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

# North Saanich building permit fees

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

**Short answer:** In North Saanich the building permit fee is 1¼% of the fair market value of construction. A plan processing fee is paid with the application: $250 for a new one-family dwelling, otherwise 50% of the estimated permit fee (at least $100, at most $2,000). Starting work without a permit doubles the fee.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of North Saanich, https://www.northsaanich.ca)  
**Cost:** Permit fee 1¼% of construction value. Plan processing fee $250 for a new one-family dwelling, otherwise 50% of the estimated permit fee (minimum $100, maximum $2,000), credited toward the permit fee.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building department, 250-655-5470
- In person: Municipal Hall, 1620 Mills Road, North Saanich, BC V8L 5S9 (Cash, cheque or Interac; no credit cards.)

## Key facts

- **Lowest fee:** No minimum building permit fee is stated. The smallest plan processing fee is $100, for work other than a new one-family dwelling; it is credited toward the permit fee.
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150, Schedule A (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019), Schedule A s. 1.2](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall be fifty percent (50%) of the" … "estimated permit fee required pursuant to section 2.1 but shall not exceed" … "$2,000.00 nor be less than $100.00."
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150, Schedule A (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019), s. 5.9.2](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A plan processing fee shall be a credit towards the building permit fee levied"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How the fee is worked out:** 1¼% of the fair market value of construction. The District works out the value from the plans using the most current Marshall Swift construction cost manual. The fee is doubled where construction began before a permit was issued.
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150, Schedule A (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019), Schedule A s. 2.1](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall be 1-1/4 percent of the" … "fair market value of construction covered by the permit." … "The value of construction shall be calculated by the authority having jurisdiction using the" … "The permit fee is doubled where construction was commenced before a permit was"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Application or plan review fee:** A plan processing fee is paid with the application: $250 for a new one-family dwelling; otherwise 50% of the estimated permit fee, at least $100 and at most $2,000. It counts as a credit toward the permit fee but is non-refundable.
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150, Schedule A (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019), Schedule A s. 1.1, 1.2](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "For a permit application to construct a new One-Family Dwelling:" … "$250.00"
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150, Schedule A (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019), s. 5.9.1, 5.9.2, 5.9.3](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall be accompanied by the" … "appropriate plan processing fee" … "A plan processing fee is non-refundable, and shall be forfeited and the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees:** Demolition permit $100 (structure 92.9 m² or less), $200 (larger), $50 deconstruction. Plumbing $15 per fixture. Re-inspection after the second: $50. Temporary building permit $300. Damage surety deposit with the application: $500 (work of $10,000 to under $25,000) or $1,000 ($25,000 or more, and demolition).
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150, Schedule A (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019), Schedule A s. 2.9](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "If the structure is 92.9 m2 (1000 ft2) or less in area" … "$100.00" … "If the structure is more than 92.9 m2 (1000 ft2) in area" … "$200.00" … "Deconstruction" … "Damage - Surety Deposit" … "valued at $10,000 or greater, but less than $25,000" … "Each application for a building or demolition permit shall be accompanied by a surety"
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150, Schedule A (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019), Schedule A s. 2.11.1, 2.4, 2.3, 2.8](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "For each plumbing fixture" … "fee for each inspection after the" … "(for one year or any portion thereof)" … "ten percent (10%) of the original"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to pay:** The plan processing fee is paid with the application; the building permit fee is paid before the permit is issued. The District accepts cash, cheque or Interac, not credit cards.
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150, Schedule A (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019), s. 5.9.1, 5.10.1](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "An application for a building permit shall be accompanied by the" … "Before receiving a building permit for any building or structure, the owner or" … "his agent shall first pay to the Building Official the appropriate building"
  - Source: [Permits, Permit Fees](https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/building-or-renovating/permits)
  - Official wording: "does not accept credit cards"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150, Schedule A (fees), with ss. 5.9 and 5.10
  - Source: [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150, Schedule A (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "SCHEDULE A" … "1. Plan Processing Fees"
  - Source: [Permits, Permit Fees](https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/building-or-renovating/permits)
  - Official wording: "For Building Permit and Plumbing Permit fees see Section 5.9 of the Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The District of North Saanich sets building permit fees in Schedule A of [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf). The permit fee is a flat 1¼% of the fair market value of construction. The District works out that value from your plans using the most current Marshall Swift construction cost manual. No minimum permit fee is stated.

## Steps

1. Pay the plan processing fee with your application. It counts as a credit toward the permit fee but is non-refundable.
2. Pay the permit fee before the permit is issued.
3. The District accepts cash, cheque or Interac, not credit cards.

## Good to know

- The fee is doubled if construction began before a permit was issued.
- Other fees: demolition permit $100 (structure 92.9 m² or less) or $200 (larger), plus $50 for deconstruction; plumbing $15 per fixture; temporary building permit $300; re-inspection after the second, $50.
- A damage surety deposit is paid with the application: $500 for work of $10,000 to under $25,000, or $1,000 for $25,000 or more and for demolition.
- A registered professional's certification of code compliance can reduce the fee.
- The Property File Review fee is $75 plus GST from January 1, 2026. Sign permit fees are in Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1471.
- The fees are from the 2019 consolidation of the bylaw. Confirm current amounts with the building department at 250-655-5470.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150, Schedule A (PDF)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1471 (PDF)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1471-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-2018.pdf)

## Related questions

- [North Saanich building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/building-permit.md)
- [North Saanich tree removal rules and permits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/tree-removal.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Building permit fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/building-permit-fees.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/building-permit-fees.md)

## Sources

- [Building and Plumbing Bylaw No. 1150, Schedule A (PDF, consolidated March 18, 2019)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1150-Building-Plumbing-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-March-18-2019.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Permits, District of North Saanich](https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/building-or-renovating/permits) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1471 (PDF)](https://www.northsaanich.ca/wp-content/uploads/1471-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw-2018.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Property Information, District of North Saanich](https://www.northsaanich.ca/lands-planning/building-or-renovating/property-information) (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 District of North Saanich. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/building-permit-fees/_