Victoria building permit fees
How much does a building permit cost?
Short answer
A City of Victoria building permit costs a $100 application fee plus a permit fee of 1.40% of the cost of construction, not counting plumbing and electrical. Plumbing is 1.40% of the plumbing cost plus $100. The City states no minimum permit fee.
Key facts
| Lowest fee | No minimum permit fee is stated. The $100 application fee is due with the application (non-refundable); the permit fee is 1.40% of the cost of construction.Permits and Inspections Fees and Deposits (PDF, September 3, 2026), Fees & Deposits (Sept 3, 2026); Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw 17-113 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule A and section 19, s. 19(2), 19(3) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBuilding permit - application fee (required at time of application) 1.40% of cost of construction* An application fee is non-refundable. |
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| How the fee is worked out | Permit fee is 1.40% of the cost of construction (not including plumbing and electrical value). Cost is the greater of the contract price or the Chief Building Inspector's fair-market estimate. Work done without a permit: 2.8% on the first $20,000 and 1.4% on the rest. A 5% reduction (max $500) applies with sealed plans and letters of assurance.Permits and Inspections Fees and Deposits (PDF, September 3, 2026), Fees & Deposits; Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw 17-113 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule A and section 19, s. 19(9) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording1.40% of cost of construction* (not including plumbing & electrical value) 2.8% of cost of construction up to $20,000 1.4% of the cost f construction for the remainder in excess of $20,000 the permit fee shall be reduced by 5% up to a maximum of $500 the contract price including professional fees and a reasonable allowance |
| Application or plan review fee | $100 application fee is paid at the time of application. It is non-refundable and is a separate charge; the bylaw does not say it counts toward the permit fee.Permits and Inspections Fees and Deposits (PDF, September 3, 2026), Fees & Deposits; Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw 17-113 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule A and section 19, s. 19(2), 19(3); Guide to Building Permit Fees and Deposits · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBuilding permit - application fee (required at time of application) An application fee is non-refundable. The application fee is due at the time of application. |
| Other fees | Plumbing permit: 1.40% of plumbing cost plus $100. Re-inspection $50, extension $100, revision after issuance at least $100, excavation deposit 1.2 times the backfill cost. Deconstructing a single-family dwelling or duplex: $500 administration fee plus $19,500 refundable waste management fee.Permits and Inspections Fees and Deposits (PDF, September 3, 2026), Fees & Deposits; Guide to Building Permit Fees and Deposits · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingPlumbing permits 1.40% of cost of plumbing work + $100 $50 re-inspection fee $100 permit extension 1.2 times the estimated cost to backfill the excavation $100 for each sign Demolition and Deconstruction Administration Fee Refundable Waste When a single-family dwelling or duplex is being deconstructed. |
| How to pay | The application fee is paid when the application is complete (the City sends a payment link). All other fees and deposits are due when the permit is issued. Once approved, the City sends a fee summary.Guide to Building Permit Fees and Deposits; Building Permits, Fees; Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw 17-113 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule A and section 19, s. 19(1) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThe application fee is due at the time of application. All other fees are due upon issuance of the permit. you will receive a fee summary with all the fees and deposits required for a building permit must be paid in full |
| Bylaw | Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw No. 17-113, Schedule A (Fees); current amounts shown on the City's Fees & Deposits schedule dated September 3, 2026.Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw 17-113 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule A and section 19; Permits and Inspections Fees and Deposits (PDF, September 3, 2026), Fees & Deposits · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga permit fee, calculated in accordance with Schedule A to this bylaw, must be paid in full BYLAW NO. 17-113 0018BLDG2021 PERMIT AND DEPOSIT RATES |
How it works
The fees are set in Schedule A of the Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw 17-113, and the City's Fees & Deposits schedule (September 3, 2026) shows current amounts. The cost of construction is the greater of the contract price or the Chief Building Inspector's fair-market estimate. The City states no minimum permit fee.
Steps
- Pay the $100 application fee when the City sends a payment link after your application is complete. It is non-refundable, and the bylaw does not say it counts toward the permit fee.
- Pay the permit fee (1.40% of the cost of construction) and any deposits when the permit is issued. The City sends a fee summary once your application is approved.
- For plumbing work, the fee is 1.40% of the plumbing cost plus $100.
Good to know
- Work done without a permit pays 2.8% on the first $20,000 and 1.4% on the rest.
- With sealed plans and letters of assurance, the permit fee is reduced by 5%, up to $500.
- Other fees: re-inspection $50, permit extension $100, excavation deposit 1.2 times the backfill cost, revision after issuance at least $100.
- Deconstructing a single-family dwelling or duplex: $500 administration fee plus a $19,500 refundable waste management fee.
- Development cost charges and amenity cost charges are separate from these fees.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Oak Bay · Esquimalt · View Royal · Saanich · Colwood · Langford
Sources
- Permits and Inspections Fees and Deposits (PDF, September 3, 2026), City of Victoria (read 2026-11-05)
- Building and Plumbing Regulation Bylaw 17-113 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule A and section 19 (read 2026-11-05)
- Guide to Building Permit Fees and Deposits (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Building Permits, City of Victoria (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.