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

# Wells building permit fees

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

**Short answer:** In Wells, a building permit costs a $150 application fee plus $10 for each $1,000 (or part) of construction cost, under the District's fees bylaw. Plumbing, moved-on dwellings, inspections and other items have their own fees.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Wells, https://www.wells.ca)  
**Cost:** $150 application fee plus $10 per $1,000 (or fraction) of construction cost.  
**How long:** Not applicable. The District does not say when the fee is due; ask the District Office.  
**Where:**
- Phone: District Office, 250-994-3330
- Email: District Office, clerk@wells.ca
- In person: District Office, 4243 Sanders Ave, Wells, BC V0K 2R0 (Office hours are not stated on the District website.)

## Key facts

- **Lowest fee:** Building application fee $150. If the cost of the build is under $150, the application fee is the cost of the build or $50, whichever is more. Construction fee is on top (see formula).
  - Source: [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 199, 2021, Schedule C](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/7216/2871/6654/Bylaw_No._199-2021_Comprehensive_Fees_and_Charges.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Building Application Fee $150.00" … "then the permit application fee will be the cost of the build or $50.00, whichever is more"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How the fee is worked out:** $10 for each $1,000 (or fraction) of construction cost, plus the $150 application fee. Plumbing: $80 for the first fixture, $7 for each after. Moved-on dwelling: $200 flat. (Sources differ: Construction value may be the contract price, RS Means, or a per-square-foot figure at the Building Inspector's discretion (e.g. garage or workshop $40/sq. ft., sundecks $20/sq. ft.). Conflict note: the older Bylaw No. 15, 1999, Schedule A, set the permit fee at 0.5% of construction value; the 2021 schedule and the Permits page agree with each other and are treated as current. Bylaw 199 does not say it repeals Bylaw 15 in the text read.)
  - Source: [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 199, 2021, Schedule C](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/7216/2871/6654/Bylaw_No._199-2021_Comprehensive_Fees_and_Charges.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Each $1000.00 or fraction of construction cost $10.00" … "1st Fixture $80.00" … "Flat Rate per "Moved on Dwelling" $200.00"
  - Source: [Permits, Permits page](https://www.wells.ca/district-wells/permits)
  - Official wording: "Building permits typically cost $150 for an application plus $10 per $1,000 of construction cost"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Application or plan review fee:** $150. Bylaw No. 199 does not say whether it counts toward the permit fee.
  - Source: [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 199, 2021, Schedule C](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/7216/2871/6654/Bylaw_No._199-2021_Comprehensive_Fees_and_Charges.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Building Application Fee $150.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Other fees:** Re-inspection $50; transfer of permit to new owner $50; chimney or burning device inspection $50; change of occupancy inspection $150; demolition $80; removal of notice on title $500. Development permit $125.
  - Source: [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 199, 2021, Schedule C](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/7216/2871/6654/Bylaw_No._199-2021_Comprehensive_Fees_and_Charges.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Re-Inspection $50.00" … "Transfer of Building Permit to new owner $50.00" … "Demolitions $80.00" … "Development Permits $125.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to pay:** Not confirmed. Bylaw 199 does not say how or when to pay.
- **Bylaw:** Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 199, 2021, Schedule C (Official Community Plan, Zoning and Building Fees)
  - Source: [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 199, 2021, Schedule C](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/7216/2871/6654/Bylaw_No._199-2021_Comprehensive_Fees_and_Charges.pdf)
  - Official wording: "OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN (OCP), ZONING AND BUILDING FEES"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Fees are in Schedule C of the District's [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 199, 2021](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/7216/2871/6654/Bylaw_No._199-2021_Comprehensive_Fees_and_Charges.pdf). The District's Permits page says building permits typically cost $150 for an application plus $10 per $1,000 of construction cost.

- Building application fee: $150. If the cost of the build is under $150, the application fee is the cost of the build or $50, whichever is more.
- Construction fee: $10 for each $1,000 (or fraction) of construction cost, on top of the application fee.
- Plumbing: $80 for the first fixture and $7 for each fixture after that.
- Moved-on dwelling: $200 flat.

Other fees: re-inspection $50; transfer of a permit to a new owner $50; chimney or burning device inspection $50; change of occupancy inspection $150; demolition $80; removal of a notice on title $500; development permit $125.

Construction cost may be the contract price, a published cost guide, or a per-square-foot figure, at the Building Inspector's discretion. The schedule gives examples such as $40 per sq. ft. for a garage or workshop and $20 per sq. ft. for a sundeck.

## Steps

1. Ask the District Office what your project needs and how its construction cost will be set.
2. Ask whether the $150 application fee counts toward the permit fee. Bylaw 199 does not say.
3. Ask how and when to pay. Bylaw 199 does not say.

## Good to know

- The older Bylaw No. 15, 1999 set the permit fee at 0.5% of construction value ([Bylaw No. 15](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5015/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._15_1999_Inspection_Fees_0.pdf)). The 2021 schedule and the Permits page agree with each other, so they are treated as current, but the District's copy of Bylaw 15 is still posted. Confirm with the District.

## Official forms and pages

- [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 199, 2021 (PDF)](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/7216/2871/6654/Bylaw_No._199-2021_Comprehensive_Fees_and_Charges.pdf)
- [Permits, District of Wells](https://www.wells.ca/district-wells/permits)

## Related questions

- [Wells zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Building permit fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Williams Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/building-permit-fees.md)
- [McBride](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mcbride/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/building-permit-fees.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Valemount](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/valemount/building-permit-fees.md)

## Sources

- [Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 199, 2021, Schedule C (PDF)](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/7216/2871/6654/Bylaw_No._199-2021_Comprehensive_Fees_and_Charges.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Permits, District of Wells](https://www.wells.ca/district-wells/permits) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Building Permit and Inspection Fees Bylaw No. 15, 1999 (PDF)](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5015/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._15_1999_Inspection_Fees_0.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 6 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Wells. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/building-permit-fees/_