Building Services Permit Fees

Initial building permit fees are due at the time of application.  A secondary invoice will follow to include all remaining fees to be paid prior to permit issuance.

2025 Building Permit Fees and Other Applicable Fees

A minimum fee of $239.00 shall be charged for all work and is non-refundable.

New Construction, Addition and Renovation/Alteration

Group A - Assembly Occupancies

Fee
All Recreation Facilities, Schools, Daycare Facilities, Libraries, Places of Worship, Restaurants (finished), Theatres, Arenas, Gymnasiums, Transit Stations, Bus Terminals, Indoor Pools and all other Group A Buildings$29.59 per m2
Open Public Swimming Pool$2,121.80 Flat Fee
Portable Classroom$970.72 Flat Fee
Assembly Building Shell$23.67 per m2
Assembly Building Interior Finish$12.61 per m2

Group B – Institutional Occupancies

Fee

Institutional, Hospital, Medical Care Facilities, Nursing Homes, Care Homes and all other Group B Buildings

$29.59 per m2

Institutional Building Interior Finish

$12.61 per m2

Group C – Residential Occupancies

Fee

Single, Semi-Detached, Duplex Dwellings, Detached Accessory Dwelling Units

$18.04 per m2

Townhouses, Row Housing

$18.04 per m2

Stacked Townhouses, Multiple Dwellings up to Fourplex

$18.04 per m2

Hotel, Apartment Buildings 6 Stories or Less

$19.72 per m2

Hotel, Apartment Buildings 7 Stories or More

$18.04 per m2

Motels, Boarding, Lodging or Rooming Houses

$19.72 per m2

Interior Renovation, Finished Basement, Interior Accessory Dwelling Units

$10.61 per m2

Heated Additions to a House

$18.04 per m2

Unheated Additions to a House

$12.82 per m2

Accessory Building (Garage or Shed)

$7.43 per m2

Attached Garage/Carport to an existing House

$17.13 per m2

Covered Deck/Porch

$7.43 per m2

Uncovered Deck/Porch

$239.00 Flat Fee

Mobile Homes

  • Uncertified Mobile Home (Foundation Included)
  • Mobile Home Foundation

$340.00 Flat Fee plus

$6.82 per m2

$1.96 per m2

Group D – Business and Personal Service Occupancies

Fee

Office, Medical Building, Financial Institution, and all other Group D Buildings - COMPLETE

$29.59 per m2

Office, Medical Building, Financial Institution, and all other Group D Buildings - SHELL

$23.67 per m2

Office, Medical Building, Financial Institution, and all other Group D Buildings - INTERIOR FINISH

$12.61 per m2

Group E – Mercantile Occupancies

Fee

Retail Building - COMPLETE

$29.59 per m2

Retail Building - SHELL

$23.67 per m2

Retail Building - INTERIOR FINISH

$12.61 per m2

Restaurants Interior Finish (not greater than 30 persons)

$12.61 per m2

Group F – Industrial Occupancies

Fee

Industrial Buildings - COMPLETE

$15.61 per m2

Industrial Buildings - SHELL

$12.49 per m2

Industrial Buildings - INTERIOR FINISH

$9.38 per m2

Gas Bar Canopies

$13.39 per m2

Car Washes

$13.39 per m2

Parking Garage (underground, open air)

$8.43 per m2

Farm Buildings

$5.92 per m2

Green Houses non-residential

$5.92 per m2

Site Services

Site Services Plumbing Construction Outside of a Building

Fee

Sanitary and Storm Piping - first 15m

Sanitary and Storm Piping - per additional 15m

$239.00

$37.00

Manholes, Catch Basin

$239.00 Flat Fee each

Domestic Water Supply - first 15m

Domestic Water Supply - per additional 15m

$106.00

$37.00

Fire Services Main - first 15m

Fire Services Main - per additional 15m

$106.00

$37.00

Geothermal for Houses

$265.00 Flat Fee

Geothermal Single for all other

$265.00 Flat Fee

Demolition

Building Type

Fee

Residential - Single, Semi-Detached, Duplex Dwellings, Townhouses, Row Housing

$239.00 Flat Fee

Accessory Structure

$159.00 Flat Fee

All Other Buildings with gross floor area equal to or less than 600m2

$0.40 per m2

All Other Buildings with gross floor area greater than 600m2

$0.40 per m2

Refundable Deposit:  Demolition Project

$750 Flat Fee

Miscellaneous Works

Type of Work

Fee

Stages

$318.00 Flat Fee

Fireplace / Woodstove

$239.00 Flat Fee

Shoring

$30.77 per linear metre

Underpinning

$30.77 per linear metre

Storage Rack as per 3.16

$318.00 Flat Fee

Roof Anchors

$318.00 Flat Fee

Re-Roofing of Buildings Other than Houses

$398.00 Flat Fee

Tiny Homes

$12.82 per m2

Site Grading for Residential Developments that are 10 units or less

$318.00 Flat Fee

Certified Model Homes Service

$318.00 Flat Fee

For categories not listed 

$15 per $1,000 of valuated construction cost or portion thereof

Trailer (construction site trailer, sea container)

$239.00 Flat Fee

Designated Structures

Designated Structures

Fee

Communication Tower$318.00 Flat Fee

Retaining Wall

$318.00 Flat Fee

Silo

$318.00 Flat Fee

Pedestrian Bridge/Walkway

$318.00 Flat Fee

Outdoor Public Spa

$504.00 Flat Fee

Outdoor Public Swimming Pool

$504.00 Flat Fee

Satellite Dish

$318.00 Flat Fee

Air Supported Structure, Tent, Temporary Fabric Structure

$318.00 Flat Fee

Roof Sign with Face over 10m2

$318.00 Flat Fee

Pylon Sign over 7.5m2 in height

$318.00 Flat Fee

Projection Sign over 115 kg in weight

$318.00 Flat Fee

Solar Panels

$371.00 Flat Fee

Crane Runway

$318.00 Flat Fee

Exterior Storage Tank

$318.00 Flat Fee

Wind Turbine Generator having a rated output more than 3kW

$371.00 Flat Fee
Conditional / Partial Permits

Description

Fee

Conditional Permit Agreement

$530 Flat Fee

Conditional Permit Security Deposit

10% of construction cost of phase being built

Conditional Permit Stages

% of Permit Fee  

Site Servicing

100%

Substructure Structure and Servicing

15%

Superstructure

55%

Building Envelope

80%

Building Interior

100%

Building Improvement, Plumbing, Fire Protection, Mechanical

Building Improvement

Fee

Demising Wall

$239.00 Flat Fee

Building Envelope Replacement (Roofing, Cladding, Windows, Waterproofing, etc.)

$398.00 Flat Fee

Foundation Replacement

$3.21 per m2

Roof Structure Replacement

$398.00 Flat Fee

Concrete Restoration

$398.00 Flat Fee

Plumbing Building Construction

Fee

Plumbing Systems Alterations

$239.00 Flat Fee

Grease, Oil Interceptor

$239.00 Flat Fee

Backflow Valve, Backflow Preventer, Sump Pumps

$239.00 Flat Fee

Replacement of Domestic Water Lines and Risers

$239.00 Flat Fee

Weeping Tile Replacement

$239.00 Flat Fee

Plumbing Fixtures

$239.00 Flat Fee

Fire Protection Systems and Life Safety Systems

Fee

Electromagnetic Lock / Electric Strikes

$239.00 Flat Fee

Fire Alarm System

$292.00 Flat Fee

Fire Alarm Annunciator Panel

$292.00 Flat Fee

Life Safety Devices

$292.00 Flat Fee

Sprinkler System

$292.00 Flat Fee

Standpipe System

$292.00 Flat Fee

Mechanical System

Fee

Commercial Cooking Exhaust System$292.00 Flat Fee
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning Roof Top Units (per unit)$292.00 Flat Fee per unit
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning Duct Work (per area)$8.38 per m2
Furnace or Hot Water Tank Replacement Unit (per unit)$239.00 Flat Fee per unit
Boiler Replacement Unit$239.00 Flat Fee
Spray Booth$292.00 Flat Fee
Water Meters

Water Meters

Subtotal

HST

Total Fee

Water Meter 5/8” Positive Displacement Complete

$640.24

$83.23

$723.47

Water Meter 5/8” x ¾” Positive Displacement Complete

$640.24

$83.23

$723.47

Water Meter ¾” Positive Displacement Complete

$710.92

$92.42

$803.34

Water Meter 1” Positive Displacement Complete

$859.82

$111.78

$971.60

Water Meter 1.5” Positive Displacement Complete

$1440.22

$187.23

$1627.45

Administration Fees

Description

Fee

Occupancy of an Unfinished Building (Apartment Residential and Multi-Storey Commercial)

$239.00 per floor or unit charge

Occupancy of an Unfinished Building for all other

$239.00 per floor or unit charge

Limiting Distance Agreement (registered on title)

$1,061.00

Review of Alternative Solution Submission

$133.00 per hour (minimum 4 hours)

Suspend or Cancel Permit

$239.00

Change of Use Permit with No Construction

$239.00

Compliance Letter (from Building Services regarding building permit information)

$239.00

Transfer of Permit Ownership

$239.00

Additional Plan Review

$133.00 per hour  

Liquor License Clearance Letter - Building Services ($238.70 + $31.03 HST = $269.73)

Liquor License Clearance Letter - Fire Services ($160 + $20.80 HST = $180.80)

$238.70 + 31.03 HST = $269.73

$160 + $20.80 HST = $180.80

Not Ready for Inspection 

$133.00

Construction Without A Permit

2x the Permit Fee

Off Hours Inspection

$159.00 per hour (minimum 4 hours)

Permission to Defer Permit Revocation

$239.00

Amendment to Permit Administration

$133.00 per hour

Pre-Application Review

$133.00 per hour

Conditional Permit - Amendment to a Conditional Permit Agreement

$133.00 per hour

Permit Application Extension

$239.00

911 Rural Address Sign

  • For new construction this fee is added to the building permit invoice and is payable prior to issuance (Building dept. will order)
  • Fee already includes the municipal HST rebate
  • Property owners are responsible for replacement cost.  Contact Building Services for information ([email protected])
  • Signs are installed by a contractor that is retained by the City of Niagara Falls

$210.00

Building File Search

Note:  Subject to Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy

 $36.05 per hour/per property

Plus HST

N.S.F. Cheque Service Charge (per property)

$36.00

Administration Fee for unpaid Building Permit fees transferred to property taxes

$26.00

Zoning Review for Building Permit

$240.00

Photocopies (per page) - letter size

$0.69 plus HST

Photocopies (per page) - legal size

$0.92 plus HST

Photocopies (per page) - ledger size

$1.36 plus HST

Copies of large plans (per plan) - black & white

$4.56 plus HST

Copies of large plans (per plan) - colour

$9.12 plus HST
Deposits

Security Performance Deposit

Deposit Value

Single Permit Deposit: Detached dwelling, semi-detached dwelling, duplex, triplex, fourplex, townhouse (per dwelling)

$1,000

Multiple Permit Deposit: Detached dwelling, semi-detached dwelling, duplex, triplex, fourplex, townhouse

$10,000

Other Permit Deposit

Deposit Value

Addition(s) to buildings described above where excavation is required

$750

Demolition Project

$750

Miscellaneous construction accessory to the buildings described above with a construction value greater than $3,500

$500

Construction projects other than those described above including buildings or additions where a Site Plan Agreement IS required

$1,250

Construction projects other than those described above including buildings or additions where a Site Plan Agreement IS NOT required

$2,500

Conditional Building Permit Deposit (minimum $5,000)

10% of construction value

Lot Grading Deposit

Deposit Value

Any type of dwelling in a plan of subdivision that has NOT already been assumed by the City (per dwelling)

$1,000

Any type of dwelling proposed to be placed on an infill lot (per dwelling)

$1,500

Moving a Building

$1,000

Refunds

Stage of Permit

Refund

Where only administrative functions have been completed (application received, cost analysis complete and application is entered into Building Services Database)

90%

Where only administrative and zoning functions have been completed

80%

Where administrative, zoning and plans examination functions have been completed

60%

Where the permit has been issued and field inspections have yet to be performed, subsequent to permit issuance

50%

If the calculated refund is less than the minimum permit fee applicable to the work, no refund shall be made of the fees paid

0%

Where a request for refund is made twelve (12) months or more after the issuance of the permit, there shall be no fees refunded to the applicant.

0%

2023 Building Permit Fees Review

For more project information please visit Let's Talk.

The Council of the Corporation of the City of Niagara Falls considered amendments to Building By-law No. 2013-178 (amended by By-law 2014-16 and By-law 2014-108) respecting fees for building permit and miscellaneous fees. The Ontario Regulation 332/12 required public meeting was held on July 11, 2023 which included a presentation by Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. At the meeting the public was informed of the introduction and changes to permit fees under Section 7 of the Building Code Act.  Council Report BP-2023-58 Building Permit Fee Review was approved at the October 3, 2023 Council meeting. The proposed fee increases were approved.

  • Where the calculated refund is less than the minimum permit fee applicable to the work, no refund shall be made of the fees paid.
  • Where a request for refund is made twelve (12) months or more after the issuance of the permit, there shall be no fees refunded.

Stage of Permit

Refund

Where only administrative functions have been completed (application received, cost analysis complete and application is entered into Building Services database)

90%

Where only administrative and zoning functions have been completed

80%

Where administrative, zoning and plans examination functions have been completed

60%

Where the permit has been issued and field inspections have yet to be performed, subsequent to permit issuance

50%