wording: "the building permit fee prescribed in the City Fees and Charges Bylaw; and"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under Nelson's [Fees and Charges Bylaw 3092](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/6404) (Schedule A), the building permit fee is $100 for the first $5,000 of construction value, plus $9 for each $1,000 or part of $1,000 above $5,000. The value of the work is the greater of the declared value or the Marshall Valuation Service figure, under the [Building Bylaw 3456](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/77460). If the actual cost ends up higher than the value used, the fee is recalculated and an extra fee charged.

The fee must be paid before the permit is issued; the City page says to include it with your application. A damage deposit is paid when you apply. The City does not state how building permit fees can be paid.

## Good to know

- Other fees: wood-burning appliance $200; demolition $50 residential or $200 commercial; building permit renewal $100; plumbing permit $100 for a homeowner or $50 for a licensed plumber.
- Submitting new or substantially revised plans costs $100 or 10% of the building permit fee, whichever is greater.
- Re-inspection: minimum $60, charged from the third re-inspection. Inspections outside normal business hours are $140 and voluntary inspections $100.
- Starting before the permit is issued can double the permit fee, up to $1,000 extra.
- The schedule also lists a Tree Deposit of $2,500 per tree under damage deposits; it does not say which trees it covers.
- Refunds of building application fees: none for fees of $200 or less; 90% before review, 50% before the permit is issued, 25% after issue but before work or inspections (up to 60 days), none once work starts.
- Development permit and rezoning fees are separate.

## Official forms and pages

- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3092 (consolidated, PDF)](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/6404)
- [Building Permits page](https://www.nelson.ca/162/Building-Permits)

## Related questions

- [Nelson building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/building-permit.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Building permit fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Slocan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Trail](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/building-permit-fees.md)

## Sources

- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3092 (Consolidated, revised April 28, 2026, PDF)](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/6404) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw No. 3456, 2019 (Consolidated, PDF)](https://nelson.civicweb.net/document/77460) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Permits, City of Nelson](https://www.nelson.ca/162/Building-Permits) (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 Nelson. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/building-permit-fees/_