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

# Richmond building permit fees

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

**Short answer:** A Richmond building permit costs a minimum of $98.25 for work valued up to $1,000, plus a plan processing fee when you apply ($759 for one or two dwelling units). The permit fee depends on construction value, and the City sets the value by floor area for homes. Fees rise each January 1.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Richmond, https://www.richmond.ca)  
**Cost:** Plan processing: $759 for one or two dwelling units; $1,517 for three or four; $2,377 for five or six. Permit: $98.25 minimum, then a rate per $1,000 of value (see body).  
**Where:**
- Online: MyPermit, https://www.richmond.ca/business-development/e-plan/mypermit.htm
- Phone: Building Approvals, 604-276-4118
- Email: Building Approvals, building@richmond.ca

## Key facts

- **Lowest fee:** $98.25 for construction valued up to $1,000. The fee is doubled if construction starts before the permit is issued.
  - Source: [Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636, Schedule - Building Regulation, Building Permit Fees for all Other Building Types](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_8636_Consolidated_with_ABLs_10699__10702_and_10720_11102578073.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Nil to $1,000.00 (minimum fee) $98.25" … "The building permit fee is doubled where construction commenced before the building inspector issued a"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How the fee is worked out:** Based on construction value: $98.25 to $1,000, plus $16.75 per $1,000 (or part) to $100,000, then $14.25 per $1,000 to $300,000, then $11 above. Lower rates ($16.25, $14.00, $10.75) apply if registered professionals certify the plans (s. 5.13.6). For 1 to 6 dwelling units, value is deemed from floor area (new one-family first storey $1,446/m²; decks $613/m²).
  - Source: [Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636, Schedule - Building Regulation](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_8636_Consolidated_with_ABLs_10699__10702_and_10720_11102578073.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Building Permit Fees for all Other Building Types" … "Exceeding $1,000.00 up to $100,000.00" … "of construction value or fraction *Plus $16.75" … "Exceeding $100,000.00 up to $300,000.00 $1,756.50" … "Exceeding $300,000.00 $4,606.50" … "(i) new construction of first storey $1,446.00 $3,017.00 per m²" … "(iv) decks or porches $613.00 $926.00 per m²" … "Building Permit Fees for those buildings referred to in Subsection 5.13.6" … "Exceeding $300,000.00 $4,507.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Application or plan review fee:** A plan processing fee is paid when applying: $759 for one or two dwelling units, $1,517 for three or four, $2,377 for five or six. It is credited to the permit fee, but non-refundable and forfeited if the permit is not paid for within 30 days of notice that it is ready.
  - Source: [Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636, Schedule - Building Regulation, Plan Processing Fees (s. 5.4)](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_8636_Consolidated_with_ABLs_10699__10702_and_10720_11102578073.pdf)
  - Official wording: "For one dwelling unit $759.00" … "For two dwelling units $759.00" … "For three dwelling units $1,517.00" … "For five dwelling units $2,377.00"
  - Source: [Building Regulation Bylaw 7230, s. 5.4.2](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_7230_070824_Consolidated_With_BL_1057273185.pdf)
  - Official wording: "is non-refundable, and is a credit toward the building permit fee levied" … "is forfeited to the City if the building permit has not been secured and paid for within 30 days of notification that the building permit is ready to be issued"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees:** Plumbing permit: $33 per fixture, minimum $87.50. Plumbing re-inspection: $106 for the third, $145 for the fourth, $280 for the fifth, doubling after (building permit re-inspection: $102, $141, $273). Demolition inspection for a building over 50 m²: $544. A damage deposit may be required before issuance.
  - Source: [Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636, Schedule - Building Regulation](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_8636_Consolidated_with_ABLs_10699__10702_and_10720_11102578073.pdf)
  - Official wording: "(a) installation of each plumbing fixture $33.00" … "(b) minimum plumbing fee $87.50" … "(a) for the third inspection $102.00" … "(b) for the fourth inspection $141.00" … "(c) for the fifth inspection $273.00" … "Building Demolition Inspection Fee for each building over 50 m² in floor area $544.00" … "Plumbing Re-Inspection Fee (a) for the third inspection $106.00 (b) for the fourth inspection $145.00 (c) for the fifth inspection $280.00"
  - Source: [A Guide for the Homeowner (PC-32, PDF), s. 2(e)](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/pc_326229.pdf)
  - Official wording: "A Damage Deposit fee may be required and is to be paid prior to the issuance of a Building Permit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to pay:** Pay by credit card, debit or cheque payable to the City of Richmond. All balances for a building permit must be paid when the permit is issued at the Permits Counter in City Hall. MyPermit also lets applicants pay fees online.
  - Source: [Building Approvals FAQs, What are the fees for a Building Permit?](https://www.richmond.ca/business-development/building-approvals/faqs.htm)
  - Official wording: "Fees can be paid by credit card, debit or cheque made payable to the City of Richmond." … "All balances owing for a building permit must be paid at the time of Building Permit issuance."
  - Source: [MyPermit Application Portal, What you can do with MyPermit](https://www.richmond.ca/business-development/e-plan/mypermit.htm)
  - Official wording: "Submit an application, upload documents, and pay fees online"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Consolidated Fees Bylaw No. 8636, Schedule - Building Regulation (fees under Building Regulation Bylaw No. 7230)
  - Source: [Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636, title and schedule](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_8636_Consolidated_with_ABLs_10699__10702_and_10720_11102578073.pdf)
  - Official wording: "CONSOLIDATED FEES BYLAW NO. 8636" … "SCHEDULE – BUILDING REGULATION" … "Building Regulation Bylaw No. 7230"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Richmond sets building fees in the [Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_8636_Consolidated_with_ABLs_10699__10702_and_10720_11102578073.pdf), under the Building Regulation Bylaw 7230. You pay a plan processing fee when you apply. It is credited to the permit fee, but it is non-refundable and forfeited if the permit is not paid for within 30 days of notice that it is ready.

## Steps

1. Count your dwelling units. A secondary suite counts as a unit.
2. Pay the plan processing fee: $759 for one or two units, $1,517 for three or four, $2,377 for five or six. For other buildings it is the greater of $85.50 or 50% of the estimated permit fee, up to $10,000.
3. The permit fee is based on construction value: $98.25 up to $1,000, plus $16.75 per $1,000 (or part) up to $100,000, then $14.25 per $1,000 up to $300,000, then $11 per $1,000 above that.
4. Lower rates of $16.25, $14.00 and $10.75 apply if registered professionals certify the plans (Bylaw 7230 s. 5.13.6).
5. For one to six dwelling units the City deems the value from floor area, per m². New one-family first storey and additions are $1,446, second storey $1,334, detached garage $742, interior finishing $686 and decks $613.
6. Pay the balance when the permit is issued at the Permits Counter in City Hall, by credit card, debit or cheque payable to the City of Richmond. MyPermit also lets you pay online.

## Good to know

- The permit fee is doubled if construction starts before the permit is issued.
- Plumbing permit: $33 per fixture, minimum $87.50. Plumbing re-inspections cost $106 (third), $145 (fourth) and $280 (fifth), then double.
- Building re-inspections cost $102 (third), $141 (fourth) and $273 (fifth).
- Demolition inspection for a building over 50 m²: $544. A damage deposit may be required before the permit is issued.
- A design modification costs $154 per hour of plan review. A permit transfer or extension is the greater of $85.25 or 10% of the permit fee.

## Official forms and pages

- [Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636, Building Regulation schedule (PDF)](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_8636_Consolidated_with_ABLs_10699__10702_and_10720_11102578073.pdf)
- [Home Building and Renovations Guide](https://www.richmond.ca/business-development/building-approvals/homeguide.htm)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Building permit fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/building-permit-fees.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/building-permit-fees.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Delta](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/building-permit-fees.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/building-permit-fees.md)

## Sources

- [Consolidated Fees Bylaw 8636 (PDF), City of Richmond](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_8636_Consolidated_with_ABLs_10699__10702_and_10720_11102578073.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Regulation Bylaw 7230 (PDF), City of Richmond](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/BL_7230_070824_Consolidated_With_BL_1057273185.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Approvals FAQs, City of Richmond](https://www.richmond.ca/business-development/building-approvals/faqs.htm) (read 2026-11-05)
- [MyPermit Application Portal, City of Richmond](https://www.richmond.ca/business-development/e-plan/mypermit.htm) (read 2026-11-05)
- [A Guide for the Homeowner (PC-32, PDF), City of Richmond](https://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/pc_326229.pdf) (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 City of Richmond. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/building-permit-fees/_