Parks Canada land-use planning fees

Summary#

This notice, published December 21, 2024, adds a set of fees to the Parks Canada Master List of Fees for land use planning services across national parks and other Parks Canada properties. It lists specific charges for things like development permits and building permits, and sets out a regular automatic increase process tied to the Consumer Price Index under the Parks Canada Agency Act and the Service Fees Act.

What it does#

• Adds fees for land use planning services under the National Parks of Canada Land Use Planning Regulations. These apply to all properties administered by Parks Canada.
• Lists many specific charges. Examples include:
  • Development permit — residential (existing): $250.
  • Development permit — residential addition: $450 base + $1.10 per additional m2.
  • Development permit — new residential (up to two units): $1,500.
  • Development permit — non-residential (existing): $1,250.
  • Development permit — non-residential new (under 465 m2): $3,000 base + $1.20 per m2.
  • Building permits: $11 per $1,000 estimated value for residential, $12 per $1,000 for non-residential (minimum $150).
  • Demolition permit: $2.50 per m2 (minimum $150, maximum $5,000).
  • Surcharge for retroactive application review: 200% of the current fee.
  • Impact assessment — pathway determination: $75.
• Establishes that fees will automatically increase every two years based on the two-year cumulative change in the annual average Consumer Price Index (CPI). There is a two-year delay between the CPI measurement years and when new fees take effect (for example, CPI for 2022 and 2023 determines increases that come into effect in 2026; CPI for 2024 and 2025 affects fees in 2028; CPI for 2026 and 2027 affects fees in 2030).
• Says automatic increases will be rounded up to the nearest $0.25. If the two-year CPI cumulative average is negative, no increase will be applied.
• Allows Parks Canada to require up to 50% of a fee as a non-refundable deposit for some services.
• Notes that certain fees (like equipment rentals, official merchandise, or third-party services) may be set by contract and will be listed locally rather than in this Master List.
• States fees include taxes unless otherwise indicated, and some online orders may have additional shipping charges.

Who's affected#

• People and businesses who need permits or approvals for building, renovating, or using land inside national parks and other Parks Canada properties. This includes:
  • Homeowners or leaseholders inside park-administered lands.
  • Builders, developers, architects, and contractors working on projects in those areas.
  • Event organizers and businesses that operate or sell services in parks (some fees may be contract-based and listed locally).
• The general visiting public may be indirectly affected if costs for services or activities in parks change.
• If it’s unclear whether a specific site or activity is covered, the notice directs users to check the Parks Canada website or contact local Parks Canada offices.

Why it matters#

• It sets clear prices for permits and planning work in Canada’s national parks. That makes costs more predictable for anyone planning construction, renovations, or events on park lands.
• The built-in, regular CPI increases mean fees will change over time without separate announcements each year. That affects budgeting for projects and long-term planning.
• The potential for large surcharges (for retroactive reviews or resubmissions) and up-front non-refundable deposits can increase the financial risk for applicants who miss rules or timelines.
• Some fees are site- or contract-specific and won’t appear in this list, so people should check local Parks Canada offices or the website for the full cost of a given project or service.