Burnaby publishes a clear base-plus-per-$1,000 fee formula, takes residential applications only online, and issues its own electrical and gas permits. Here are the 2026 fees with worked examples, the new rates that start January 1, 2027, what you can build under Zoning Bylaw 2026, and who to call.
Who this is for. Work inside the City of Burnaby. Vancouver, New Westminster and Coquitlam stop at the border. Confirm with the Permit Finder if the lot sits on an edge. Not sure the job needs a permit? Try the permit quiz.
Burnaby’s Building Division publishes one of the clearest residential fee ladders in Metro Vancouver. All residential building permit applications, and new commercial ones, go through My Permits Portal; paper is no longer accepted except for restoration and commercial tenant improvement permits. Unlike most of the region, Burnaby also issues its own electrical and gas permits, along with plumbing, heating and fire sprinkler permits, each with its own fee schedule.
Is my project allowed? Zoning decides setbacks, height, lot coverage and whether a suite is allowed on your lot. Check it before you draw or apply for the permit: look up your address on the map, then read your zone in the bylaw.
Checked October 26, 2026 (City of Burnaby): maps (BurnabyMap) · Zoning Bylaw
| Item | What the City publishes |
|---|---|
| Permit fee (2026) | $78 up to $1,000; $78 + $23 per $1,000 to $20,000; $515 + $15.60 to $200,000; $3,323 + $13.70 above |
| Application fee | 20% of the estimated permit fee (min $78, max $8,619), paid at application and credited at issuance |
| 2027 rates | New schedule in force January 1, 2027 (Bylaw 14850); see below |
| Processing time | Average residential review time 13 days, down from 21 (City news release, August 26, 2026) |
| How to apply | Online only, through My Permits Portal (mypermits.burnaby.ca) |
| Trade permits | Electrical, gas, plumbing, heating and fire sprinkler permits all from the City |
| Inspections | Phone 604-294-7130, 8:30 am to 3:00 pm, for the next business day; some online |
Building Bylaw 2016 No. 13658 says a permit is required for any work it regulates, and it covers the construction, alteration, demolition, relocation and change of occupancy of buildings and structures. The City’s home improvement permits page puts it plainly:
The City’s fences and retaining walls guide says fences and screening walls do not need a building permit, but retaining walls over 1.2 m (or terraced walls with any wall over 1.2 m, or steeper than 1:1) do, designed and field-reviewed by an engineer (Building Bylaw s.11). Pools and hot tubs need a permit and must meet the Swimming Pool Enclosure Bylaw. Trees are protected under the Burnaby Tree Bylaw; our BC tree-cutting permit checker shows when a tree cutting permit is needed. If you are unsure, the City asks you to contact the Building Division.
Since July 1, 2026, some projects need a development permit before a building permit can be submitted or issued, and R1 projects within 30 m of a stream, ravine or wetland may need a streamside development permit. Ask early on new houses, multiplexes and anything with form-and-character or streamside issues.
Checked October 9, 2026: home improvement permits · Building Bylaw No. 13658 (PDF) · fences and retaining walls guide · new home construction
These are the rates in force now, from the City’s 2026 Schedule of Building Permit and Inspection Fees, effective January 1, 2026 (Schedule E2 of the Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 14485):
| Construction value | Building-permit fee (2026) |
|---|---|
| $0 to $1,000 | $78.00 flat |
| $1,001 to $20,000 | $78.00 + $23.00 per $1,000 (or part) over $1,000 |
| $20,001 to $200,000 | $515.00 + $15.60 per $1,000 (or part) over $20,000 |
| $200,001 and over | $3,323.00 + $13.70 per $1,000 (or part) over $200,000 |
Application fee: 20% of the estimated building-permit fee, minimum $78.00, maximum $8,619.00, paid when you apply. It is not an extra charge: Building Bylaw s.14(4) says “The application fee shall be credited against the permit fee when the permit is issued.” The rest of the permit fee is due at issuance (s.14(1)). The value is the full current worth of the work, including design, labour, materials, profit and the mechanical, electrical and plumbing installations; the Building Inspector may set it using Marshall Valuation Services (s.13). The fee is doubled if construction starts before the permit is issued (s.14(2)).
Worked examples (our arithmetic from the 2026 schedule; estimates only, confirm with the City). A $50,000 renovation: $515 + (30 × $15.60) = $983; you pay $196.60 (20%) at application and $786.40 at issuance. A $25,000 job: $515 + (5 × $15.60) = $593; application $118.60. A $10,000 job: $78 + (9 × $23) = $285; 20% is $57, so the $78 minimum application fee applies. A $400,000 job: $3,323 + (200 × $13.70) = $6,063; application $1,212.60. Where a registered professional’s certification is relied on, the fee is reduced by 2.5% (up to $571). Damage deposits, trade permits and DCCs / ACCs on new floor area are extra.
| Other 2026 schedule lines | Fee |
|---|---|
| Demolition: accessory building (separate) / single- or two-family home / other principal buildings | $90 / $383 / $958 |
| Temporary building or structure (per year) | $673 |
| Forced-air heating application | $4.00 per 1,000 BTU (minimum based on 50,000 BTU) |
| Alternative solution (each) / revision | $689 / $211 |
| Registered-professional fee reduction | 2.5% of fees payable (max reduction $571) |
| Drawing resubmissions before issuance | 1st and 2nd free; then $145 / $290 / $580; after issuance $145 an hour (2-hour minimum) |
| Permit transfer or assignment | $146 |
| Permit extension (1st / 2nd / 3rd / each further) | $251 / $376 / $501 / $626 |
| Re-inspection (1st / 2nd / 3rd / 4th / 5th and later) | $72 / $314 / $620 / $1,240 / $1,553 |
| Special inspection / voluntary inspection | $672 + $172 an hour / $313 + $120 an hour |
| DCC / ACC instalment processing (each) | $3,295 |
| Damage deposit: single- or two-family construction, addition or demolition | Inspection fee $220 + deposit $8,177 |
| Damage deposit: swimming pool, or carport or garage | Inspection fee $220 + deposit $5,634 |
| Building records: file research | $33 |
Refunds (same schedule): before plan checking starts, 70% of the application fee, keeping at least $197; nothing once plan checking has begun. If no construction or inspection has happened and the permit has not expired or been extended, 90% of the difference between the permit fee and the application fee, keeping at least $395.
Trade permit fees (2026 schedules): electrical for a new one- or two-family dwelling is 18% of the building permit fee; gas in a single or duplex dwelling is $70 for the first appliance and $39 for each additional one; plumbing is $121 for the first fixture and $67 for each additional one. Paying an invoice by credit card online adds a non-refundable 1.8% fee under Credit Card Merchant Fee Recovery Bylaw No. 13640, and the City’s invoice payment page takes invoices up to $50,000.
For a planning figure, the BC permit fee estimator applies the 2026 ladder, the 20% credited application fee and the optional 2.5% reduction to the value you enter. It will switch to the 2027 rates on January 1, 2027.
Checked October 9, 2026: 2026 Schedule of Building Permit and Inspection Fees (PDF) · Building Bylaw s.13 and s.14 (PDF) · electrical fees (PDF) · gas fees (PDF) · plumbing fees (PDF) · Bylaw 13640 (PDF)
Not in force yet. Burnaby Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw, Amendment Bylaw No. 7, 2026 (Bylaw No. 14850) was adopted on September 22, 2026 and comes into force on January 1, 2027. It replaces Schedule E2 (Building Bylaw) along with the electrical, gas, plumbing and other schedules. Until then, use the 2026 rates above.
| Item | 2026 (current) | From January 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $1,000 | $78 | $81 |
| $1,001 to $20,000 | $78 + $23 per $1,000 | $81 + $24 per $1,000 |
| $20,001 to $200,000 | $515 + $15.60 per $1,000 | $534 + $17.00 per $1,000 |
| $200,001 and over | $3,323 + $13.70 per $1,000 | $3,443 + $15.00 per $1,000 |
| Application fee (20%) | min $78, max $8,619 | min $81, max $8,931 |
| RP reduction cap | $571 | $592 |
| Demolition (accessory / house / other) | $90 / $383 / $958 | $94 / $397 / $993 |
| Re-inspections | $72 / $314 / $620 / $1,240 / $1,553 | $75 / $326 / $643 / $1,285 / $1,610 |
| Damage deposit, single- or two-family | $8,177 | $8,569 |
| DCC / ACC instalment processing | $3,295 | $3,414 |
Estimates at 2027 rates (our arithmetic; confirm with the City): a $50,000 job would be $534 + (30 × $17) = $1,044 (application $208.80); a $400,000 job $3,443 + (200 × $15) = $6,443 (application $1,288.60). As published, the $20,001 to $200,000 row reaches $3,594 at $200,000, more than the $3,443 base of the next row, so a job valued just above $200,000 would cost less than one at $200,000. Ask the City how it will apply the 2027 table near that boundary. Bylaw 14850 also adds “initial application” fees under Building Bylaw s.9(1A), which apply to P1, P2 and A1 districts, hospitals, schools and marinas, not to houses.
Checked October 9, 2026: Bylaw No. 14850 (PDF) · Consolidated Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 14485 (PDF)
In an August 26, 2026 news release the City said residential building permit review times had been cut by as much as 85%, with average review times dropping from 21 days to 13 days. That is the City’s average review time, not a promise for your file, and it does not include development permit, Engineering pre-application or rezoning steps. The City’s new home construction page says processing time depends on the volume of applications, their complexity, and the payment and processing of any other permits you need. See BC building permit wait times.
The building front counter at City Hall (4949 Canada Way) is open Monday to Wednesday and Friday 8 am to 4 pm and Thursday 8 am to 7 pm. For portal help, see the My Permits Portal Help Centre or call 604-570-3600 (MyPermitsPortal@burnaby.ca).
Checked October 9, 2026: general building information · new home construction · home improvement permits · paying an invoice on My Permits Portal (PDF) · Building Bylaw s.18 and s.19
Burnaby Zoning Bylaw 2026 (Bylaw No. 14815) replaced the 1965 Zoning Bylaw on July 1, 2026. Most house lots are now in the R1 Small-Scale Multi-Unit Housing District. Older City brochures on accessory buildings and fences still quote the 1965 bylaw, so check the 2026 bylaw for the current numbers.
Burnaby lists decks, hot tubs, awnings and patio covers as additions, which need a building permit applied for online. We found no published height or size below which a deck is exempt, so treat any new or enlarged deck as needing a permit and ask the Building Division if in doubt. Our deck inspection checklist covers footings, framing and guards.
The City’s permit guidance says a permit is required for accessory buildings, and new accessory buildings are classed as new buildings. We found no published size exemption for sheds. In the R1 district an accessory building may be 4.0 m and 1 storey at most, at least 1.5 m from an interior rear lot line and from a lane, at least 2.4 m from other buildings, and not inside the required separation between principal buildings. An accessory building can only go on a lot that already has (or is getting) its principal building.
A detached garage or carport is an accessory building and follows the same R1 limits; an attached garage counts as part of the house. In R1, parking goes at the rear where there is lane or street access to the rear. Rear housing units are now built as SSMUH rear principal buildings (up to 7.5 m with a sloping roof or 7.0 m with a flat roof, and 2 storeys), not as accessory buildings, and a building containing a dwelling unit is not an accessory building.
Under Zoning Bylaw 2026 Part 6 s.3.1, a secondary suite is allowed in a primary dwelling unit in SSMUH, rowhouses and townhouses: it must be fully inside that unit (it can be anywhere within it), one per primary unit, at least 32.52 m² (350 ft²), built to the BC Building Code, and never stratified or subdivided from the primary unit. Boarding, most child care and home occupations with on-site clients are not allowed in a house with a suite. Suites count toward the unit total on an R1 lot. Adding a suite is an alteration needing a permit, and a homeowner cannot take out the electrical permit for a house with a suite (a licensed contractor must).
Zoning Bylaw 2026 defines a transit-oriented area as a lot within 800 m of a passenger rail station (in Burnaby, the SkyTrain stations) or 400 m of a bus exchange, as set by the province. For R1 houses the main effect is that no residential parking is required; for apartment zones it raises heights (for example, R4 goes from 6 to 8 storeys in a TOA). Check whether your lot is in a TOA or Frequent Transit Network Area on the City’s map or with Planning (604-294-7944).
The City’s SHiFT tool helps owners explore small-scale housing options, and an AI PreCheck program can expedite some application types (new home construction page).
Checked October 9, 2026: Zoning Bylaw 2026, consolidated (PDF) · zoning bylaw page · new home construction · home improvement permits
Tearing down a house is not “just a demo fee.” On the 2026 schedule a single- or two-family demolition is $383 (accessory buildings included if demolished together); other principal buildings are $958; a stand-alone accessory demolition is $90. Add the demolition waste permit application ($269, non-refundable), a waste diversion deposit of $2.25 per net square foot of building (maximum $50,000, refunded in full at 70% or better diversion, and pro rata below that), and the damage deposit on single- and two-family work (inspection fee $220 plus an $8,177 deposit). A new house on the lot also needs its own demolition permit and waste diversion plan.
Book inspections by calling the inspections line at 604-294-7130 between 8:30 am and 3:00 pm for the next available business day; select inspections can also be booked online in My Permits Portal (general building information). Have the permit number, address, inspection type and the site contact’s name and mobile number ready. Keep the City-stamped, full-size colour drawings on site for every inspection, and provide a portable toilet on a construction site; the City’s guide warns that builders who do not may have inspection privileges suspended (permits and inspections guide).
For a new house the City’s schedule runs from foundation formwork (with a BC land surveyor’s posting and form surveys) through drainage, sewers, plumbing rough-in, sheathing and rainscreen, gas, electrical rough-in, frame, insulation, and the plumbing, gas, electrical and building finals for the Occupancy Certificate. Construction hours are 7 am to 8 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 8 pm on Saturdays, with no major construction on Sundays and holidays (hours of construction). Re-inspections climb fast: $72, then $314, $620 and more.
| Purpose | Contact |
|---|---|
| Building permits, trade permits and inspections (Building Division) | 604-294-7130 · permits@burnaby.ca |
| My Permits Portal help | 604-570-3600 · MyPermitsPortal@burnaby.ca |
| Planning (zoning, development permits, SSMUH) | 604-294-7944 · planning@burnaby.ca |
| Engineering (pre-application, damage deposits, sewer and water connections) | 604-294-7460 · engineering@burnaby.ca |
| Fire prevention | 604-294-7195 |
| Trees | treebylaw@burnaby.ca |
| Building front counter | City Hall, 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, BC V5G 1M2 · Mon–Wed and Fri 8 am–4 pm, Thu 8 am–7 pm |
| Electrical and gas permits | City of Burnaby Building Division (above); gas over 409,000 BTU and propane: Technical Safety BC, 1-866-566-7233 |
Checked October 9, 2026: general building information · residential trade permits · My Permits Portal help (PDF)
Planning a deck, shed or fence as well? The deck, shed and fence checklists and the deck, shed and fence materials calculator help you price and prepare the job.
Burnaby's 2026 Schedule of Building Permit and Inspection Fees (effective January 1, 2026) charges $78 up to $1,000, then $78 + $23 per $1,000 or part to $20,000, $515 + $15.60 per $1,000 to $200,000, and $3,323 + $13.70 per $1,000 above. By our arithmetic a $50,000 renovation is $983 and a $25,000 job is $593. Damage deposits, trade permits and development cost charges are separate. These are estimates; confirm with the City.
No. You pay it when you apply (20% of the estimated permit fee, minimum $78, maximum $8,619 in 2026), and Building Bylaw 2016 No. 13658 s.14(4) says it is credited against the permit fee when the permit is issued. On a $50,000 job you pay $196.60 at application and the remaining $786.40 at issuance, $983 in total. The application fee is not refunded once plan checking has started.
Yes. Bylaw 14850 (adopted September 22, 2026) replaces the building fee schedule from January 1, 2027. The application fee minimum becomes $81 and the maximum $8,931, and the ladder becomes $81 to $1,000, $81 + $24 per $1,000 to $20,000, $534 + $17 per $1,000 to $200,000 and $3,443 + $15 per $1,000 above. Until then the 2026 rates apply.
In an August 26, 2026 news release the City said average residential building permit review times had dropped from 21 days to 13 days. That is an average review time, not a guarantee, and it does not include development permit, engineering pre-application or other steps. The City says processing time depends on application volume and complexity.
Online through My Permits Portal (mypermits.burnaby.ca). All residential building permit applications and new commercial building permit applications must be submitted online, and paper applications are no longer accepted; restoration and commercial tenant improvement permits are the exceptions and are applied for in person at City Hall. New homes and SSMUH need Engineering pre-application approval first, and some projects need a development permit before a building permit.
Burnaby treats decks, hot tubs, patio covers and expansions of garages as additions, which need a building permit, and new accessory buildings and detached garages as new buildings. We found no published size below which a shed is exempt, so ask the Building Division (604-294-7130) before you build. Fences do not need a building permit; retaining walls over 1.2 m do.
The City of Burnaby issues both. Technical Safety BC lists Burnaby as issuing its own electrical and gas permits, and the City's residential trade permit page takes electrical, gas and plumbing applications online through My Permits Portal. Gas installations over 409,000 BTU go to the provincial safety authority (Technical Safety BC).
Call the inspections line at 604-294-7130 between 8:30 am and 3:00 pm for the next available business day. Select inspections can also be booked online in My Permits Portal.
Check with the City before you build. This is independent information, not the City of Burnaby. It is a planning aid, not legal, engineering or building-code advice. Fee examples are our arithmetic from the published schedules and are estimates only. Bylaws, fees and processes change (new rates start January 1, 2027), and the building official for your address has the final say. Confirm every requirement and fee with the Building Division before you design, apply or dig.
This guide relies on the official pages below. Rules, fees and processes change, so check the authority before you apply or spend money.
Links checked October 9, 2026. Found an error or a broken link? Report it.