Every permit estimate your costs in this database is individually researched from the city's published fee schedule. No estimates, no averages, no third-party aggregation. We read the actual ordinance, fee table, or rate schedule, then compute the fee using the city's own formula.
Data Collection Process
1
Locate the fee schedule. We find the city's official building department fee schedule. This is usually a PDF on the city website, a section of the municipal code, or an ordinance adopted by city council.
2
Identify the fee structure. Every city is different. Some charge flat fees per trade. Others use valuation-based formulas (e.g., $7 per $1,000 of construction value). Others use tiered schedules, per-square-foot rates, or trade-count systems. We identify which structure each city uses.
3
Compute fees at standard project values. We calculate the actual permit fee for common residential projects: bathroom remodel (~$15K), kitchen remodel (~$25K), roof replacement (~$12K), HVAC, water heater, deck, electrical panel, solar panels. Each includes all required permits (building + trade permits).
4
Link to the source. Every city page links to the official fee schedule document so you can verify every number. If a fee changes, you can check the source yourself.
Fee Structure Types
Across our 29 cities, we see 24 with separate trade permits, and 2 with hybrid structures. The most common fee calculation methods:
Valuation-Based
Fee = base + rate × construction value. Most common. Phoenix, Orlando, Las Vegas, Nashville.
Flat Fee Per Trade
Fixed dollar amount per permit type. Tampa, Columbus, San Antonio.
Per-Trade Count
Fee scales with number of trades involved. Dallas, Charlotte.
Percentage of Value
Fee = percentage of construction cost. Raleigh, Richmond.
Source Documents by City
Every fee in the database links to its original source document. Click a city to see the full fee breakdown, or click the source to view the original document.
| City | Source Document | Structure | Verified |
|---|
| Atlanta, GA |
Atlanta Code of Ordinances Section 104.2 (Fees) |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| Austin, TX |
Austin Development Services — Residential Building Plan Review & Inspection Permit Fees (1-6 of 6) |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| Boston, MA |
Boston ISD Building Fees PDF (Rev 5/15/2023) |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| Charlotte, NC |
Mecklenburg County LUESA Fee Ordinance (Ordinance Book 54, Document 35) |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| Chicago, IL |
Chicago Municipal Code Section 14A-12-1204.2 via UpCodes + Chicago 2026 Building Permit Fee Tables PDF |
Hybrid |
March 23, 2026 |
| City of St. Louis, MO |
City of St. Louis Building Division - Building Permit Application |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| Columbus, OH |
2026 Combined Development Related Fee Schedule |
Separate trades |
|
| Dallas, TX |
City of Dallas Development Services Permit Fee Schedule |
Hybrid |
March 23, 2026 |
| Denver, CO |
ADMIN 125 and 138, Building Permit Policy, Revised May 21, 2024 |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| Houston, TX |
Houston City Fee Schedule - HPW Building Code section (cohweb.houstontx.gov) |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| Kansas City, MO |
Kansas City Code of Ordinances Section 18-20 (Fees) |
single permit |
March 23, 2026 |
| Las Vegas, NV |
Clark County Building Administrative Code, Chapter 22.02 (Ordinance No. 4222) |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| Los Angeles, CA |
LADBS Fee Sch.3 (HVAC), Sch.5 (Plumbing), PC-ELEC.FeeSched01 (Electrical) - all 7/2017 |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| Miami, FL |
Miami Sec. 10-18 Building Permit Fee Schedule (pasted from web) |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| Minneapolis, MN |
City of Minneapolis Building Permit Fee Schedule |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| Nashville, TN |
Nashville Code of Ordinances Title 16 — Buildings and Construction (nashvillepermits extracted text) |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| New York, NY |
RCNY Title 1, Chapter 100, §101-03 — Electrical permit fees |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| Orlando, FL |
City of Orlando Fees--Commercial Development (includes Residential 3 units or more) |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| Philadelphia, PA |
City of Philadelphia Permit Fee Schedule |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| Phoenix, AZ |
PDD Fee Schedule, Ordinance G-7465, Approved 12/17/2025, Effective 1/20/2026 |
single permit |
March 23, 2026 |
| Portland, OR |
Portland Building Permit Fee Schedule (portlandfee) |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| Raleigh, NC |
raleighdevfeeguide — Raleigh NC Development Fee Guide |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| Richmond, VA |
City of Richmond VA Permit Fee Schedule |
single permit |
March 23, 2026 |
| San Antonio, TX |
City of San Antonio Development Services Fee Schedule FY2026 |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| San Diego, CA |
IB-501 Fee Schedule for Construction Permits-Structures |
Separate trades |
April 16, 2026 |
| Seattle, WA |
Seattle 2026 Fee Subtitle, SMC Title 22 Subtitle IX |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| Springfield, MO |
Building Development Services - Residential Permit Fee Schedule |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| St. Louis County, MO |
St. Louis County Ordinance Guidebook (2023 edition) - exempt work list |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
| Tampa, FL |
City of Tampa Trade Permit Fee Schedule |
Separate trades |
March 23, 2026 |
Update Schedule
We update verified cities quarterly. If a fee schedule changes between updates, the number may be temporarily out of date. The source URL always points to the current fee schedule so you can verify.
Found an error or a city we're missing? Let us know.