Building permit cost by city
Typical residential permit fees aggregated from 38 city building department fee schedules. Filter by city or project type below.
| City | Roofing | HVAC | Electrical | Remodel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $120–$280 | $95–$220 | $60–$180 | $200–$650 | Online portal for trade permits; building permits over the counter. |
| Atlanta, GA | $180–$400 | $140–$320 | $85–$240 | $280–$900 | Online portal with rapid approval for routine residential. |
| Austin, TX | $180–$380 | $140–$290 | $80–$220 | $340–$950 | Solar streamlined permitting. Heritage tree review may add $200 fee. |
| Baltimore, MD | $220–$480 | $180–$380 | $110–$280 | $320–$1100 | CIty trade licenses must be current; lead paint work requires MDE certification. |
| Boston, MA | $320–$720 | $260–$540 | $180–$420 | $560–$1800 | Building Department fees plus Inspectional Services trade permits. |
| Charlotte, NC | $180–$420 | $145–$320 | $85–$240 | $280–$850 | Trade permits run separately from main building permit. |
| Chicago, IL | $220–$480 | $145–$320 | $95–$240 | $380–$1100 | E-permits available for like-for-like replacements. Self-cert programs reduce review time. |
| Cincinnati, OH | $110–$260 | $90–$200 | $60–$170 | $180–$620 | Walk-in permits for routine residential. |
| Cleveland, OH | $120–$280 | $95–$220 | $65–$180 | $200–$680 | Building & Housing Department; trade permits separate. |
| Columbus, OH | $120–$290 | $100–$220 | $65–$180 | $180–$600 | Online portal with same-day approval for like-for-like. |
| Dallas, TX | $120–$280 | $90–$200 | $60–$170 | $200–$720 | Express permitting program for residential projects under $50K value. |
| Denver, CO | $200–$460 | $180–$380 | $95–$260 | $340–$1100 | eGov portal; same-day permits for mechanical/plumbing/electrical only. |
| Fort Worth, TX | $110–$250 | $90–$200 | $60–$165 | $200–$650 | Most residential permits over the counter same day. |
| Houston, TX | $120–$280 | $85–$180 | $55–$160 | $180–$650 | No state-level building code; city-by-city. Homestead exemption may reduce fees. |
| Indianapolis, IN | $110–$260 | $90–$200 | $55–$160 | $180–$580 | IndyMaps online portal; e-review for most residential. |
| Jacksonville, FL | $200–$480 | $165–$360 | $95–$240 | $280–$850 | Hurricane straps and tie-down inspections required. |
| Las Vegas, NV | $180–$380 | $145–$320 | $85–$240 | $280–$900 | Same-day permits available for residential mechanical/electrical. |
| Los Angeles, CA | $180–$450 | $165–$380 | $85–$280 | $320–$1200 | LADBS plan check required for structural changes. EV charger permits typical $80–$150. |
| Louisville, KY | $120–$260 | $95–$200 | $60–$170 | $200–$620 | Walk-in permits for like-for-like residential replacements. |
| Memphis, TN | $110–$240 | $85–$180 | $55–$160 | $180–$580 | Standard fee schedule with project-value tiers. |
| Miami, FL | $240–$540 | $200–$420 | $120–$320 | $380–$1300 | Hurricane code compliance (HVHZ) adds review steps and fees. |
| Milwaukee, WI | $180–$380 | $140–$320 | $85–$220 | $240–$800 | eAccela online portal. |
| Minneapolis, MN | $180–$400 | $145–$320 | $85–$240 | $280–$950 | IGS online portal; weatherization permit available for energy upgrades. |
| Nashville, TN | $140–$320 | $110–$240 | $70–$200 | $220–$720 | Online portal; Metro Codes Department processes most residential same-week. |
| New York, NY | $350–$850 | $280–$600 | $180–$420 | $600–$2400 | DOB filing fees scale with project value; alteration permits require licensed expediter for most projects. |
| Philadelphia, PA | $200–$480 | $140–$320 | $85–$240 | $320–$950 | eClipse online portal. Historic district adds $100–$300 review fee. |
| Phoenix, AZ | $150–$350 | $110–$240 | $75–$210 | $240–$800 | Online permitting widely available. HOA approval often required separately. |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $180–$380 | $140–$300 | $80–$220 | $240–$800 | PLI online portal; historic district review in protected areas. |
| Portland, OR | $220–$460 | $180–$380 | $110–$280 | $340–$1100 | BDS online portal; tree review may add $200–$600 for projects affecting protected trees. |
| Sacramento, CA | $200–$460 | $180–$380 | $110–$280 | $320–$1100 | Citywide online portal; engineering review for structural alterations. |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $140–$320 | $110–$240 | $70–$200 | $220–$720 | Online portal; rapid approval for residential. |
| San Antonio, TX | $110–$240 | $90–$200 | $55–$165 | $200–$600 | Standard residential fee schedule; expedited review available for premium. |
| San Diego, CA | $180–$420 | $165–$360 | $90–$260 | $340–$1100 | Coastal Commission approval required within coastal zone. |
| San Jose, CA | $220–$480 | $200–$420 | $110–$280 | $400–$1300 | Online permitting; mandatory plan check for additions over 500 sq ft. |
| Seattle, WA | $240–$540 | $220–$480 | $120–$320 | $420–$1400 | Subject-to-field-inspection (STFI) program for small projects under $30K. |
| St. Louis, MO | $120–$260 | $95–$200 | $60–$170 | $180–$600 | Online portal; over-the-counter permits for routine work. |
| Tampa, FL | $180–$420 | $150–$340 | $85–$240 | $280–$950 | Online permitting; wind-load calculations required for roof replacements. |
| Washington, DC | $280–$600 | $240–$480 | $140–$340 | $480–$1600 | Historic district review often required (Old Georgetown, Capitol Hill). |
Why permit fees vary so much
Building permit fees in the US are set by individual municipalities, not state or federal agencies. Most cities use a combination of flat fees, project-value tiers, and trade-specific fees that compound. A typical residential bathroom remodel that pulls building, plumbing, and electrical permits can easily total $400–$1,200 in fees alone.
The numbers above are typical fee ranges for routine residential work. Your specific permit may cost more if:
- The project value exceeds standard tiers (most cities scale fees by valuation)
- You're in a historic district (typically adds $100–$500 review)
- Plan check is required (structural changes, additions over 500 sq ft)
- Specialty engineering review is required (hurricane zones, earthquake retrofits)
How to verify before filing
Every city building department publishes a current fee schedule online. Search "[your city] building permit fee schedule" or call the department directly. The 5-minute call can save you from $400 in surprise add-ons during plan check.