Do I need a building permit? What does it cost?

Building permits — Smithers, British Columbia: Bylaw No. 1924 - Building Bylaw (+1 more)

In the Town of Smithers, British Columbia, building permit rules are set by Bylaw No. 1924 - Building Bylaw and 1 other bylaw, verified 2026-09-24. Permit fees: based on the declared value of construction, or as accepted by the Building Inspector. Fees set in: Schedule E of the Fees and Charges Bylaw. Administered by: Building Official.

Bylaw No. 1924 - Building Bylaw adopted bylaw

permit required for	constructing, repairing, altering, moving, demolishing, occupying, installing wood-burning appliance/chimney, or changing use/occupancy of buildings/structures, including pools and retaining walls >1.2m	s. 7.1(a)-(f)
exemptions	fences (except retaining walls), accessory buildings <10 m2, CSA Z240/Z241/A277 structures, repairs to conforming structures, chimneys, HVAC, hydronic heating, decks <600 mm, greenhouses, plumbing fixtures, roofing, doors/windows, temporary fabric structures	s. 3.3(a)-(n)
fee basis	based on the declared value of construction, or as accepted by the Building Inspector	s. 10.8
fees location	Schedule E of the Fees and Charges Bylaw	s. 10.8(a)
authority	Building Official	s. 6.2(a)
fine range	not more than $10,000.00, or imprisonment not exceeding three months, or both; Appendix H fines $200-$500; Stop Work Order up to $2000; Do Not Occupy up to $10,000	s. 16.1; Appendix H; Appendix I; Appendix J

scout note

Administers the BC Building Code in Smithers; requires a building permit for construction/alteration/demolition, sets professional design/field review, inspection, stop-work, and occupancy rules. Building permit fee is prescribed in Schedule E of the Fees and Charges Bylaw.

Bylaw No. 2003 - Fees and Charges adopted bylaw

fee basis	$6.25 per $1,000 of total for $1.00 to $1,000,000; $5.50 per $1,000 over $1,000,000; minimum $80.00	Schedule E
authority	Building Inspector	estimated by the Building Inspector

scout note

Same fees bylaw recorded again under building_permits: Schedule E sets the building permit fee schedule and lapsed-permit renewal fee that the Building Bylaw No. 1924 defers to.