Permit Guide · Lower Mainland

Richmond building permits: MyPermit, fees, and the flood-plain factor

Richmond builds fast on the Fraser delta, which makes flood-construction levels the local wildcard. Here's the online portal, the fee ranges, and who to call.

Richmond runs a modern permit operation with an online portal (MyPermit) for applying, paying, and tracking — a genuine time-saver in a city building as fast as this one. Fees are value-based under the city's bylaw; Richmond doesn't publish a simple one-line rate, so budget on the ranges below and confirm your exact figure through MyPermit or the counter.

What to budget

Plan on roughly 1–1.3% of construction value as a working range for the building permit fee, plus plan-checking fees and Development Cost Charges on new construction. A typical $50,000 renovation lands in the $600–$1,000 range before specialty fees.

Estimate flag: these are planning ranges, not Richmond's published rate — confirm through MyPermit or the Building Approvals counter before you budget. Know the current numbers? Send them over and we'll verify and update this page.

When you need a permit

New buildings, additions, structural changes, secondary suites, decks above grade, demolition, and plumbing alterations. Richmond's flood-plain and dike-setback rules are stricter than most Lower Mainland cities — much of the city sits on the Fraser delta, so ask about flood-construction levels early. Electrical and gas run through Technical Safety BC.

Timelines & process

Apply and track through MyPermit at richmond.ca. Typical residential permits run 6–12 weeks from a complete application; flood-plain and development-permit reviews add time. The complete-application rule applies here as everywhere.

Who to contact

PurposeContact
Building Approvals604-276-4118
Emailbuilding@richmond.ca
CounterCity Hall, 6911 No. 3 Rd, Richmond, BC V6Y 2C1
OnlineMyPermit portal at richmond.ca
Flood-plain property? That's the Richmond wildcard — the BC Building Permit Survival Guide covers the delta-specific gotchas most checklists skip.