{"title":"Port Alberni building permit fees","question":"How much does a building permit cost?","slug":"building-permit-fees","place":{"path":"ca/bc/port-alberni","name":"Port Alberni","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":"City of Port Alberni","url":"https://www.portalberni.ca"},"short_answer":"A City of Port Alberni building permit costs a $100 base fee plus $7 for each $1,000 of construction value, or part of $1,000. A $100 application fee is paid when you submit. Other fees apply to plumbing, demolition and retaining walls.","aliases":["building permit fee port alberni","how much is a permit port alberni","permit cost port alberni"],"cost":"$100 base fee plus $7 per $1,000 of value (or part of it). Plumbing permit $65 plus $10 per fixture.","how_long":"Fees are paid before the permit is issued.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Development Services (payments)","value":"Upper - 4835 Argyle Street, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 1V9","note":"Cash, debit or cheque. You can also pay online."},{"type":"phone","label":"Building Services","value":"250-720-2835"},{"type":"email","label":"Building","value":"building@portalberni.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025, Schedule O (PDF)","url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5125_5125-1_5125-2_5125-3_5125-4_Fees_and_Charges_Bylaw_No._5125_2025_Consolidated_0.pdf"},{"title":"Standard Building and Plumbing Permits (Part 9 Buildings)","url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/standard-building-plumbing-permits-part-9-buildings"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Port Alberni building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/building-permit/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/qualicum-beach","name":"Qualicum Beach","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/parksville","name":"Parksville","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nanaimo","name":"Nanaimo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/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":"$100 base fee, plus $7 per $1,000 of construction value (or part of $1,000).","short":"$100 base, plus $7 per $1,000","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5125_5125-1_5125-2_5125-3_5125-4_Fees_and_Charges_Bylaw_No._5125_2025_Consolidated_0.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025, Schedule O (PDF, consolidated to Sept 8, 2026)","section":"Schedule O, Building Permit","quotes":["BUILDING FEES & CHARGES","(a) Base Fee $100.00","Plus, per $1,000 of valuation, or portion thereof"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee_formula":{"label":"How the fee is worked out","value":"Base fee $100 plus $7 for each $1,000 of valuation or part of it. If built under a Coordinating Registered Professional, the permit fee is reduced by 10%, up to $500. Lapsed permit renewal: $100 plus $9.50 per $1,000.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5125_5125-1_5125-2_5125-3_5125-4_Fees_and_Charges_Bylaw_No._5125_2025_Consolidated_0.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025, Schedule O (PDF, consolidated to Sept 8, 2026)","section":"Schedule O","quotes":["Plus, per $1,000 of valuation, or portion thereof","the permit fee is reduced by 10% of the fees payable under this Bylaw, up to a maximum reduction of $500.00.","Renewal of Lapsed Building Permit","(b) Plus, per $1,000 of valuation, or portion thereof $9.50"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"application_fee":{"label":"Application or plan review fee","value":"$100 application fee paid when the application is submitted. Schedule O also lists a non-refundable plan check deposit of 15% of the building permit fee (minimum $100), which is deducted from the final permit fee.","short":"$100, plus plan check deposit 15% of permit fee","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/standard-building-plumbing-permits-part-9-buildings","title":"Standard Building and Plumbing Permits (Part 9 Buildings), City of Port Alberni","section":"Step Two","quotes":["Pay the $100 Application fee."]},{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5125_5125-1_5125-2_5125-3_5125-4_Fees_and_Charges_Bylaw_No._5125_2025_Consolidated_0.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025, Schedule O (PDF, consolidated to Sept 8, 2026)","section":"Schedule O","quotes":["Plan Check Deposit – Non-Refundable","(a) % of building permit fee 15%","(b) Minimum fee $100.00","This payment will be reduced from the final building permit issuance fees."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_fees":{"label":"Other fees","value":"Plumbing permit $65 base plus $10 per fixture; demolition $100 plus $500 bond; re-inspection $100 (first inspection free); retaining wall over 1.2 m $150; moving a building $200; $2,000 street-damage bond for single or two family dwellings.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5125_5125-1_5125-2_5125-3_5125-4_Fees_and_Charges_Bylaw_No._5125_2025_Consolidated_0.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025, Schedule O (PDF, consolidated to Sept 8, 2026)","section":"Schedule O","quotes":["Plumbing Permit – per Fixture","(b) Per fixture $10.00","Demolishing a Building","(b) Bond fee $500.00","Re-inspections (first inspection no charge) $100.00","Retaining walls – greater than 1.2 meters in height $150.00","Moving a building $200.00","Single family/two family dwelling – bonding against damage to the city","$2,000.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"how_to_pay":{"label":"How to pay","value":"Pay the building permit fee (plus any development cost charges and securities) before the permit is issued, online or in person at Upper - 4835 Argyle St. by cash, debit or cheque.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/standard-building-plumbing-permits-part-9-buildings","title":"Standard Building and Plumbing Permits (Part 9 Buildings), City of Port Alberni","section":"Step Four: Permit Issuance","quotes":["Applicants are required to pay the Building Permit Fee as well as any development cost charges, service upgrades, securities for works and services prior to a Building Permit being granted.","Permit fees can be paid online or in-person at the Planning/Building/Engineering Building at Upper - 4835 Argyle St. (cash, debit, or cheque)."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025, Schedule O (Development Services Building Fees & Charges)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5125_5125-1_5125-2_5125-3_5125-4_Fees_and_Charges_Bylaw_No._5125_2025_Consolidated_0.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025, Schedule O (PDF, consolidated to Sept 8, 2026)","section":"Schedule O","quotes":["Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025","SCHEDULE O","BUILDING FEES & CHARGES"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nFees are set in Schedule O of the City's [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125](https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5125_5125-1_5125-2_5125-3_5125-4_Fees_and_Charges_Bylaw_No._5125_2025_Consolidated_0.pdf). The permit fee is a $100 base fee plus $7 for each $1,000 of construction value, or part of $1,000. If the work is built under a Coordinating Registered Professional, the fee is reduced by 10%, up to $500. Schedule O says fees increase every year with the consumer price index unless the bylaw is amended.\n\nA $100 application fee is paid when you submit. Schedule O also lists a non-refundable plan check deposit of 15% of the permit fee (minimum $100), which is deducted from the final permit fee. No official text says whether the two are the same payment, so ask.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Submit your complete application with the $100 application fee.\n2. Pay the permit fee, plus any development cost charges and securities, before the permit is issued. Pay online or in person at Upper - 4835 Argyle St. by cash, debit or cheque.\n3. Ask Building Services (250-720-2835) if you want the fee confirmed first.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Other fees: plumbing permit $65 plus $10 per fixture; demolition $100 plus a $500 bond; retaining wall over 1.2 m $150; moving a building $200; re-inspection $100 (the first inspection is free); $2,000 street-damage bond for single or two family dwellings.\n- A lapsed permit renewal costs $100 plus $9.50 per $1,000.\n- Starting work before a permit is issued costs 200% of the permit fee otherwise payable, to a maximum of $10,000.\n- Development cost charges are not refundable. Permit fees are 85% refundable before construction starts and not refundable after.\n- The older Building Services page says to confirm the fee with the Building Inspector first and to pay at City Hall; the newer Standard Permit page is followed here.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5125_5125-1_5125-2_5125-3_5125-4_Fees_and_Charges_Bylaw_No._5125_2025_Consolidated_0.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025, Schedule O (PDF, consolidated to Sept 8, 2026)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/standard-building-plumbing-permits-part-9-buildings","title":"Standard Building and Plumbing Permits (Part 9 Buildings), City of Port Alberni","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.portalberni.ca/building-services","title":"Building Services, City of Port Alberni","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/building-permit-fees/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/building-permit-fees.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/building-permit-fees.json"}}