How much is a building permit for a typical remodel?

It depends entirely on the local fee schedule and the declared valuation of the work, plus separate trade permits. Request the adopted fee schedule from the issuing department to price your specific scope.

Are permit fees refundable if I cancel the project?

Plan review fees are commonly non-refundable once review has begun. Some jurisdictions refund a portion of the permit fee if the permit was never issued — policies vary by authority.

Why did my permit cost more than the quoted fee?

Common additions are separate trade permits, plan review fees, impact or capacity fees, state surcharges, and reinspection charges. Ask for a full itemized estimate rather than the base permit fee alone.

What does it cost if I already built without a permit?

Many authorities charge an after-the-fact or investigation fee that is a multiple of the standard fee, and may require concealed work to be exposed for inspection at your expense.

What does a building permit cost? How fees are actually calculated

Updated 2026-09-05 · 7 min read

Building permit fees are set locally and published in a fee schedule adopted by the jurisdiction. There is no national price. What is national is the structure of the fee — once you understand the components, you can estimate a range for any project and read any fee schedule quickly.

The base permit fee

Most authorities calculate the base fee using one of three methods: a percentage or sliding scale applied to declared project valuation, a rate per square foot of affected area, or a flat fee per permit type. Valuation-based schedules are the most common for residential and commercial construction, which is why an accurate, defensible valuation matters — understating it invites an intake correction, and overstating it costs money.

Plan review or plan-check fee

Separate from the permit itself, most jurisdictions charge a plan review fee, often expressed as a percentage of the base permit fee. This is typically due at submission rather than at issuance, and it is generally non-refundable once review begins — another reason a first-pass-quality packet is worth the effort.

Trade permits

Electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas permits are usually issued and priced separately, commonly by fixture, outlet, appliance, or circuit count. On a remodel, trade permits frequently total more than the building permit itself.

Fees that surprise people

These are legitimate, published, and easy to miss when budgeting.

Zoning, site plan, or planning review fees.
Impact or capacity fees for water, sewer, roads, parks, or schools on new construction.
Technology, records, or state surcharge line items.
Reinspection fees when an inspection fails or the site is not ready.
Additional plan review fees after a set number of correction cycles.
After-the-fact or investigation fees — often a multiple of the normal fee — for work started without a permit.

How to get an accurate number

Ask the building department for the current adopted fee schedule and the valuation method they use, then price your specific scope against it. Fee schedules are usually adopted annually, so a figure you find in a forum or an older PDF may be out of date. Permit Junkie shows a fee only when a sourced record is available and labels anything unverified for confirmation with the issuing department.

The cost nobody puts in the budget

The largest permitting cost on most projects is not the fee — it is schedule. Idle crews, extended equipment rental, carrying costs, and delayed occupancy during avoidable correction rounds routinely exceed the entire permit fee. Budget for packet quality accordingly.

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Frequently asked questions

Looking for a quick answer on deck permits, correction letters, or expediter fees? See the full permit FAQ.

How much is a building permit for a typical remodel?: It depends entirely on the local fee schedule and the declared valuation of the work, plus separate trade permits. Request the adopted fee schedule from the issuing department to price your specific scope.
Are permit fees refundable if I cancel the project?: Plan review fees are commonly non-refundable once review has begun. Some jurisdictions refund a portion of the permit fee if the permit was never issued — policies vary by authority.
Why did my permit cost more than the quoted fee?: Common additions are separate trade permits, plan review fees, impact or capacity fees, state surcharges, and reinspection charges. Ask for a full itemized estimate rather than the base permit fee alone.
What does it cost if I already built without a permit?: Many authorities charge an after-the-fact or investigation fee that is a multiple of the standard fee, and may require concealed work to be exposed for inspection at your expense.