---
title: Tofino building permit fees
question: "How much does a building permit cost in Tofino?"
place: Tofino, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/tofino
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Tofino
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/building-permit-fees/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/building-permit-fees.json"
---

# Tofino building permit fees

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

**Short answer:** In Tofino a building permit costs $9 for each $1,000 (or part of $1,000) of construction value, with a $120 minimum. A $120 processing fee is due when you apply and is credited to the permit fee if approved. Fees are in Schedule A of the Building Bylaw.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Tofino, https://tofino.ca)  
**Cost:** $9 per $1,000 of construction value, $120 minimum; $120 processing fee at application.  
**How long:** Not stated. The processing fee is paid when you apply and the permit fee just before the permit is issued.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building Inspector, 250-726-6349
- In person: Municipal Office, front counter, 121 Third Street, PO Box 9, Tofino, BC V0R 2Z0 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **Lowest fee:** $120 minimum building permit fee.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1256, 2019 (PDF, consolidated through Bylaw 1256.04, 2026), Schedule A, Schedule A, Part A](https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/94955/Building%20Bylaw%20No.%201256,%202019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Minimum Building Building permit fees shall not be" … "$120.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How the fee is worked out:** $9 for each $1,000, or portion of $1,000, of construction value. Value for houses and suites is set by Marshall & Swift at 'average' quality; for other buildings it comes from the owner's, contractor's or architect's declaration.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1256, 2019 (PDF, consolidated through Bylaw 1256.04, 2026), Schedule A, Schedule A, Part B](https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/94955/Building%20Bylaw%20No.%201256,%202019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "$9.00 for each $1,000.00, or portion thereof, of construction value based on estimated value of" … "Accessory Buildings (garage, greenhouse, shed), Temporary Buildings, Pools and Other Structures" … "(retaining walls, carports, decks)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Application or plan review fee:** $120 processing fee, due when applying. It is credited toward the building permit fee if the application is approved and is not refunded if the application is cancelled.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1256, 2019 (PDF, consolidated through Bylaw 1256.04, 2026), Schedule A, Schedule A, Part A (s. 10.7)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/94955/Building%20Bylaw%20No.%201256,%202019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Processing Fee Non-refundable for cancelled" … "$120.00" … "Credited towards building permit"
  - Source: [Building Permit Guide, Building Permit Fees and Processing Fees](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/180182/)
  - Official wording: "A Processing fee is due at the time of application."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other fees:** Demolition $120 (under 50 m²) or $150 (50 m² or more); moving permit $120; wood stove permit $120; re-inspection $75; permit extension $100; title search $25. Security deposit at application: $1,000 (accessory building over 10 m², pool, house addition or renovation), $2,500 (new house), $10,000 (complex building). Fee doubles (maximum $10,000) if work starts before the permit.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1256, 2019 (PDF, consolidated through Bylaw 1256.04, 2026), Schedule A](https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/94955/Building%20Bylaw%20No.%201256,%202019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Demolition Permit Demolishing a building or structure. $120.00 if less than" … "$150.00 if 50 square" … "Moving Permit Moving a building or structure into $120.00" … "Permit extension Extension of building permit. $100.00" … "For providing property title search $25.00" … "Part E - Construction before Permit Issued (10.17)" … "to a maximum of $10,000.00." … "for a new single family dwelling or simple building: $2,500; and" … "for a complex building: $10,000"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to pay:** Processing fee at application (online applicants get an emailed payment request); permit fees just before issuance. Pay at the front counter by cash, cheque or debit, or online (2.5% fee for credit card).
  - Source: [Building Permit Guide, Building Permit Fees and Processing Fees](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/180182/)
  - Official wording: "Building permit fees are determined during processing and" … "are due just prior to permit issuance." … "cheque, or debit card." … "There is a 2.5% fee to pay with credit card."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Tofino Building Bylaw No. 1256, 2019, Schedule A (Fees), as amended by Bylaw No. 1256.04, 2026
  - Source: [Building Bylaw No. 1256, 2019 (PDF, consolidated through Bylaw 1256.04, 2026), Schedule A](https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/94955/Building%20Bylaw%20No.%201256,%202019.pdf)
  - Official wording: "District of Tofino Building Bylaw No. 1256, 2019" … "Part A - Fees"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The District of Tofino sets building permit fees in Schedule A of its [Building Bylaw No. 1256](https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/94955/Building%20Bylaw%20No.%201256,%202019.pdf). The permit fee is $9 for each $1,000, or portion of $1,000, of construction value, with a minimum of $120. For houses and suites the value is set by Marshall & Swift at "average" quality; for other buildings it comes from the owner's, contractor's or architect's declaration.

The $120 processing fee is due when you apply. It is credited toward the permit fee if the application is approved and is not refunded if the application is cancelled.

## Steps

1. Pay the processing fee when you apply. Online applicants get an emailed payment request.
2. Pay the permit fee just before the permit is issued.
3. Pay at the front counter by cash, cheque or debit, or online (a 2.5% fee applies to credit cards).

## Good to know

- Other fees: demolition $120 (under 50 m²) or $150 (50 m² or more); moving permit $120; wood stove permit $120; re-inspection $75; permit extension $100; title search $25.
- Security deposit at application: $1,000 for an accessory building over 10 m², a pool, or a house addition or renovation; $2,500 for a new house; $10,000 for a complex building.
- The fee doubles (maximum $10,000) if work starts before the permit.
- A $500 Step Code rebate comes off the permit fee for buildings built to Part 10A when you commit to a mid-construction blower door test, only until the allotted funds run out.
- After-hours inspections cost $75 minimum plus actual time at twice the hourly rate. Plan review and special inspections are charged hourly.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Bylaw No. 1256, 2019 (PDF)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/94955/Building%20Bylaw%20No.%201256,%202019.pdf)
- [Building Permit Guide (PDF)](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/180182/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Building permit fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Ucluelet](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ucluelet/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/building-permit-fees.md)

## Sources

- [Building Bylaw No. 1256, 2019 (PDF, consolidated through Bylaw 1256.04, 2026), Schedule A](https://tofino.civicweb.net/filepro/document/94955/Building%20Bylaw%20No.%201256,%202019.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permit Guide (PDF), District of Tofino](https://tofino.civicweb.net/document/180182/) (read 2026-11-08)

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