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

# Smithers building permit fees

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Smithers, https://www.smithers.ca)  
**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:**
- Phone: Development Services, 250-847-1600 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ask which payment methods are accepted.)
- In person: Development Services, Town Hall, 1027 Aldous Street, Smithers, BC

## Key facts

- **Lowest fee:** $80 minimum permit fee for residential, commercial/industrial/institutional or demolition permits.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule E, Schedule E, Building Inspection Fees](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/)
  - Official wording: "Minimum permit fee for: Residential $80.00" … "Demolition Permit $80.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How the fee is worked out:** $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.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule E, Schedule E, Building Inspection Fees](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/)
  - Official wording: "$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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Application or plan review fee:** $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.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule E, Schedule E, Building Inspection Fees](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/)
  - Official wording: "APPLICATION FEE: Residential $80.00 Commercial/Industrial/Institutional $80.00"
  - Source: [4 Steps to a Secondary Suite, Step 4, Get the Permits](https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/4%20Steps%20to%20a%20Secondary%20Suite_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Final Building Permit fee is $6.25 per $1,000 of"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees:** 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.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule E, Schedule E, Building Inspection Fees](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1924, Part 10, s. 10.11](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/196969/)
  - Official wording: "for a new single-family dwelling or simple building: $2,000 and" … "for a complex building: $5,000."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to pay:** 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.
  - Source: [Building Permits, Building Permits page](https://www.smithers.ca/business-building/building-development/building-permits)
  - Official wording: "The application fee is $80.00 (see Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003)."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1924, Part 10, s. 10.8](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/196969/)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule E, Schedule E (preceding schedule page)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/)
  - Official wording: "Any fee imposed pursuant to the Bylaw, remaining unpaid as of December 31 of that year shall be added"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule E (Building Inspection Fees); Building Bylaw No. 1924, Part 10 (s. 10.8 to 10.17).
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule E](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/)
  - Official wording: "TOWN OF SMITHERS BUILDING INSPECTION FEES SCHEDULE E"
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1924, Part 10, s. 10.8](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/196969/)
  - Official wording: "the building permit fee prescribed in Schedule E of the Fees and Charges Bylaw;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Building 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:

- $6.25 per $1,000 of value for values from $1 to $1,000,000.
- $5.50 per $1,000 for value over $1,000,000.
- Minimum permit fee: $80 for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional or demolition permits.

Value 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.

## Steps

1. Pay the $80 application fee when you submit your application.
2. 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.
3. Ask Development Services at 250-847-1600 which payment methods are accepted. The pages we read do not say.

## Good to know

- 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.
- The Town may also require a security deposit of $2,000 (new single-family dwelling or simple building) or $5,000 (complex building).
- For a complex building the fee is reduced by 5%, up to $500.
- Fees are not refundable except as Part 10 of the Building Bylaw allows.
- Water meters, service connections and development permits are separate charges, not building permit fees.

## Official forms and pages

- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003 (Schedule E)](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/)
- [Building Permits, Town of Smithers](https://www.smithers.ca/business-building/building-development/building-permits)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Building permit fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/building-permit-fees.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hazelton/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/building-permit-fees.md)

## Sources

- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2003, Schedule E, Town of Smithers](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/278063/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Bylaw No. 1924, Part 10, Town of Smithers](https://smithers.civicweb.net/document/196969/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Permits, Town of Smithers](https://www.smithers.ca/business-building/building-development/building-permits) (read 2026-11-06)
- [4 Steps to a Secondary Suite (PDF), Town of Smithers](https://www.smithers.ca/sites/default/files/2026-09/4%20Steps%20to%20a%20Secondary%20Suite_0.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 Smithers. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/building-permit-fees/_