Coquitlam charges on construction value, and Burke Mountain's slopes add a development-permit wrinkle. Here's what to budget and how not to apply to the wrong Tri-City.
Coquitlam sets building permit fees on value of construction — "the bigger the job, the higher the fee," in the city's own words — under its Fees and Charges Bylaw (Schedule D). It doesn't publish a simple one-line rate publicly, so budget on the ranges below and confirm with the Building Permits Division.
Plan on roughly 1–1.3% of construction value as a working range, plus plan-review fees, a damage deposit on many projects, and Development Cost Charges on new construction. A $50,000 renovation typically lands around $600–$1,000 before specialty fees.
New buildings, additions, structural changes, secondary suites, decks above grade, demolition, and plumbing work. Coquitlam has significant steep-slope and watercourse areas (Burke Mountain, the Coquitlam River corridor) that can trigger development permits — ask early. Electrical and gas are provincial through Technical Safety BC.
Typical residential permits run 6–12 weeks from a complete application; development-permit areas add time. Port Coquitlam and Port Moody are separate cities with their own offices — a "Tri-Cities" address isn't automatically Coquitlam.
| Purpose | Contact |
|---|---|
| Building Permits Division | 604-927-3441 |
| Planning & Development | DevInfo@coquitlam.ca |
| City Hall | 3000 Guildford Way, Coquitlam, BC V3B 7N2 |
Before you apply, take the free one. The 10 Most Expensive Permit Mistakes in BC is our free guide to the errors that cost homeowners the most money and the most time. No charge, and you can read it today.
Working out what the job will really cost? The Renovation Budget and Permit Estimator ($9.99) puts permit fees and the rest of the build on one sheet so nothing gets forgotten.