Port Alberni building permit fees
How much does a building permit cost?
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.
Key facts
| Lowest fee | $100 base fee, plus $7 per $1,000 of construction value (or part of $1,000).Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025, Schedule O (PDF, consolidated to Sept 8, 2026), Schedule O, Building Permit · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBUILDING FEES & CHARGES (a) Base Fee $100.00 Plus, per $1,000 of valuation, or portion thereof |
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| How the fee is worked out | 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.Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025, Schedule O (PDF, consolidated to Sept 8, 2026) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPlus, 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 |
| Application or plan review fee | $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.Standard Building and Plumbing Permits (Part 9 Buildings), Step Two; Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025, Schedule O (PDF, consolidated to Sept 8, 2026) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPay the $100 Application fee. 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. |
| Other fees | 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.Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025, Schedule O (PDF, consolidated to Sept 8, 2026) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPlumbing 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 |
| How to pay | 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.Standard Building and Plumbing Permits (Part 9 Buildings), Step Four: Permit Issuance · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingApplicants 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). |
| Bylaw | Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025, Schedule O (Development Services Building Fees & Charges)Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025, Schedule O (PDF, consolidated to Sept 8, 2026) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingFees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025 SCHEDULE O BUILDING FEES & CHARGES |
How it works
Fees are set in Schedule O of the City's Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125. 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.
A $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.
Steps
- Submit your complete application with the $100 application fee.
- 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.
- Ask Building Services (250-720-2835) if you want the fee confirmed first.
Good to know
- 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.
- A lapsed permit renewal costs $100 plus $9.50 per $1,000.
- Starting work before a permit is issued costs 200% of the permit fee otherwise payable, to a maximum of $10,000.
- Development cost charges are not refundable. Permit fees are 85% refundable before construction starts and not refundable after.
- 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.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Qualicum Beach · Parksville · Cumberland · Comox · Courtenay · Nanaimo
Sources
- Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 5125, 2025, Schedule O (PDF, consolidated to Sept 8, 2026) (read 2026-11-05)
- Standard Building and Plumbing Permits (Part 9 Buildings), City of Port Alberni (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Services, City of Port Alberni (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. How answers are checked.