{"title":"North Cowichan building permit fees","question":"How much does a building permit cost in North Cowichan?","slug":"building-permit-fees","place":{"path":"ca/bc/north-cowichan","name":"North 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":"Municipality of North Cowichan","url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca"},"short_answer":"In North Cowichan a building permit costs $150 for work valued up to $5,000. Above that it is $150 plus 1% of the construction value. The fee is paid after the permit is approved, when the Municipality sends a fee slip.","aliases":["building permit fee north cowichan","how much is a building permit north cowichan","north cowichan permit cost","demolition permit fee north cowichan"],"cost":"$150 minimum; $150 plus 1% of construction value over $5,000. Other fees are listed below.","how_long":"Not applicable. The fee slip is sent once the permit is approved.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Building Services","value":"250-746-3105"},{"type":"email","label":"Building Services","value":"building@northcowichan.ca"},{"type":"email","label":"Send your fee slip after paying online","value":"finance@northcowichan.ca","note":"Copy building@northcowichan.ca."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784 (PDF)","url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"North Cowichan building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/building-permit/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"North Cowichan permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"North Cowichan secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/secondary-suite/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/duncan","name":"Duncan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/ladysmith","name":"Ladysmith","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/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/sidney","name":"Sidney","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lake-cowichan","name":"Lake Cowichan","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/central-saanich","name":"Central Saanich","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/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":"$150, for construction value not exceeding $5,000.","short":"$150 (value up to $5,000)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784 (PDF, current to July 20, 2026)","section":"Schedule C, Section 1, Item 1","quotes":["Core Building Permit Fees","Building Permit Fee – for construction value not","exceeding $5,000"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee_formula":{"label":"How the fee is worked out","value":"$150 plus 1% of construction value once the value is over $5,000 (same formula for $100,000 and up). If the applicant's value and the Building Inspector's differ, the Inspector's value applies unless the applicant provides an appraisal by a registered appraiser.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784 (PDF, current to July 20, 2026)","section":"Schedule C, Section 1, Items 2-3","quotes":["$150 + 1% of construction value","Building Inspector's value of construction will be the value applied unless the applicant provides the value as determined by a professional building appraiser"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"application_fee":{"label":"Application or plan review fee","value":null,"status":"none","note":"The Fees and Charges Bylaw schedule lists no separate application or plan-review fee.","sources":[]},"other_fees":{"label":"Other fees","value":"Plumbing: $30 for 1 or 2 fixtures, $15 per fixture for 3 or more. Demolition: $150 residential, $250 other. Re-inspection $150. Plan revision after issue $100. Work without a permit: double fee. Secondary suite permit: the greater of $150 + 1% of construction value or $165/sq.ft. (as written).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784 (PDF, current to July 20, 2026)","section":"Schedule C, Sections 1 and 5","quotes":["Plumbing fixtures – 1 or 2 $30 flat fee for one or both","Plumbing fixtures – 3 and up","$15.00 per fixture (no minimum fee,","Demolition of building or structure","Residential: $150; Commercial/","Industrial/ Multi-Family: $250","Inspection – reinspection $150","Plan revision fee after building permit issuance $100","Double the building permit fees","Secondary suite permit","The greater of $150 + 1% of","construction value or $165/sq.ft."]},{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/Building%20Bylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw 2003, No. 3172 (PDF)","section":"s. 17(3), 18(3)","quotes":["security in the amount of $5 000 in the form of an irrevocable letter of credit or cash"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"how_to_pay":{"label":"How to pay","value":"A fee slip is sent once the permit is approved. Pay by cash, Interac, cheque or money order, or online using 'North Cowichan – A/R' as the payee with the BP folder number as the account. Credit cards are not accepted. Email the fee slip to finance@northcowichan.ca and building@northcowichan.ca after paying online.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-hall/permits-forms-applications/single-family-dwelling-duplex-permit","title":"Single-Family Dwelling / Duplex Permit, Municipality of North Cowichan","section":"Step 5: Building permit fees","quotes":["Once a building permit has been approved a fee slip will be provided for payment.","Permit fees are payable by: - cash, interact, cheque or money order","Credit cards are not accepted."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784, Schedule C (Development and Permitting Fees), Section 1 (Building Fees); plumbing fees in Section 5.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784 (PDF, current to July 20, 2026)","section":"cover / Schedule C","quotes":["FEES AND CHARGES Bylaw No. 3784","SCHEDULE C - DEVELOPMENT AND PERMITTING FEES (Section 1, Building Fees)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":1,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nNorth Cowichan sets building fees in [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw.pdf), Schedule C. The permit fee is $150 for construction valued at $5,000 or less, and $150 plus 1% of the construction value once the value is over $5,000 (the same formula applies at $100,000 and up). If your stated value and the Building Inspector's differ, the Inspector's value applies unless you provide an appraisal by a registered appraiser. The schedule lists no separate application or plan-review fee.\n\nOther fees in the schedule:\n\n- Plumbing: $30 for 1 or 2 fixtures, $15 per fixture for 3 or more.\n- Demolition: $150 residential, $250 other.\n- Re-inspection: $150. Plan revision after the permit is issued: $100.\n- Work done without a permit: double the fee.\n- Retaining walls, relocation and sign permits: $150 plus 1% of construction value.\n- Site preparation permit: $100. Reinstating an expired permit: $300. Special safety inspection: $500.\n- Secondary suite: the greater of $150 plus 1% of construction value or \"$165/sq.ft.\" as the schedule is written.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Apply for the permit (see the building-permit answer).\n2. Wait for approval. The Municipality then sends a fee slip.\n3. Pay by cash, Interac, cheque or money order, or online using \"North Cowichan – A/R\" as the payee and your BP folder number as the account.\n4. If you pay online, email the fee slip to finance@northcowichan.ca and building@northcowichan.ca.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Credit cards are not accepted.\n- The permit fee does not include any development permit fee. Development cost charges may apply to some projects.\n- The secondary suite wording is unclear, so confirm that fee with Building Services at 250-746-3105.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784 (PDF, current to July 20, 2026)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/Building%20Bylaw.pdf","title":"Building Bylaw 2003, No. 3172 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-hall/permits-forms-applications/single-family-dwelling-duplex-permit","title":"Single-Family Dwelling / Duplex Permit, Municipality of North Cowichan","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/building-permit-fees/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/building-permit-fees.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/building-permit-fees.json"}}