The New Brunswick government is anticipating an estimated 171 per cent boost in the revenue it generates from elevator inspections, installation permits and mechanic licences, with the adoption of fee increases on July 1, 2026. It’s also projecting a 67 per cent increase in fees collected for electrical inspections and special wiring permits, and a 56 per cent gain from fees for plumbing permits and inspections.
The new costs for building owners, facility operators and developers are part of a package of looming increases in fees authorized through 12 different provincial statutes related to public safety and judicial services. Once all are enacted, the New Brunswick government anticipates $45 million in additional annual revenue.
“Many of these fees have not been updated in years — over 20 in some cases,” says Robert Gauvin, New Brunswick’s Public Safety Minister. “This step helps ensure we can continue delivering the quality services people rely on every day.”
“We are making sure fees better reflect the cost of delivering services, are comparable to other Atlantic provinces and limit the impact on New Brunswickers,” adds Rob McKee, the provincial Justice Minister and Attorney General.
Currently, the Province raises about $200,000 annually from elevator inspections, permits and licences. That’s expected to climb to $543,000 once the new fee schedule is in place for a full fiscal year.
Costs for an inspection tied to an elevator’s initial operating permit and other required special inspections will jump from $100 per hour to $300/hour. Permits for installations will cost $500, up from the $300; and elevator mechanics will be charged an extra $10 for licence issuance or renewal, bumping the annual fee up to $50.
Special inspections for plumbing and electrical installations will also increase from $100/hour to $300/hour. The base fee for a plumbing permit will double, to $100, along with a 50 per cent increase in the additional per-fixture fee, which will rise to $30. Permit fees for the electrical wiring needed for carnivals, exhibitions and tradeshows will increase at varying amounts, depending on the equipment required.
Permit fees for the wiring of illuminated signs will also increase. The permit for a first installation at a location will jump to $125 from the current $75, while the fee for each additional sign rises to $15 from the current $10.
The New Brunswick government expects the new fees will generate an additional $1.7 million from electrical permits and inspections, and an extra $694,000 from plumbing permits and inspections annually. They are set to take effect July 1, 2026.
