Building Permit Cost Inputs
Use higher-cost for large cities or strict permitting areas.
Labor + materials estimate.
Approximate square footage affected by the project.
Optional Fee Assumptions
Include plan review
Common for larger, structural, or commercial projects.
Include standard inspections
Some cities include inspections in the permit; others charge separately.
Include trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, or related permits.
Include reinspection allowance
Useful if corrections or missed inspections are possible.
Include expedited review
Some jurisdictions charge extra for faster review.
Calculator note
This is a planning estimate. Real permit fees depend on your city, county, project scope, valuation method, inspection rules, and local fee schedule.
On this page
- What the building permit estimate includes
- The four project types
- Inputs, explained
- How the building permit math works
- Worked examples with real city comparisons
- How to read your result
- When to turn on the optional lines
- Budgeting for extensions and renewals
- What the estimate leaves out
- Related guides and calculators
Choose your project type, enter the construction value and the area of work, and set your location and complexity. The calculator returns a planning range for the building permit, plan review, inspections, and related trade permits.
This calculator is for informational purposes only. It produces estimates, not a fee quote, and your building department's published schedule and valuation determine the real fee.
What the building permit estimate includes
| Line | Default | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Base permit estimate | Always | Base fee + share of project value + rate per sq ft of work |
| Plan review allowance | On | 15% of the low base to 35% of the high base |
| Inspection allowance | On | $75–$300 × location factor |
| Related trade permits | On | $100–$750 × location factor |
| Reinspection allowance | Off | $75–$250 × location factor |
| Expedited review | Off | 25% of the low base to 60% of the high base |
The four project types
| Option | Typical projects | Base | Share of value | Per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minor residential remodel | Bathroom refresh with new fixtures, window replacement, small interior changes | $75–$250 | 0.4%–1.2% | $0.05–$0.25 |
| Major residential remodel | Kitchen with relocated plumbing, wall removal, whole-floor renovation | $200–$750 | 0.6%–1.8% | $0.08–$0.35 |
| Addition / structural work | Room additions, second stories, garage conversions, foundation repair | $350–$1,200 | 0.8%–2.5% | $0.15–$0.65 |
| Commercial tenant improvement | Office, retail, or restaurant build-outs in an existing building | $500–$2,500 | 1.0%–3.0% | $0.20–$1.10 |
Inputs, explained
Location cost level. Small town (0.8), typical city or county (1.0), or higher-cost metro / strict review (1.35). A metro that charges plan review at 80% to 100% of the permit fee, like Phoenix or Seattle, belongs in the high tier.
Estimated project value. Labor plus materials for all permitted work, including the contractor's overhead and profit. Many cities replace your figure with their own if it is higher; Denver, Phoenix, and Seattle all reference ICC building valuation data.
Project size. The square footage of work. For a bathroom, that may be 60 sq ft; for an addition, the new floor area.
Complexity. Simple (0.85) for repetitive, prescriptive work. Standard (1.0) for most projects. Complex (1.35) for engineered structures, hillside sites, historic districts, or mixed-use buildings.
How the building permit math works
Base low = base minimum + (value × low rate) + (sq ft × low rate)
Base high = base maximum + (value × high rate) + (sq ft × high rate)
Both are multiplied by location × complexity. Plan review and expedited review are percentages of the base; inspections, trade permits, and reinspections are fixed ranges multiplied by location only. The final range is the sum of the lines you have switched on.
Worked examples with real city comparisons
Example 1: a $20,000 bathroom remodel
Minor residential remodel, 200 sq ft, typical city, standard, defaults on.
- Base low: $75 + ($20,000 × 0.004 = $80) + (200 × $0.05 = $10) = $165
- Base high: $250 + ($20,000 × 0.012 = $240) + (200 × $0.25 = $50) = $540
- Plan review $25–$189, inspections $75–$300, trade permits $100–$750
- Total: about $365 to $1,779
Real building permit plus plan review for $20,000 of work:
| City | Calculation | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Denver | $35 + 18 × $8 = $179, + 50% plan review | $268.50 |
| Los Angeles (code base) | $40 + 200 × $1.25 = $290, + 90% plan check | $551 |
| Phoenix | $303 + 10 × $10 = $403, + 100% plan review | $806 |
| Seattle | $325 + 190 × $1.60 = $629, × 2 for plan review, + 5% | $1,320.90 |
Each of these is the building permit only; trade permits are extra in Denver and Seattle. Sources: Denver, LAMC Table 1-A (base amounts adjusted for inflation each July 1), Phoenix (eff. Jan. 20, 2026), Seattle (eff. Jan. 1, 2026).
Example 2: a $150,000 addition in a high-cost metro
Addition / structural work, 500 sq ft, higher-cost metro, standard, defaults on.
- Raw base: $350 + $1,200 + $75 = $1,625 low; $1,200 + $3,750 + $325 = $5,275 high
- × 1.35 = $2,194 to $7,121
- Plan review $329–$2,492, inspections $101–$405, trade permits $135–$1,013
- Total: about $2,759 to $11,031
Real building permit plus plan review for $150,000:
| City | Calculation | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Denver | $770 + 50 × $5.60 = $1,050, + 50% | $1,575 |
| Los Angeles (code base) | $395 + 150 × $3.50 = $920, + 90% | $1,748 |
| Phoenix | $703 + 100 × $9 = $1,603, + 80% | $2,885.40 |
| Seattle | $1,821.50 + 50 × $7.75 = $2,209, × 2, + 5% | $4,638.90 |
Square-foot systems are different again. In unincorporated Miami-Dade County, the same 500 sq ft addition is 500 × $0.985 = $492.50 before surcharges (IO 4-63, effective October 1, 2026).
Example 3: a $200,000 commercial tenant improvement
Commercial TI, 2,500 sq ft, typical city, standard, defaults plus reinspection.
- Base low: $500 + $2,000 + $500 = $3,000; high: $2,500 + $6,000 + $2,750 = $11,250
- Plan review $450–$3,937, inspections $75–$300, trade permits $100–$750, reinspection $75–$250
- Total: about $3,700 to $16,488
For comparison, Denver's Table 1 gives $770 + (100 × $5.60) = $1,330, plus 50% plan review, $1,995; Phoenix's Table A permit fee alone is $2,053 at $200,000. Commercial projects also commonly add fire department review, health department review for food service, and accessibility review, which is why the high end runs well above the building permit alone.
How to read your result
- Low end: valuation cities with modest plan review (like Denver's 50%), or small towns charging by square foot.
- Middle: cities with plan review at 80% to 100% of the permit fee.
- High end: strict metros with full plan review plus percentage surcharges, or complex projects with multiple review disciplines.
If your city publishes a valuation table, you can replace the base and plan review lines with the exact figure and keep the trade, inspection, and reinspection lines as allowances.
Free · Printable checklist
Know which projects need a permit — before you start
A one-page checklist of common home projects, typical permit and inspection fee ranges, and the inspection sequence most cities follow.
- Which projects usually need a permit (and which don’t)
- Typical permit and inspection fee ranges
- The inspection order: rough-in to final
- Questions to ask your building department
Unlocked — the Home Project Permit Checklist is ready.
Open the Home Project Permit ChecklistWhen to turn on the optional lines
Reinspection. For additions and major remodels, there are many inspection stages (foundation, rough trades, framing, insulation, final). One missed stage can cost a reinspection fee: $195 in Phoenix, $146 in Seattle, $83.85 for residential work in Austin.
Expedited review. Phoenix charges three times the basic plan review fee for expedited review; Austin charges $1,555.94 per hour for expedited residential review. Turn it on only if your timeline justifies it.
Trade permits off. If your city's building permit covers electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work, as Los Angeles's combined building-mechanical permit does for one- and two-family homes, switch it off to avoid double counting.
Budgeting for extensions and renewals
Long projects can pay for the same permit twice. The model IRC R105.5 voids a permit if work does not start within 180 days of issuance or if more than 180 days pass between inspections, and allows written extensions of up to 180 days at a time. Cities attach fees to that process:
| City | Validity rule | Cost to extend or renew |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | Set in the city's administrative code | One-time extension: 50% of the current permit fee |
| Seattle | Set in the city's code | Renewal: 1.5 × the $292 base fee = $438 |
| Chicago (2022 code excerpt) | Suspended if no inspection within 180 days; void if work not started in 540 days | 25% of the original permit fee per 180-day period |
| Denver | May be voided after 60 days without work or inspection requests | Reapplication if voided |
| Los Angeles | Valid two years; expires if work is not started or is suspended for 12 months | Check with LADBS |
Chicago's figures come from the city's posted permit fee ordinance excerpts, which the city marks unofficial. If your project might pause, for example over a winter or while financing closes, add an extension allowance equal to half the base permit estimate. Requesting inspections regularly is the cheapest way to keep a permit alive.
What the estimate leaves out
- Impact fees, school fees, and utility connection charges on new floor area
- Zoning, variance, or design review fees
- State surcharges where they apply (Washington adds $6.50 per residential permit; Florida adds 1% and 1.5% surcharges)
- Engineering, surveys, and energy calculations
- Certificate of occupancy fees in towns that charge them separately
Related guides and calculators
The building permit cost guide explains valuation tables, exemptions, and penalties in more detail, and the construction permit cost guide covers the full fee stack on a new home. For specific projects, use the deck, basement, or electrical permit calculators. Inspection and reinspection costs are covered in building inspection costs.
Frequently asked questions
Which project type should I choose for a kitchen remodel?
What square footage should I enter?
Why are trade permits switched on by default?
Can I use this for a new house?
How we build our calculators
Formulas follow the published IRS, Treasury, or agency rules cited on the page, and run entirely in your browser — we never see the numbers you type. Results are estimates for informational purposes only and are not tax, legal, or investment advice. Editorial standards.