Williams Lake building permit fees

How much does a building permit cost?

Williams Lake, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In Williams Lake a building permit costs $80 for work valued up to $1,000, then $80 plus $7 per $1,000 from $1,000 to $10,000, then $6 per $1,000 above $10,000. You also pay a security deposit of $150 to $2,500 when you apply, depending on the project.

Key facts

Lowest fee	$80 for work valued up to $1,000.Building Bylaw No. 2274, 2019 (consolidated PDF), Schedule B, Schedule B, s. 1(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording thereof, Building Permit fees shall be based on the estimated value as determined by the Authority Having Jurisdiction as follows: a) Estimated Value of Construction Fee Up to $1,000.00 $80.00 (One Dollar to One Thousand Dollars) b) $1,000.00 - $10,000.00
How the fee is worked out	Based on the estimated value of construction. $1,000 to $10,000: $80 plus $7 per $1,000. Over $10,000 (up to $10 million): that amount plus $6 per $1,000 above $10,000. Over $10 million: $2.50 per $1,000 above that. Fee is doubled (to a maximum of $10,000) if work starts before the permit.Building Bylaw No. 2274, 2019 (consolidated PDF), Schedule B, Schedule B, s. 1; s. 10.17 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Building Permit fees shall be based on the estimated value as determined by the Authority $80.00 plus $7.00 per $6.00 per $1,000.00 value Thereafter $2.50 per is doubled for every permit application if
Application or plan review fee	No separate application fee is stated. A security deposit is paid when applying: $150 (house garage/parking structure, pool, or accessory building over 25 m²); $300 (house addition, alteration, renovation or demolition); $1,000 (new house or simple building); $2,500 (complex building).Building Bylaw No. 2274, 2019 (consolidated PDF), Schedule B, s. 10.8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording An applicant for a building permit must pay to the City, at the time of the swimming pool or an accessory building greater than 25 square metres: $150.00; for a single family dwelling addition, alteration, renovation, demolition: for a new single family dwelling or simple building: $1,000.00; and for a complex building: $2500.00.
Other fees	Plumbing: $10 per fixture, minimum $80. Sprinkler: $2 per head, minimum $80. Moving permit: $500. Re-inspection: $100 plus GST. Permit renewal: $150 (building), $75 (plumbing). Permit fees double if work starts before the permit.Building Bylaw No. 2274, 2019 (consolidated PDF), Schedule B, Schedule B, s. 3 to 6, 9 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording For each fixture For each sprinkler head The Moving Permit fee shall be five hundred dollars there shall be a Reinspection fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) plus GST. there shall be a renewal fee of $150.00. renewal fee of $75.00.
How to pay	The building permit fee is paid to the City before the permit is issued; the security deposit is paid when the application is made.Building Bylaw No. 2274, 2019 (consolidated PDF), Schedule B, s. 10.7, s. 10.8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Before receiving a building permit for a building or structure, the owner must first the building permit fee prescribed in Schedule B; and An applicant for a building permit must pay to the City, at the time of the
Bylaw	City of Williams Lake Building Bylaw No. 2274, 2019, Schedule B – FeesBuilding Bylaw No. 2274, 2019 (consolidated PDF), Schedule B · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Schedule B – Fees The fees to be charged for the issuance of a Permit under this Bylaw shall be in conformance with the

How it works

The City of Williams Lake sets building permit fees in Schedule B of Building Bylaw 2274. The fee is based on the estimated value of the construction, which is the City's estimate, not the owner's.

Work valued up to $1,000: $80.
$1,000 to $10,000: $80 plus $7 per $1,000.
Over $10,000 (up to $10 million): that amount plus $6 per $1,000 above $10,000.
Over $10 million: $2.50 per $1,000 above that.

The fee is doubled (to a maximum of $10,000) if work starts before the permit is issued.

Steps

Send your application to building@williamslake.ca or bring it to City Hall.
Pay the security deposit when you apply.
Pay the permit fee before the permit is issued.

Good to know

No separate application fee is stated. The security deposit is $150 (house garage or parking structure, pool, or accessory building over 25 m²), $300 (house addition, alteration, renovation or demolition), $1,000 (new house or simple building) or $2,500 (complex building). It covers damage to public works or lands and is returned on request when inspections are complete. It is not credited to the permit fee.
Other fees: plumbing $10 per fixture ($80 minimum); sprinklers $2 per head ($80 minimum); moving permit $500; re-inspection $100 plus GST; permit renewal $150 (building) or $75 (plumbing).
Schedule B wording on the $7 rate is ambiguous, so ask Building Inspection for a quote on your project.
Fees are not refundable once construction has started.