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

# Sidney building permit fees

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

**Short answer:** In Sidney the building permit fee is $100 for work valued at $1,000 or less, rising with the value of the work. A plan processing fee of $50 (work under $100,000) is also paid when you apply. Rates are in Appendix A of Building Regulations Bylaw No. 2016.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Sidney, https://www.sidney.ca)  
**Cost:** Permit fee based on the value of the work ($100 for the first $1,000, plus the rates in the body). Plan processing fee $50 if under $100,000, $100 if over $100,000, $200 for new commercial or multi-family buildings.  
**How long:** Not applicable. The plan processing fee is paid at application; permit fees and any security are paid before the permit is issued.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Development Services (building, planning, business licences), 250-656-1725
- In person: Town Hall, 2440 Sidney Avenue, Sidney, BC V8L 1Y7 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Lowest fee:** Building permit fee is $100 for work valued at $1,000 or less. A plan processing fee of $50 (work under $100,000) is also paid at application.
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 2016, Appendix A Scale of Fees (PDF, consolidated May 2022), Appendix A, Permit Fees 1(a) and 2(a)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016-Building-CON.pdf)
  - Official wording: "For permits $ 1000.00 or less in value $100.00" … "shall be $50 (fifty dollars)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How the fee is worked out:** Based on the value of the work: $100 for the first $1,000, plus $13 per $1,000 or part of it for the next $99,000, plus $11 per $1,000 or part of it for the next $400,000, and $9 per $1,000 above $500,000.
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 2016, Appendix A Scale of Fees (PDF, consolidated May 2022), Appendix A, Permit Fees 2(b)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016-Building-CON.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the fees shall be $100.00 for the first thousand, plus $13.00 per" … "thousand or part thereof for the next $99,000.00, plus $11.00 per" … "thousand or part thereof for the next $400,000.00 and $9.00 per" … "thousand in excess of $500,000.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Application or plan review fee:** Plan processing fee paid at application: $50 if construction value is under $100,000; $100 if over $100,000; $200 for new commercial or multi-family buildings ($100 for alterations, additions or repairs to existing ones). It is not refunded if the application is cancelled, and the bylaw does not say it is credited against the permit fee.
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 2016, Appendix A Scale of Fees (PDF, consolidated May 2022), Appendix A, Permit Fees 1; s. 3.2.1](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016-Building-CON.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The plan processing fee for a building or structure with a construction value of" … "shall be $50 (fifty dollars)" … "shall be $100 (one hundred dollars)" … "shall be $200.00 (two hundred dollars)" … "at the time the permit application is submitted, all applicable plan processing fees payable under"
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 2016, Appendix A Scale of Fees (PDF, consolidated May 2022), s. 3.2.3](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016-Building-CON.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the application shall be cancelled and the Town shall not" … "refund any plan processing fees that have been paid to the Town"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees:** Plumbing permit minimum $50 (fixtures $15 each for 1 to 10, then $10). Fence building permit $50. Demolition of a single-family or two-family dwelling $1,000 (other structures 1% of assessed building value); permit to move a building $250; blasting $250; permit renewal $50 (single/two-family). Damage security $300 (work under $10,000), $1,000 ($10,001 to $100,000), then 1% of value; no security for plumbing, fence or blasting permits.
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 2016, Appendix A Scale of Fees (PDF, consolidated May 2022), Appendix A, Permit Fees 3, 4, 6, 9, 11 and Plumbing Permit Fees 1](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016-Building-CON.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The fee for a Building Permit for a fence shall be: $50.00" … "The fee for a permit to wreck or demolish a single family dwelling structure $1000.00" … "The fee for a permit to move a building or structure within the town: $250.00" … "Permit for blasting permit shall be: $250.00" … "Minimum Plumbing Permit fee: $50.00"
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 2016, Appendix A Scale of Fees (PDF, consolidated May 2022), s. 7.1.1 and 7.1.2](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016-Building-CON.pdf)
  - Official wording: "three hundred ($300.00) dollars where the value of the work under the Building Permit or" … "one thousand ($1000.00) dollars where the value of the work under the Building Permit" … "shall not require a security deposit"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to pay:** Plan processing fees are paid when the application is submitted (it will not be accepted otherwise). Permit fees and any security are paid before the permit is issued. An older Town guide says fees are collected at pickup, by cash, cheque or debit.
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 2016, Appendix A Scale of Fees (PDF, consolidated May 2022), s. 3.2.1 and 3.2.2](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016-Building-CON.pdf)
  - Official wording: "at the time the permit application is submitted, all applicable plan processing fees payable under" … "prior to the issuance of the permit, all permit fees and required security(s) payable under this bylaw"
  - Source: [A Homeowner's Guide to Building Permits, The approval process](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/A-Homeowners-Guide-to-Building-Permits.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The accepted forms of payment are cash, cheque, and debit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Building Regulations Bylaw No. 2016, Appendix A (Scale of Fees)
  - Source: [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 2016, Appendix A Scale of Fees (PDF, consolidated May 2022)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016-Building-CON.pdf)
  - Official wording: "SCALE OF FEES" … "Building Regulations Bylaw No. 2016"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Fees are set in Appendix A (Scale of Fees) of the [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 2016](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016-Building-CON.pdf). The permit fee is based on the value of the work: $100 for the first $1,000, plus $13 per $1,000 or part of it for the next $99,000, plus $11 per $1,000 or part of it for the next $400,000, and $9 per $1,000 above $500,000. Value includes materials, labour, owner-supplied work, profit, overhead, taxes and mechanical, electrical and plumbing work.

A plan processing fee is paid when you apply: $50 if the construction value is under $100,000, $100 if over $100,000, and $200 for new commercial or multi-family buildings ($100 for alterations, additions or repairs to existing ones). It is not refunded if the application is cancelled, and the bylaw does not say it is credited against the permit fee.

## Steps

1. Pay the plan processing fee when you submit your application. The Town will not accept it otherwise.
2. Pay the permit fee and any security before the permit is issued.
3. An older Town guide says fees are collected at pickup, by cash, cheque or debit. Confirm payment methods with Development Services (250-656-1725).

## Good to know

- Other fees: plumbing permit minimum $50 (fixtures $15 each for 1 to 10, then $10); fence building permit $50; demolition of a single-family or two-family dwelling $1,000 (other structures 1% of assessed building value); permit to move a building $250; blasting $250; permit renewal $50 (single and two-family).
- Damage security is $300 for work under $10,000, $1,000 for $10,001 to $100,000, then 1% of value. There is no security for plumbing, fence or blasting permits.
- Appendix A also lists a separate demolition permit at $250 next to the $1,000 demolition fee; ask Development Services which applies to you.
- These fees are from the May 2022 consolidation, so a later schedule may exist.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 2016, Appendix A (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016-Building-CON.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

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

## Sources

- [Building Regulations Bylaw No. 2016, Appendix A Scale of Fees (PDF, consolidated May 2022)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016-Building-CON.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [A Homeowner's Guide to Building Permits (PDF)](https://www.sidney.ca/wp-content/uploads/A-Homeowners-Guide-to-Building-Permits.pdf) (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 Town of Sidney. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/building-permit-fees/_