What it costs to buy a home in North Vancouver
Rates checked 4 October 2026 · next review January 2027On a $750,000 North Vancouver apartment, a buyer pays $13,000 in property transfer tax on completion. A first-time buyer who qualifies pays $5,000, because the first $500,000 is exempt when the home is worth $835,000 or less. On a $2,200,000 house it is $44,000, and no first-time exemption applies.
Rates, thresholds and deadlines change, and some are already scheduled to change in 2027. Everything below is subject to change. Confirm with the people who collect the money before you budget.
| Province of BC, property transfer tax | 1-888-841-0090 · 236-478-1593 · PTTENQ@gov.bc.ca |
| City of North Vancouver, property tax | 604-983-7316 · tax@cnv.org · 141 West 14th Street |
| District of North Vancouver, property tax | 604-990-2311 · propertytax@dnv.org · 355 West Queens Road |
| Home owner grant, Province of BC | 1-888-355-2700 |
- Property transfer tax is paid by the buyer when the transfer is registered: 1% on the first $200,000, 2% up to $2,000,000, 3% above that, and a further 2% on residential value above $3,000,000.
- First-time buyers pay no transfer tax on the first $500,000, a saving of up to $8,000, if the home is worth $835,000 or less. Between $835,000 and $860,000 the exemption shrinks to nothing. Many North Vancouver apartments fall under that limit.
- Down payment is 5% of the first $500,000 and 10% of the rest, up to $1,499,999. From $1,500,000 it is 20% of the price.
- New homes carry 5% GST. First-time buyers can get it back in full up to $1,000,000, and in part up to $1,500,000.
- Foreign buyers pay an additional 20% transfer tax in both the City and the District of North Vancouver.
Property transfer tax at North Vancouver prices
The tax is worked out on the fair market value, which is normally the price you pay. These figures assume the whole home is residential.
| Price | Most buyers | First-time buyer who qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| $750,000 | $13,000 | $5,000 |
| $850,000 | $15,000 | Partial exemption |
| $1,000,000 | $18,000 | No exemption |
| $1,400,000 | $26,000 | No exemption |
| $2,200,000 | $44,000 | No exemption |
| $3,500,000 | $93,000 | No exemption |
Rates from the Province of British Columbia. Your lawyer or notary pays the tax on your behalf when they register the transfer on completion day.
The first-time buyer exemption, in full
To qualify you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, have lived in BC for at least a year immediately before you register the home or filed at least two BC income tax returns in the last six years, never have owned a principal residence anywhere in the world, and the property must be 0.5 hectares or smaller and used only as your principal residence. A newly built home worth $1,100,000 or less can be fully exempt instead, with a partial exemption up to $1,150,000.
Your down payment
| Price | Minimum down payment | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| $750,000 | 5% of $500,000 + 10% of $250,000 | $50,000 |
| $1,000,000 | 5% of $500,000 + 10% of $500,000 | $75,000 |
| $1,400,000 | 5% of $500,000 + 10% of $900,000 | $115,000 |
| $1,500,000 | 20% of the price | $300,000 |
| $2,200,000 | 20% of the price | $440,000 |
Below 20% you also need mortgage default insurance, and the premium is added to the mortgage. Insured mortgages are available on homes priced below $1,500,000.
After you own it: City or District?
North Vancouver is two municipalities with two tax bills. For 2026 both set property tax due on 2 July, with 5% added to any unpaid balance after that and another 5% after 1 September. Check which one your address is in before you compare running costs. City vs District, side by side.
| City of North Vancouver | District of North Vancouver | |
|---|---|---|
| Garbage and green cart fees | On the property tax notice | On a separate utility bill |
| Water, sewer and other utilities | Annual flat utility bill, due 27 February 2026 | Separate utility bill, due 31 March 2026 |
| Home owner grant | Apply to the Province every year; the 2026 threshold is an assessed value of $2,075,000 | Same |
| Speculation and vacancy tax | A taxable area: every owner declares by 31 March each year | Same |
Homes assessed over $3 million also pay the provincial additional school tax: 0.2% on the value between $3 million and $4 million and 0.4% above $4 million, rising to 0.3% and 0.6% from the 2027 tax year.
These are general figures, not tax or legal advice for your purchase. Confirm the transfer tax with the Province on 1-888-841-0090, your property tax with the City on 604-983-7316 or the District on 604-990-2311, and the exact numbers with your lawyer or notary before you remove subjects.
- Province of British Columbia, Property transfer tax. Checked 4 October 2026.
- Province of British Columbia, First time home buyers’ exemption. Checked 4 October 2026.
- Province of British Columbia, Newly built home exemption. Checked 4 October 2026.
- Province of British Columbia, Additional property transfer tax areas. Checked 4 October 2026.
- CMHC, Requirements for mortgage loan insurance. Checked 4 October 2026.
- Canada Revenue Agency, First-time home buyers’ GST/HST rebate. Checked 4 October 2026.
- City of North Vancouver, 2026 property tax information sheet. Checked 4 October 2026.
- District of North Vancouver, 2026 property tax newsletter. Checked 4 October 2026.
- District of North Vancouver, 2026 utility bill newsletter. Checked 4 October 2026.
- Province of British Columbia, Home owner grant. Checked 4 October 2026.
- Province of British Columbia, Speculation and vacancy tax taxable areas. Checked 4 October 2026.
- Province of British Columbia, Additional school tax rate. Checked 4 October 2026.