---
title: White Rock building permit fees
question: "How much does a building permit cost?"
place: White Rock, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/white-rock
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of White Rock
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/building-permit-fees/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/building-permit-fees.json"
---

# White Rock building permit fees

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

**Short answer:** In the City of White Rock a building permit has a non-refundable application fee ($227 for an addition or alteration to a home, $840 for a new single-family or small-scale multi-unit home) plus a permit fee based on construction value, starting at $234. The 2026 Fees and Charges Bylaw 2554 sets them.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of White Rock, https://www.whiterockcity.ca)  
**Cost:** Application fee: $227 home addition or alteration; $480 multi-family or commercial tenant improvement; $840 new single-family or small-scale multi-unit home. Permit fee by construction value: $234 up to $1,000, then $20 per $1,000 or part up to $100,000.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building Department, 604-541-2149

## Key facts

- **Lowest fee:** $234 for construction value of $0 to $1,000. A separate non-refundable application fee is also paid (for example $227 for an addition or alteration to an existing residential dwelling).
  - Source: [2026 Fees and Charges Bylaw 2554 (PDF, Schedule A), Sch. A, Building Permit Fees](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/12092/Bylaw-2554---2026-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw)
  - Official wording: "$0 to $1,000 $234.00"
  - Source: [2026 Fees and Charges Bylaw 2554 (PDF, Schedule A), Sch. A, Permit Application Fees](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/12092/Bylaw-2554---2026-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw)
  - Official wording: "(including Interior alterations to multi-family residential units) $227.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How the fee is worked out:** By construction value: $0 to $1,000, $234. $1,001 to $100,000, $234 plus $20 per $1,000 or part above $1,000. $100,001 to $250,000, $2,214 plus $16 per $1,000 or part above $100,000. Over $250,000, $4,614 plus $13 per $1,000 or part above $250,000. Reduced 2.5% (maximum $500) when a Coordinating Registered Professional provides Letters of Assurance.
  - Source: [2026 Fees and Charges Bylaw 2554 (PDF, Schedule A), Sch. A, Building Permit Fees](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/12092/Bylaw-2554---2026-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw)
  - Official wording: "$1,001 to $100,000 $234.00 $20.00" … "$100,001 to $250,000 $2,214.00 $16.00" … "$250,000 and over $4,614.00 $13.00" … "Any Building Permit fee payable shall be reduced by 2.5% to a maximum reduction of $500.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Application or plan review fee:** Non-refundable application fee: $227 for additions or alterations to existing residential dwellings (including interior alterations to multi-family units); $480 for multi-family or commercial tenant improvements; $840 for a new single-family or small-scale multi-unit dwelling; other new buildings 50% of the estimated permit fee (minimum $840, maximum $10,811).
  - Source: [2026 Fees and Charges Bylaw 2554 (PDF, Schedule A), Sch. A, Permit Application Fees](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/12092/Bylaw-2554---2026-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw)
  - Official wording: "(including Interior alterations to multi-family residential units) $227.00" … "Commercial (Tenant improvements) buildings $480.00" … "Building permits to construct new SFD/SSMUH dwelling $840.00" … "50% of the estimated permit fee Maximum $10,811.00" … "Permit Application Fees are non-refundable."
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 1928 (PDF, section 12), s. 12.2](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/266/Building-Bylaw-2012-Number-1928-PDF)
  - Official wording: "shall accompany an application made for a permit under this"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Other fees:** Demolition permit: $100 accessory building, $1,276 single-family/duplex, $1,524 commercial/multi-family. Re-inspection $306. Each additional plumbing fixture $49 (first included). Permit extension $243. Permit transfer $427. Secondary suite registration $280 with a new house permit, $370 otherwise.
  - Source: [2026 Fees and Charges Bylaw 2554 (PDF, Schedule A), Sch. A, Demolition Permit](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/12092/Bylaw-2554---2026-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Commercial Cooking Facility (NFPA 96) - Plan Review and Inspection Fee $454.00 Demolition Permit Accessory Building $100.00 SFD/Duplex $1,276.00 Commercial/Multi-Family $1,524.00 Permit Fees First Fixture (included in application fee) $0.00"
  - Source: [2026 Fees and Charges Bylaw 2554 (PDF, Schedule A), Sch. A, Other Permit Related Fees](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/12092/Bylaw-2554---2026-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Re-Inspection Fee $306.00" … "Extension of Permit $243.00" … "Permit Transfer $427.00"
  - Source: [2026 Fees and Charges Bylaw 2554 (PDF, Schedule A), Sch. A, Permit Fees](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/12092/Bylaw-2554---2026-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Each Additional Fixture $49.00"
  - Source: [2026 Fees and Charges Bylaw 2554 (PDF, Schedule A), Sch. A, Other Fees](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/12092/Bylaw-2554---2026-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw)
  - Official wording: "house building permit registration $280.00" … "All other secondary suite registrations $370.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to pay:** The permit fee must be paid in full before the permit is reviewed and issued; the plan review (application) fee goes in with the application. Permit issue also needs payment of any bonds. The City's pages read do not say which payment methods are accepted.
  - Source: [Building Bylaw 1928 (PDF, section 12), s. 12.1](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/266/Building-Bylaw-2012-Number-1928-PDF)
  - Official wording: "shall be paid in full prior to the review and issuance"
  - Source: [Guide for Building Permit Applications (PDF, February 2025), Building permit issuance](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/217/Guide-for-Building-Permit-Applications-PDF)
  - Official wording: "payment of the appropriate permit fees and bonds"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2025, No. 2554 (2026 fees), Schedule 'A' Planning and Development Services (Sources differ: The Feb 2025 Guide for Building Permit Applications still cites Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2447; the City's Bylaws page lists Bylaw 2554 (2026) as the current one. Building Bylaw 1928 s. 12 refers to 'Schedule A of the Fees and Charges Bylaw'.)
  - Source: [2026 Fees and Charges Bylaw 2554 (PDF, Schedule A), Title and Schedule A](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/12092/Bylaw-2554---2026-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw)
  - Official wording: "2026 Fees and Charges Bylaw, 2025, No. 2554 - Consolidated" … "PLANNING and DEVELOPMENT SERVICES"
  - Source: [Guide for Building Permit Applications (PDF, February 2025), Fees](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/217/Guide-for-Building-Permit-Applications-PDF)
  - Official wording: "Schedule A of the City of White Rock Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2447 as amended"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Schedule A of the [2026 Fees and Charges Bylaw 2554](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/12092/Bylaw-2554---2026-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw) lists a non-refundable application (plan review) fee that depends on the project type, and a building permit fee that depends on construction value. The Building Official may set the construction value using Marshall Valuation Service or Marshall and Swift. The permit fee is reduced 2.5% (maximum $500) when a Coordinating Registered Professional provides Letters of Assurance.

## Steps

1. Find your project type in the application fee list below.
2. Find your construction value band in the permit fee list.
3. Confirm the amount with the Building Department, 604-541-2149, before your intake appointment.

## Good to know

Application fees (2026):
- Addition or alteration to an existing residential dwelling, including interior alterations to multi-family units: $227
- Multi-family or commercial tenant improvement: $480
- New single-family or small-scale multi-unit dwelling: $840
- Other new buildings: 50% of the estimated permit fee, minimum $840, maximum $10,811

Permit fee by construction value:
- $0 to $1,000: $234
- $1,001 to $100,000: $234 plus $20 per $1,000 or part above $1,000
- $100,001 to $250,000: $2,214 plus $16 per $1,000 or part above $100,000
- Over $250,000: $4,614 plus $13 per $1,000 or part above $250,000

Other fees: demolition permit $100 for an accessory building, $1,276 for a single-family or duplex, $1,524 for commercial or multi-family; re-inspection $306; each additional plumbing fixture $49 (first included); permit extension $243; permit transfer $427; secondary suite registration $280 with a new house permit, $370 otherwise; re-review of plans $306 per hour.

- Starting work without a permit costs an additional charge equal to double the permit fee, which may be waived for a first-time offender (Building Bylaw s. 28.7).
- The schedule does not say whether the per-$1,000 amount applies to the whole value or only the part above each band's start. Ask the Building Department.

## Official forms and pages

- [2026 Fees and Charges Bylaw 2554 (PDF), Schedule A](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/12092/Bylaw-2554---2026-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw)
- [Application Forms and Guidelines](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/171/Applications-Forms-Guidelines)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Building permit fees in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Surrey](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Delta](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/building-permit-fees.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/building-permit-fees.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/building-permit-fees.md)

## Sources

- [2026 Fees and Charges Bylaw 2554 (PDF, Schedule A), City of White Rock](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/12092/Bylaw-2554---2026-Fees-and-Charges-Bylaw) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building Bylaw 1928 (PDF, section 12), City of White Rock](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/266/Building-Bylaw-2012-Number-1928-PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Guide for Building Permit Applications (PDF, February 2025), City of White Rock](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/217/Guide-for-Building-Permit-Applications-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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of White Rock. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/building-permit-fees/_