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

# Trail building permit fees

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

**Short answer:** Under the City of Trail's Building Bylaw, a building permit costs $8 for each $1,000 of estimated value, with a $40 minimum. A non-refundable plan processing fee is paid with the application and credited against the permit fee when the permit is issued.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Trail, https://www.trail.ca)  
**Cost:** $40 minimum; $8 per $1,000 of value. Plan processing: up to $10,000 the actual permit fee; $10,000 to $50,000 $50; over $50,000 $150. Plumbing $10 per fixture. Re-inspection $75. Demolition $50. Moving $75. Temporary building $75. Renewal $50 up to $50,000 value.  
**Where:**
- Phone: City Hall, 250-364-1262
- Phone: Regional District Building Official's Office, 250-368-9148
- Email: Regional District Building Official's Office, trailbuilding@rdkb.com

## Key facts

- **Lowest fee:** $40
  - Source: [City of Trail Building Bylaw No. 2548, 2003, Schedule A, Schedule A, s. 1](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Building-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "1. BUILDING PERMIT FEES" … "Minimum fee: $40.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How the fee is worked out:** $8 for each $1,000 of estimated value of the building (or portion), with a $40 minimum. Each building on a site needs its own permit and fee. The fee is reduced by 5% (up to $1,000) when professionals certify the plans, and by 50% where the revitalization tax exemption applies.
  - Source: [City of Trail Building Bylaw No. 2548, 2003, Schedule A, Schedule A, s. 1](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Building-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "For each $1,000 of estimated" … "Portion thereof: $ 8.00"
  - Source: [City of Trail Building Bylaw No. 2548, 2003, Schedule A, s. 8.5](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Building-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall be assessed a separate building permit fee based on the value of that building or structure"
  - Source: [City of Trail Building Bylaw No. 2548, 2003, Schedule A, s. 11.4](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Building-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the permit fee shall be reduced by 5% of the fees payable pursuant to Schedule A of this bylaw, up to a"
  - Source: [City of Trail Building Bylaw No. 2548, 2003, Schedule A, Schedule A, s. 8](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Building-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the building permit fee for the construction of the improvements described in the Tax Exemption Agreement" … "shall be reduced by 50%."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Application or plan review fee:** A non-refundable plan processing fee is paid with the application: up to $10,000 of construction cost, the actual permit fee; $10,000 to $50,000, $50; over $50,000, $150. It is credited against the permit fee when the permit is issued.
  - Source: [City of Trail Building Bylaw No. 2548, 2003, Schedule A, Schedule A, s. 2; s. 12.2](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Building-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Up to $10,000 of construction cost - actual permit fee" … "$10,000 to $50,000 construction cost - $50.00 *" … "Over $50,000 construction cost - $150.00 *" … "the plan-processing fee is non-refundable and shall be credited against the building" … "An application made for a building permit shall be accompanied by the appropriate"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees:** Re-inspection $75 (after the second inspection); demolition permit $50; moving permit $75; temporary building permit $75 (plus value of new on-site work); plumbing $10 per fixture ($75 flat extra if issued apart from a building permit); permit renewal $50 up to $50,000 value; removal of notice on title $200.
  - Source: [City of Trail Building Bylaw No. 2548, 2003, Schedule A, Schedule A, ss. 3, 5, 6, 7](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Building-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Re-inspection fee $75.00" … "Demolition permit $50.00" … "Moving permit $75.00" … "Temporary building permit $75.00 **" … "$10.00 per fixture when issued in conjunction with a Building Permit; or" … "$10.00 per fixture plus $75.00 flat rate when issued separately from a Building" … "Construction value up to $50,000 $50.00" … "Administrative charge to remove notice on title $200.00"
  - Source: [City of Trail Building Bylaw No. 2548, 2003, Schedule A, s. 12.4](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Building-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "for each inspection after the second inspection, a re-"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to pay:** The plan processing fee is paid with the application, and the permit fee must be paid in full before the permit is issued.
  - Source: [City of Trail Building Bylaw No. 2548, 2003, Schedule A, ss. 12.1-12.2](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Building-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "shall be paid in full prior issuance of any permit" … "An application made for a building permit shall be accompanied by the appropriate"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Trail Building Bylaw No. 2548, 2003, Schedule A (Building Permit Fees)
  - Source: [City of Trail Building Bylaw No. 2548, 2003, Schedule A, Title page; Schedule A](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Building-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "BUILDING BYLAW NO. 2548, 2003" … "1. BUILDING PERMIT FEES"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Trail's [Building Bylaw](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Building-Bylaw.pdf), Schedule A, sets the permit fee at $8 for each $1,000 of the estimated value of the building (or portion of $1,000), with a $40 minimum. Each building on a site needs its own permit and fee.

A non-refundable plan processing fee is paid with the application: up to $10,000 of construction cost, the actual permit fee; $10,000 to $50,000, $50; over $50,000, $150. It is credited against the permit fee when the permit is issued.

## Steps

1. Work out the estimated value of the building, as Schedule A defines it.
2. Pay the plan processing fee with your application.
3. Pay the full permit fee before the permit is issued.

## Good to know

- Other fees: re-inspection $75 (after the second inspection); demolition permit $50; moving permit $75; temporary building permit $75 (plus the value of new on-site work); plumbing $10 per fixture, plus a $75 flat fee if issued apart from a building permit; permit renewal $50 up to $50,000 value, then $2 per $1,000; removal of notice on title $200. The bylaw also lists a $50 minimum inspection fee and a $75 mobile home placement fee.
- The fee is reduced by 5% (up to $1,000) when professionals certify the plans, and by 50% where the revitalization tax exemption applies.
- If you start work without a permit and a Stop Work notice stays outstanding 30 days, an extra 25% of the permit fee applies.
- 75% of the permit fee is refundable if construction has not started. Refunds under $50 are not made, and you must apply within 12 months.
- If the permit is not issued and the fee paid within 180 days of written notice that it is ready, the processing fee is forfeited and the application cancelled.
- The bylaw and the City's pages do not say how to pay (online, in person or by cheque). Ask the Building Official's Office.

## Official forms and pages

- [Building Bylaw 2548, 2003, Schedule A (PDF)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Building-Bylaw.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Trail building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/building-permit.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Building permit fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Warfield](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/warfield/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Rossland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/building-permit-fees.md)

## Sources

- [City of Trail Building Bylaw No. 2548, 2003, Schedule A (PDF)](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Building-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Department Directory, City of Trail](https://trail.ca/contact/department-directory/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Building Permit Application (PDF), City of Trail](https://trail.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BUILDING-PERMIT-APPLICATION-1.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 City of Trail. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/building-permit-fees/_