{"title":"Smithers building permit fees","question":"How much does a building permit cost?","slug":"building-permit-fees","place":{"path":"ca/bc/smithers","name":"Smithers","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":"Town of Smithers","url":"https://www.smithers.ca"},"short_answer":"In Smithers a building permit costs $6.25 per $1,000 of construction value (up to $1,000,000; $5.50 per $1,000 above that), with an $80 minimum and an $80 application fee. Fees are in Schedule E of Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003.","aliases":["building permit fee smithers","how much is a building permit smithers","smithers permit cost","demolition permit fee smithers"],"cost":"$80 application fee; $6.25 per $1,000 of construction value up to $1,000,000, then $5.50 per $1,000 (minimum $80). Re-inspection $80. Moving permit $300 plus a deposit.","how_long":"The application fee is paid with the application. The permit fee and any other Town charges must be paid before the permit is issued.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Development Services","value":"250-847-1600","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ask which payment methods are accepted."},{"type":"in_person","label":"Development Services, Town Hall","value":"1027 Aldous Street, Smithers, BC"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003 (Schedule E)","url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/"},{"title":"Building Permits, Town of Smithers","url":"https://www.smithers.ca/business-building/building-development/building-permits"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Smithers building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/building-permit/"},{"slug":"deck-shed-garage-permit","title":"Smithers permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/deck-shed-garage-permit/"},{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"Smithers secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/secondary-suite/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/telkwa","name":"Telkwa","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/houston","name":"Houston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-hazelton","name":"New Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/hazelton","name":"Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/granisle","name":"Granisle","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/building-permit-fees/"},{"place":"ca/bc/terrace","name":"Terrace","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/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":"$80 minimum permit fee for residential, commercial/industrial/institutional or demolition permits.","short":"$80","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule E, Town of Smithers","section":"Schedule E, Building Inspection Fees","quotes":["Minimum permit fee for: Residential $80.00","Demolition Permit $80.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee_formula":{"label":"How the fee is worked out","value":"$6.25 per $1,000 of construction value for values from $1 to $1,000,000; $5.50 per $1,000 for value over $1,000,000. Value is the contract price plus a reasonable allowance for extras, or the Building Inspector's estimate from the plans if there is no contract price.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule E, Town of Smithers","section":"Schedule E, Building Inspection Fees","quotes":["$1.00 to $1,000,000 $6.25 per $1,000 of total","Over $1,000,000 $5.50 per $1,000 of total","The value of construction shall be the contract price together with a reasonable allowance for extras or where there"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"application_fee":{"label":"Application or plan review fee","value":"$80 application fee (residential, commercial/industrial/institutional, and demolition). The Town's secondary suite guide says the final permit fee is the per-$1,000 amount minus the application fee already paid.","short":"$80","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule E, Town of Smithers","section":"Schedule E, Building Inspection Fees","quotes":["APPLICATION FEE: Residential $80.00 Commercial/Industrial/Institutional $80.00"]},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/4%20Steps%20to%20a%20Secondary%20Suite_0.pdf","title":"4 Steps to a Secondary Suite (PDF), Town of Smithers","section":"Step 4, Get the Permits","quotes":["Final Building Permit fee is $6.25 per $1,000 of"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"other_fees":{"label":"Other fees","value":"Re-inspection $80; preliminary examination of plans $80; renewal of a lapsed permit $55 (no plan work) or $80 (plan work due to code changes). Moving permit: the schedule lists $300 plus a security deposit of 10% of the building's assessed value. The Town may also require a $2,000 (single-family or simple building) or $5,000 (complex building) security deposit.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule E, Town of Smithers","section":"Schedule E, Building Inspection Fees","quotes":["RE-INSPECTION - when required due to the fault of owner or holder of permit, or","PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF PLANS","If no work on plans is required $55.00","Plus a security deposit of 10% of the assessed value of the building.","Moving Permit Plus a security deposit of 10% of the assessed value of the building. $300.00"]},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/196969/","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1924, Part 10, Town of Smithers","section":"s. 10.11","quotes":["for a new single-family dwelling or simple building: $2,000 and","for a complex building: $5,000."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"how_to_pay":{"label":"How to pay","value":"The $80 application fee is submitted with the application. The building permit fee, and any other fees, charges, levies or taxes the Town has imposed, must be paid before the permit is issued. The pages searched do not say which payment methods are accepted; call 250-847-1600.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/business-building/building-development/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, Town of Smithers","section":"Building Permits page","quotes":["The application fee is $80.00 (see Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003)."]},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/196969/","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1924, Part 10, Town of Smithers","section":"s. 10.8","quotes":["Before receiving a building permit for a building or structure, the owner must first","any fees, charges, levies, or taxes imposed by the Town and payable under an"]},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule E, Town of Smithers","section":"Schedule E (preceding schedule page)","quotes":["Any fee imposed pursuant to the Bylaw, remaining unpaid as of December 31 of that year shall be added"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule E (Building Inspection Fees); Building Bylaw No. 1924, Part 10 (s. 10.8 to 10.17).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule E, Town of Smithers","section":"Schedule E","quotes":["TOWN OF SMITHERS BUILDING INSPECTION FEES SCHEDULE E"]},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/196969/","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1924, Part 10, Town of Smithers","section":"s. 10.8","quotes":["the building permit fee prescribed in Schedule E of the Fees and Charges Bylaw;"]}],"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\nBuilding permit fees are set in Schedule E of the [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/). The permit fee is based on the value of the construction:\n\n- $6.25 per $1,000 of value for values from $1 to $1,000,000.\n- $5.50 per $1,000 for value over $1,000,000.\n- Minimum permit fee: $80 for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional or demolition permits.\n\nValue is the contract price plus a reasonable allowance for extras. If there is no contract price, the Building Inspector estimates it from the plans. Under the [Building Bylaw No. 1924](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/196969/), value includes site preparation, design, labour, the contractor's profit, taxes, insurance and the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, drainage and gas work.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Pay the $80 application fee when you submit your application.\n2. Pay the permit fee, and any other fees, charges or levies the Town has set, before the permit is issued. The Town's secondary suite guide says the final permit fee is the per-$1,000 amount minus the application fee already paid.\n3. Ask Development Services at 250-847-1600 which payment methods are accepted. The pages we read do not say.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Other Schedule E fees: re-inspection $80; preliminary examination of plans $80; renewal of a lapsed permit $55 (no plan work) or $80 (plan work needed because of code changes); moving permit $300 plus a security deposit of 10% of the building's assessed value.\n- The Town may also require a security deposit of $2,000 (new single-family dwelling or simple building) or $5,000 (complex building).\n- For a complex building the fee is reduced by 5%, up to $500.\n- Fees are not refundable except as Part 10 of the Building Bylaw allows.\n- Water meters, service connections and development permits are separate charges, not building permit fees.","sources":[{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule E, Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/196969/","title":"Building Bylaw No. 1924, Part 10, Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/business-building/building-development/building-permits","title":"Building Permits, Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/4%20Steps%20to%20a%20Secondary%20Suite_0.pdf","title":"4 Steps to a Secondary Suite (PDF), Town of Smithers","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","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/smithers/building-permit-fees/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/building-permit-fees.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/building-permit-fees.json"}}