Getting a permit for your renovation project can seem like an unnecessary expense. Especially when you’re already dealing with all the complexities that come with the renovation itself. But it is crucial to understand that obtaining a permit is an important aspect of ensuring the safety and legality of your work.
The cost of permits varies depending on your location and the type of permit required. Let’s take a look at the price range for permits required for small and large renovation projects.
Key Takeaways
- The average cost of a building permit in 2023 is $500.
- The average range is between $140 and $3,000.
- The cost of the building permit will be determined by the cost of your project.
How much is a building permit?
Projects that require building permits depend on building code requirements and zoning regulations in your city. In most cases, every project that includes building, construction, installation, remodeling or renovation, will require some type of building permit.
Once you’ve calculated all the materials and labor costs and all the architectural and engineering fees, the question remains – How much is a building permit?
The average cost of a building permit is $500, and the average range is between $140 and $3,000.
| Minimum Cost | Maximum Cost | National Average | Average Range |
| $30 | $6.000 | $500 | $140 – $3.000 |
You can see in this table that the range between the minimum and maximum price is much larger than the average range. The reason for this is the price of the project itself. Let’s explain.
Building permit fees for different types of renovations
The cost of a building permit can range from $30 to $500 for smaller projects, such as plumbing and electrical work. Bigger projects, such as construction, building, or remodeling will require permits with a higher fee, ranging from $600 to $3,000 and more.
The reason for this is that the fees are determined based on the flat rate, square footage of the project or building value. Building permit fees typically range from 0.50% to 2.00% of the total construction cost and are determined by the size and type of project, total construction costs, and location.
In this table you can see the type of project and the average price of the permit for it.
| TYPE OF PROJECT | AVERAGE COST OF THE PERMIT |
| Building a house | $600 – $3,000 |
| Garage conversion | $700 – $1,600 |
| Electrical | $40 – $500 |
| Plumbing | $30 – $500 |
| Shed | $50 – $250 |
| Fence | $30 – $200 |
| Deck | $50 – $600 |
| Pergola | $50 – $150 |
| Kitchen remodel | $500 – $1,500 |
| Bathroom remodel | $200 – $1000 |
| Roof replacement | $400 – $1500 |
| Home addition | $5 – $20 per $1,000 of the project cost |
| HVAC | $200 – $500 |
| Swimming pool | $100 – $300 |
Cost of permits to build a house
As it was mentioned previously, building a house is considered to be a major construction project. The cost of permits to build a house will range from $600 to $3,000. The average cost is roughly around $1,400.
But, when it comes to cost to build a house, this one is still a minor expense.
Garage conversion permit cost
The average permit fee for a garage conversion is between $700 and $1,600. Along with the main building permit, additional permits will be required for plumbing, electrical, HVAC and other installations, each with its own permit fees.
If you’re making extensive additions, you may also need permits for sewer line and waterproofing, which can increase costs.
If there isn’t that much extra work that requires permits, then the cost of your garage conversion permit will be much lower. The average range is between $50 and $500.
Electrical permit cost
The cost of an electrical permit is much lower, they range from $40 to $500. For electrical upgrades like rewiring, adding circuits, or installing new outlets, an electrical permit is typically required.
Plumbing permit cost
The average fee for a plumbing permit is between $30 and $500. Some of the work that will require a permit issued by your municipal building department is:
- Water heater replacement, or installation of a new one
- Replacing pipes, drains, sewers
- Installing new plumbing fixtures
Shed permit cost
Installing or building a shed on your property will usually require a shed building permit. The average cost is between $50 and $250. Also, you may have to apply for a plumbing and electrical permit.
If your shed is smaller than 8’x8’ there is a chance you may not need a permit. On the other hand, if the shed is qualified as livable spaces, the cost of the permits will be higher. Then it is considered to be a major project and the cost of the permits can be around $2,000.
Fence permit cost
Permit for installing a fence is usually not that expensive, they range between $30 and $200. Depending on the zoning laws in your area, there is a chance you might not need a permit for installing a fence that is under 6 feet tall.
Deck permit cost
The permit fees for deck permit range between $50 and $600. The range is this wide because the cost of a permit for a covered deck is higher.
Decks that are detached from the house, less than 200 square feet in size, lower than 30 inches from the ground, do not have access to the main exit, have no electrical or plumbing fixtures, or are not located in a floodplain may not require a permit.
Contractors usually include the building permit fees in their overall deck building cost.
Pergola permit cost
Pergola permit costs between $50 and $150. This is because you won’t need many different permits for installation. There may be a need for an electrical permit, if you want to add a light fixture to your pergola design.
Before installing a pergola in your backyard, check your local building code requirements. In some areas there are strict rules that determine the location and dimensions of a pergola.
Kitchen remodel permit cost
Kitchen remodel permit costs between $500 and $1,500. The cost of the permit is determined by the size of your kitchen and the value of the overall project. The permits will be required for demolition, electrical and plumbing work, changing the size or a layout of your kitchen.
Bathroom remodel permit cost
Bathroom remodel permit cost ranges between $200 and $1000. Bathroom remodeling can be a small project that doesn’t even require a permit, like replacing fixtures. But bigger projects require plumbing, electrical, HVAC and other builders permits.
Deciding between a big or small remodel will affect the overall bathroom cost.
Roof replacement permit cost
The cost of the roofing permit ranges between $400 and $1500. You can find out everything you need to know about roof replacement, permits, cost and ROI in our article – Changing roof line.
Home addition permit cost – Building permit cost per square foot
The cost for a home addition permit and house extension permit is between $5 and $20 per $1,000 of the project cost or $0.15 to $0.75 per square foot. Home additions include adding a room, a new story, an attic, a sunroom, or any other type of living space.
Retroactive permit cost
Retroactive permits cost more than the regular ones. The average cost range for retroactive permits is between $2,000 and $8,000. The main reason for this is that they take longer. The city must first send an inspection to determine if everything was done according to building code requirements. Inspectors may ask you to open up some walls or even tear down some parts of your project.
Building permit cost FAQs
When it comes to building permits, are there any inspection fees?
Yes, depending on the type and location of the property, these fees range from $100 to $500.
How long does it take to get a building permit?
On average, it takes two weeks to approve and issue a building permit. If the permit is for a smaller project it will be issued sooner, and vice versa.
How to calculate a building permit fee?
Since the building permit fees are different for each city, there is no one way to determine the cost. But some cities offer building permit fee calculators on their websites. Some examples are:
– Los Angeles permit fee calculator – Link
– Chicago permit fee calculator – Link
– Honolulu permit fee calculator – Link
Get any type of building permit quickly and easily
With our site plans for permits this process doesn’t have to be complicated. Our team of experts will prepare the site plan necessary to obtain these permits. If there are any revisions that your municipal building department requires, we will do it for free. Save your time and money with us.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
