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

# Saanich building permit fees

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

**Short answer:** In Saanich a building permit costs $100 for the first $1,000 of value, plus $13 per $1,000 for the next $499,000, plus $10 per $1,000 above $500,000. A non-refundable application fee of $100 or more is paid with the application and counts toward the permit fee.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Saanich, https://www.saanich.ca)  
**Cost:** $100 for the first $1,000 of value, plus $13 per $1,000 for the next $499,000, plus $10 per $1,000 above $500,000. The application fee is part of the permit fee.  
**How long:** The application fee is paid when you apply. The permit fee and other District charges must be paid before the permit is issued.  
**Where:**
- Online: Residential Permits (MySaanich), https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/inspections-services/residential-permits.html
- Phone: Inspection Services, 250-475-5457
- Email: Inspection Services, inspections@saanich.ca

## Key facts

- **Lowest fee:** $100 (permits where the value of the work is $1,000 or less). The non-refundable application fee is $100 for work under $15,000 and counts toward the permit fee.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529, Appendix A, Building Permit Fees s. 2(a)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/BUILDING%20BYLAW,%202019,%20NO.%209529.pdf)
  - Official wording: "For permits where the value of the work is $1,000.00 or less: $100.00;"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529, Appendix A s. 1](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/BUILDING%20BYLAW,%202019,%20NO.%209529.pdf)
  - Official wording: "$100.00: for permits where the value of the work is less than $15,000.00;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How the fee is worked out:** $100 for the first $1,000 of value, plus $13 per $1,000 for the next $499,000, plus $10 per $1,000 for value above $500,000. Value is set by the Manager of Inspection Services.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529, Appendix A s. 2(b)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/BUILDING%20BYLAW,%202019,%20NO.%209529.pdf)
  - Official wording: "$100.00 for the first $1,000.00 plus;" … "$13.00 per thousand for the next $499,000.00 plus;" … "$10.00 per thousand for all value in excess of $500,000.00."
  - Source: [Permit Q&A](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/inspections-services/permit-q-as.html)
  - Official wording: "We base fee charges on the value of construction, as determined by the Manager of Inspection Services."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Application or plan review fee:** Non-refundable application fee paid with the application: $100 (under $15,000), $300 ($15,001 to $100,000), $1,000 ($100,001 to $500,000), $3,000 ($500,001 to $2 million), $7,500 ($2 million to $10 million), $15,000 (over $10 million). It is part of the permit fee, not extra.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529, Appendix A s. 1 and 2](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/BUILDING%20BYLAW,%202019,%20NO.%209529.pdf)
  - Official wording: "An application shall be accompanied by a non-refundable application fee" … "$300.00: for permits where the value of the work is $15,001.00" … "$1,000.00: for permits where the value of the work is $100,001.00" … "shall form part of, and is not in addition to, the building permit fee"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees:** Demolition $50 (waived if part of a building permit for one structure). Plumbing $20 a fixture; $50 application fee waived with a building permit. Security deposit: $1,000 for additions or accessory buildings over 25 m², $2,000 new single family dwelling, $10,000 complex building. Fee doubles (up to $20,000 extra) if work starts early. (Sources differ: Water and sewer service connection fees, development cost charges, re-inspection fees (from the third re-inspection), permit extension $200 and other charges are in Appendix A and the Service Connection Fees page. The Permit Fees PDF (updated September 2025) matches the bylaw Appendix A figures.)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529, Appendix A, Building and Plumbing fees](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/BUILDING%20BYLAW,%202019,%20NO.%209529.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall be $50.00." … "Plumbing Fixtures (each)" … "$20.00" … "Waived if part of a Building Permit" … "an accessory building greater than 25 square" … "(c) for a new single family dwelling or simple building (including demolition of" … "(d) for a complex building: $10,000.00;"
  - Source: [Permit Q&A](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/inspections-services/permit-q-as.html)
  - Official wording: "$1,000 - New Accessory Building" … "$2,000 - New Single Family Dwellings and Simple Buildings" … "the demolition fee is waived"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529, s. 10.16](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/BUILDING%20BYLAW,%202019,%20NO.%209529.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The building permit or other permit fee is doubled for every permit application if construction commenced before the building official issued a permit, to a maximum of $20,000.00 over and above the standard fee."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to pay:** The application fee is paid when applying (online through MySaanich). Under Building Bylaw s. 10.8 the security deposit is also paid at application (the Permit Q&A says at issuance). The permit fee and other District charges must be paid before the permit is issued. (Sources differ: Bylaw s. 10.8 says the security deposit is paid at the time of application; the Q&A says at issuance. Not resolved; wording differs.)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529, s. 10.7](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/BUILDING%20BYLAW,%202019,%20NO.%209529.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Before receiving a building permit for a building or structure, the owner must first pay to the District" … "the building permit fee prescribed in Appendix A" … "An applicant for a building permit must pay to the District, at the time of the application," … "Before receiving a building permit for a building or structure, the owner must first pay to"
  - Source: [Residential Permits](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/inspections-services/residential-permits.html)
  - Official wording: "upload documents, pay application fees"
  - Source: [Permit Q&A](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/inspections-services/permit-q-as.html)
  - Official wording: "Surety deposits are paid at the time of issuance of Building Permits."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529, s. 10.8](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/BUILDING%20BYLAW,%202019,%20NO.%209529.pdf)
  - Official wording: "An applicant for a building permit must pay to the District, at the time of the application"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529, Part 21 Appendix A (Fees)
  - Source: [Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529, title and Part 21](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/BUILDING%20BYLAW,%202019,%20NO.%209529.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING BYLAW, 2019, NO. 9529" … "PART 21: APPENDIX A"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Fees are set in Appendix A of the [Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/BUILDING%20BYLAW,%202019,%20NO.%209529.pdf). The permit fee is $100 for the first $1,000 of value, plus $13 per $1,000 for the next $499,000, plus $10 per $1,000 for value above $500,000. For permits where the value of the work is $1,000 or less, the fee is $100. The Manager of Inspection Services sets the value of the work.

A non-refundable application fee is paid with the application and is part of the permit fee, not extra:

- $100 for work under $15,000
- $300 for $15,001 to $100,000
- $1,000 for $100,001 to $500,000
- $3,000 for $500,001 to $2 million
- $7,500 for $2 million to $10 million
- $15,000 for over $10 million

## Steps

1. Apply online through MySaanich and pay the application fee.
2. Pay the permit fee and any other District charges before the permit is issued.
3. Pay any security deposit that applies.

## Good to know

- Other fees: demolition $50 (waived if part of a building permit for one structure); plumbing $20 a fixture, with the $50 plumbing application fee waived when you have a building permit.
- Security deposit: $1,000 for additions or accessory buildings over 25 m², $2,000 for a new single family dwelling, $10,000 for a complex building.
- The fee doubles (up to $20,000 extra) if work starts early.
- The bylaw says the security deposit is paid at application, while the Permit Q&A says at issuance. Confirm with Inspection Services.
- Water and sewer connection fees, development cost charges and re-inspection fees are separate. See Appendix A and the District's Service Connection Fees page.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529, Appendix A (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/BUILDING%20BYLAW,%202019,%20NO.%209529.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Building permit fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Oak Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/building-permit-fees.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/building-permit-fees.md)

## Sources

- [Building Bylaw, 2019, No. 9529 (PDF)](https://www.saanich.ca/assets/Local~Government/Documents/Bylaws~and~Policies/BUILDING%20BYLAW,%202019,%20NO.%209529.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Permit Q&A, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/inspections-services/permit-q-as.html) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Residential Permits, District of Saanich](https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/inspections-services/residential-permits.html) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Saanich. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/building-permit-fees/_