Vernon building permit fees
How much does a building permit cost?
Short answer
A City of Vernon building permit has a non-refundable application fee of $150 (simple building) or $250 (complex), plus a permit fee of $11.50 per $1,000 of permit value up to $500,000, and a refundable security deposit. Fees are set in Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909.
Key facts
| Lowest fee | $11.50 per $1,000 of permit value (or part of $1,000) up to $500,000, plus the non-refundable application fee ($150 simple building, $250 complex).Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909, consolidated, Schedule A, s. 2 E(ii)(a); Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909, consolidated, Schedule A, s. 2 E(i) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingfor each $1000 of permit value or part thereof up to $ 11.50 (Bylaw 5946) Simple buildings $150.00 (Bylaw 5891) Complex buildings $250.00 |
|---|---|
| How the fee is worked out | Per $1,000 of permit value, or part: $11.50 up to $500,000; $10.50 from $500,001 to $1,000,000; $9.50 above $1,000,000. For a complex building the total permit fee is reduced by 10%. The fee is doubled (to a maximum of $10,000) if construction starts before the permit is issued.Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909, consolidated, Schedule A, s. 2 E(ii); Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909, consolidated, Schedule A, s. 2 E(iii); Building Bylaw 5900, s. 9.8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingfor each $1000 of permit value or part thereof from $ 10.50 for each $1000 of permit value or part thereof $ 9.50 $ 11.50 (Bylaw 5946) Buildings shall be reduced by 20% 10% of the total Complex Buildings shall be reduced by the permit fee is reduced as prescribed in the current City of Vernon Fees and |
| Application or plan review fee | Non-refundable application fee: $150 for a simple (non-complex) building, $250 for a complex building. The schedule does not say it is credited toward the permit fee.Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909, consolidated, Schedule A, s. 2 E(i); Building Permit Application, Application Fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNon-refundable application fees: Simple buildings $150.00 (Bylaw 5891) Complex buildings $250.00 - Application Fees - $150 (for Non-Complex) - $250 (for Complex) Complexity determined by BC Building Code Div A, Section 1.3.3 |
| Other fees | Plumbing permit: $10 per fixture, minimum $150 (includes first 5 fixtures). Demolition permit: $150 (heritage building $250). Security deposit (refunded after final inspection): $1,500 simple building, $2,500 complex, $1,500 demolition, $5,000 building move. Re-inspection $150; after-hours inspection $175.Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909, consolidated, Schedule A, s. 2 F; Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909, consolidated, Schedule A, s. 2 I; Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909, consolidated, Schedule A, s. 2 E(viii); Building Permit Application, Application Fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPer fixture fee $ 10.00 Minimum fee (includes the first 5 fixtures) $150.00 (Bylaw 5891) Non-Heritage Buildings $150.00 (Bylaw 5626) Heritage Buildings (Bylaw 5415) $250.00 (Bylaw 5626) (a) for a simple building permit $1,500.00 (Bylaw 5882) $2,500.00 (Bylaw 5882) A security deposit is required in addition to the permit fee; the amount will be provided after review and refunded following final inspection. |
| How to pay | Once the application is approved, the City emails the fee and payment instructions; the permit is issued after payment. Online payment is by credit card only (2.4% surcharge); security deposits cannot be paid online.Building Permit Application, Application Fees / Application Status & Next Steps; Building Bylaw 5900, s. 10.7-10.8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingOnce your application is approved, the fee amount and payment instructions will be sent to you by email After payment is received, your permit will be issued and accessible through MyCity A 2.4% surcharge applies to all credit card payments. Security deposits cannot be paid online. the owner must first pay to the City must pay to the City, at the time of the application, a security deposit as prescribed |
| Bylaw | Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 3909, Schedule 'A' (Fee Schedule), section 2 (Planning and Community Services), items E (building permits), F (plumbing) and I (demolition); permit fees required by Building Bylaw No. 5900, s. 10.7Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909, consolidated, Schedule A, s. 2; Building Bylaw 5900, s. 10.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingE. Building Permit Fees: F. Plumbing Permit Fees: the building permit fee prescribed in the current City of Vernon Fees and |
How it works
The City of Vernon sets building permit fees in Schedule A of Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909. You pay a non-refundable application fee when you apply, then a permit fee based on the permit value. Once the application is approved, the City emails the fee and payment instructions, and the permit is issued after payment.
Good to know
- Application fee: $150 for a simple (non-complex) building, $250 for a complex one. The schedule does not say it is credited toward the permit fee. "Complex" is set by BC Building Code Division A, section 1.3.3.
- Permit fee, per $1,000 of permit value (or part of $1,000): $11.50 up to $500,000; $10.50 from $500,001 to $1,000,000; $9.50 above $1,000,000. The schedule states no minimum permit fee.
- For a complex building, the total permit fee is reduced by 10%. (The consolidated schedule also prints a struck-out 20%; confirm the percentage with the City.)
- The permit fee is doubled, to a maximum of $10,000, if construction starts before the permit is issued.
- Security deposit, refunded after the final inspection: $1,500 for a simple building, $2,500 for a complex one, $1,500 for demolition and $5,000 for a building move. The City's page says the amount is given after review, so confirm yours.
- Other fees: plumbing permit $10 per fixture, minimum $150 (includes the first 5 fixtures); demolition permit $150 ($250 for a heritage building); re-inspection $150; after-hours inspection $175.
- Online payment is by credit card only, with a 2.4% surcharge. Security deposits cannot be paid online.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Coldstream · Lake Country · Spallumcheen · Armstrong · Lumby · Enderby
Sources
- Building Permit Application, City of Vernon (read 2026-11-05)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw 3909, consolidated (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Bylaw 5900 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.