Construction Permit Cost: Fees for Building a New Home

Permitting a new 2,000 square foot house costs about $700 to $7,000 in building department fees in the schedules we checked, before impact fees and utility connection charges. Small towns charging by square foot sit at the low end (Clarkson, New York: about $700 including the certificate of occupancy), while valuation cities with full plan review sit at the high end (Phoenix: about $6,900 for a $400,000 house). Impact fees, school fees, and water and sewer connection charges, where they apply, can add more than the permit itself.

For a planning range on your project, use the building permit cost calculator with the "Addition / structural work" option, then build the full fee stack described below.

The construction permit fee stack

New construction is not one fee. Expect most of these:

1. Application or processing fee, often due at submittal
2. Plan review fee, often a percentage of the permit fee
3. Building permit fee, by valuation, square footage, or formula
4. Trade permits for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and gas, unless bundled
5. State and local surcharges, flat or percentage
6. Zoning, grading, and right-of-way permits for site work, driveways, and curb cuts
7. Impact and connection fees for roads, parks, schools, water, and sewer
8. Certificate of occupancy at the end
9. Reinspection, revision, and extension fees if things go wrong

The first five are what most "permit cost" quotes cover. Items 6 to 9 are where budgets slip.

What a new 2,000 sq ft house costs to permit

Square-foot and formula cities

Sources: Clarkson 2026 fee schedule, Claverack 2026 fees, Miami-Dade IO 4-63, Chicago 2026 amended tables and 2027 tables.

Miami-Dade's surcharges are a 7.5% county surcharge, a 1% DBPR surcharge, a 1.5% building code administrators surcharge, and a 5% code administration fee added in June 2026. Chicago's formula only exceeds the minimum for houses larger than about 7,400 sq ft, so nearly every new Chicago house pays the minimum plus separate trade and inspection fees.

Valuation cities, $400,000 construction value

Sources: Denver development fees, Phoenix fee schedule (eff. Jan. 20, 2026), LAMC Table 1-A and LAMC 91.107.

Los Angeles shows how the stack builds. For one- and two-family homes, its code sets a combined building-mechanical permit at 165% of the building permit fee to cover electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work: $1,795 × 1.65 = $2,961.75. Add plan check ($1,615.50), a fire hydrant fee of 0.22% of value ($880 on $400,000), and a $27 issuing fee, and the code-base total is about $5,484 before inflation adjustments and city and state surcharges. LADBS adjusts every fee for inflation each July 1, so the current amounts are higher.

Austin prices new-home plan review by size instead. For a house between 1,001 and 2,000 sq ft, plan review is $1,183.38 plus $0.1972 per sq ft over 1,000, so a 2,000 sq ft house is $1,380.58, plus a $112.76 processing fee, with building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and energy inspection fees billed on top (Austin FY2026-27 residential fees).

What drives the difference between cities

Valuation method. A per-square-foot rate ignores finish level; valuation tables charge more for a $600,000 house than a $300,000 one of the same size.

Plan review share. Denver adds 50%, Los Angeles 90%, and Phoenix 80% to 100%. Seattle charges plan review equal to 100% of its fee index for full review.

Bundling. Los Angeles bundles trades for one- and two-family homes; Denver issues each trade its own permit valued on that trade's work.

Surcharges. Washington adds a $6.50 state building code council fee per residential permit plus $2 for each unit after the first; Seattle adds 5% to all fees; Florida jurisdictions add state surcharges.

Fees outside the building department

The building department is only one counter. On new construction you will usually deal with several others:

• Land use and zoning review. Projects that need a variance, design review, or a subdivision pay planning fees that are often hourly. Seattle bills land use review at $551 per hour, compared with its $292 building base rate (Seattle 2026 Fee Subtitle).
• Linkage and impact fees. Denver charges an affordable housing linkage fee under Chapter 27 of its municipal code, adjusted each July 1, in addition to building permit fees. Many fast-growing cities and counties charge road, park, school, and fire impact fees per new dwelling.
• Phased permits. If you want to start the foundation before the full plans are approved, some cities charge extra. Denver adds 25% for two phases and 50% for three or more.
• Utility connections. Water meters, sewer taps, and electric service extensions are priced by the utility, not the building department.
• Right-of-way permits for a new driveway apron, curb cut, or sidewalk repair.

Ask the planning department for a written fee estimate on your lot before you buy it or sign a build contract.

Certificates of occupancy and final approval

Under the model IRC, section R110, a new home cannot be used or occupied until the building official issues a certificate of occupancy after the final inspection (IRC chapter 1). Accessory structures and permit-exempt work do not need one. Some towns charge separately: Clarkson lists $100 for a certificate of occupancy, and Claverack adds $50 to every building permit for a certificate of occupancy or compliance. Lenders typically require the certificate before the final draw, so a missing final inspection can hold up your loan.

Timing: how long permits stay valid

The model code voids a permit if work does not start within 180 days or stops for 180 days (IRC R105.5). Cities vary widely. Denver may void a construction permit if work has not started within 60 days, is suspended for 60 days, or has no inspection request for 60 days; Los Angeles permits are valid for two years if work starts within 12 months and does not stop for 12 months. On a new home, the risk is a long gap between foundation and framing while financing or materials are sorted out.

Worked example: budgeting permits for a $400,000 house in Phoenix

1. Building permit, Table A: $2,053 + (200 × $9) = $3,853
2. Plan review at 80%: $3,082.40
3. Reinspection allowance: three reinspections at $195 = $585
4. Permit extension risk: one-time extension at 50% of the permit fee = $1,926.50 (only if needed)

Building department budget: $7,520.40, or about $9,447 if you need an extension. Then add the city's impact and utility fees, which are set separately.

In the calculator: "Addition / structural work," typical city, standard, $400,000, 2,000 sq ft, defaults on, gives about $4,603 to $17,925. Phoenix lands in the lower third.

Who pulls construction permits?

On new construction, the general contractor or home builder pulls the building permit, and licensed electricians, plumbers, and mechanical contractors pull trade permits where the city requires it. Owner-builders can build their own home in many places; Miami-Dade sets owner-builder rates of $0.353 per sq ft for new construction. Owner-builders take on every inspection and the responsibility for code compliance. For licensing rules, see general contractor license costs.

Mistakes that inflate construction permit costs

Budgeting only the building permit. On a new house, trade permits, surcharges, and impact fees can double the total.

Underestimating revisions. Austin charges $585.77 for a residential resubmittal or major revision, and Miami-Dade charges $136.70 for each extra review cycle.

Ignoring state law on repeated rejections. Florida law, quoted in Miami-Dade's schedule, allows four times the plan review fee after a third rejection for the same violation.

Starting site work early. Clearing or grading before permits can trigger stop-work orders and double fees. See demolition permit costs if an existing structure must come down first.

Related guides

For how valuation tables work on remodels, read the building permit cost guide. Inspection and reinspection fees are covered in building inspection costs, and electrical work in the electrical permit cost guide. All permit guides are in the permit and inspection cost hub.

Construction fees change often and impact fees vary by neighborhood. Use these figures for planning and confirm every fee with your building and planning departments before you price a lot or sign a build contract.