BC Small Claims Court Filing Fees (2026) — Schedule A Costs and Fee Waivers
Current BC Small Claims Court Fees (Schedule A)
All statutory court fees for BC Provincial Court small claims are set out in Schedule A of the Small Claims Rules. Here are common filing fees as of October 2026:
| Action | Fee (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Notice of Claim — claim over $3,000 | $156 |
| Notice of Claim — claim $3,000 or under | $100 |
| Reply — claim over $3,000 (unless defendant agrees to pay all of the claim) | $50 |
| Reply — claim $3,000 or under (unless defendant agrees to pay all of the claim) | $26 |
| Counterclaim — claim over $3,000 | $156 |
| Counterclaim — claim $3,000 or under | $100 |
| Third-Party Notice | $25 |
| Application for a Default Order (Form 5) | $25 |
| Application for exemption from CRT adjudication (Form 36) | $125 |
| CSO e-Filing transaction fee | $7 per package |
Since Provincial Court small claims jurisdiction starts at $5,001, most claimants pay the $156 filing fee. If you file electronically through Court Services Online (CSO), add a non-refundable $7 transaction fee per submitted package.
What Fees Are Recoverable?
Filing fees and other court disbursements are recoverable from the defendant if you win your case. The judge can order the losing party to reimburse your statutory court fees as part of the judgment.
However, recoverable costs in small claims are limited. Unlike Supreme Court proceedings, small claims court generally does not award legal fees. The most you can typically recover beyond the judgment amount includes:
- Statutory filing fees
- Costs for expert reports or other evidence
- Process server charges
- Corporate registry search fees
The $7 CSO Transaction Fee
The CSO fee is charged every time you submit an electronic filing package — regardless of whether the submission is accepted or rejected. If the registry rejects your filing for formatting errors, a missing corporate search, or incorrect fee payment, the $7 is not refunded. You will pay another $7 when you resubmit the corrected documents.
To avoid repeat fees, double-check before submitting: CSO accepts PDFs that are readable and complete. Scanned files must be in portrait orientation, 300 DPI or lower, and under 8 MB per file.
Free Download
Get the BC Provincial Court Small Claim Filing Checklist
Everything in this article as a printable checklist — plus action plans and reference guides you can start using today.
How to Apply for a Fee Waiver
Under Rule 20(1), anyone who cannot afford a Schedule A fee may apply to the registrar under Rule 16(3) for an exemption. The application requires:
- Complete an Application to a Registrar (Form 16) and Statement of Finances (Form 40) — Form 40 details your income, assets, debts, and expenses.
- Submit the application to the registrar — the registrar reviews your financial situation and decides whether to grant the exemption.
- If approved, the order exempts you from the applicable Schedule A fees, including the $7 CSO transaction fee.
A fee waiver does not cover everything. You will still be responsible for:
- Private process server costs
- Expert witness fees
- Potential adverse cost awards if you lose
Special Case: Claims Started at the CRT
If the CRT refuses to resolve your claim, Rule 1.1 allows it to proceed in Provincial Court using a Notice of Civil Resolution Tribunal Claim (Form 34). Schedule A does not list a filing fee for Form 34.
How Filing Fees Compare to Other Options
The $156 filing fee is modest compared to what you might otherwise spend:
- A single BC Corporate Registry search costs $24.50–$40
- Commercial filing services charge $150–$750+ to prepare and file documents on your behalf
- Hiring a lawyer for a small claims matter can easily exceed the entire claim amount for smaller disputes
The filing fee is a one-time cost that gives you access to the full small claims process — from filing through trial. Our BC Provincial Court Small Claims guide covers every step of that process and helps you avoid rejected filings that waste both time and transaction fees.
Get Your Free BC Provincial Court Small Claim Filing Checklist
Download the BC Provincial Court Small Claim Filing Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.