---
title: North Cowichan building permit fees
question: "How much does a building permit cost in North Cowichan?"
place: North Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/north-cowichan
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Municipality of North Cowichan
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/building-permit-fees/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/building-permit-fees.json"
---

# North Cowichan building permit fees

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Municipality of North Cowichan, https://www.northcowichan.ca)  
**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:**
- Phone: Building Services, 250-746-3105
- Email: Building Services, building@northcowichan.ca
- Email: Send your fee slip after paying online, finance@northcowichan.ca (Copy building@northcowichan.ca.)

## Key facts

- **Lowest fee:** $150, for construction value not exceeding $5,000.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784 (PDF, current to July 20, 2026), Schedule C, Section 1, Item 1](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Core Building Permit Fees" … "Building Permit Fee – for construction value not" … "exceeding $5,000"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How the fee is worked out:** $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.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784 (PDF, current to July 20, 2026), Schedule C, Section 1, Items 2-3](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "$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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Application or plan review fee:** None set. The Fees and Charges Bylaw schedule lists no separate application or plan-review fee.
- **Other fees:** 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).
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784 (PDF, current to July 20, 2026), Schedule C, Sections 1 and 5](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 2003, No. 3172, s. 17(3), 18(3)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/Building%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "security in the amount of $5 000 in the form of an irrevocable letter of credit or cash"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to pay:** 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.
  - Source: [Single-Family Dwelling / Duplex Permit, Step 5: Building permit fees](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-hall/permits-forms-applications/single-family-dwelling-duplex-permit)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784, Schedule C (Development and Permitting Fees), Section 1 (Building Fees); plumbing fees in Section 5.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784 (PDF, current to July 20, 2026), cover / Schedule C](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "FEES AND CHARGES Bylaw No. 3784" … "SCHEDULE C - DEVELOPMENT AND PERMITTING FEES (Section 1, Building Fees)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

North 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.

Other fees in the schedule:

- 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 the permit is issued: $100.
- Work done without a permit: double the fee.
- Retaining walls, relocation and sign permits: $150 plus 1% of construction value.
- Site preparation permit: $100. Reinstating an expired permit: $300. Special safety inspection: $500.
- Secondary suite: the greater of $150 plus 1% of construction value or "$165/sq.ft." as the schedule is written.

## Steps

1. Apply for the permit (see the building-permit answer).
2. Wait for approval. The Municipality then sends a fee slip.
3. 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.
4. If you pay online, email the fee slip to finance@northcowichan.ca and building@northcowichan.ca.

## Good to know

- Credit cards are not accepted.
- The permit fee does not include any development permit fee. Development cost charges may apply to some projects.
- The secondary suite wording is unclear, so confirm that fee with Building Services at 250-746-3105.

## Official forms and pages

- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784 (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

- [North Cowichan building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/building-permit.md)
- [North Cowichan permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/deck-shed-garage-permit.md)
- [North Cowichan secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/secondary-suite.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Building permit fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Duncan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/building-permit-fees.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/building-permit-fees.md)

## Sources

- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3784 (PDF, current to July 20, 2026)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-04/Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Bylaw 2003, No. 3172 (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-06/Building%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Single-Family Dwelling / Duplex Permit, Municipality of North Cowichan](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-hall/permits-forms-applications/single-family-dwelling-duplex-permit) (read 2026-11-06)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Municipality of North Cowichan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/building-permit-fees/_