Skip to main content
29 Cities · 29 Verified · 14 Project Types

How much does a building permit cost in your city?

Free, source-linked permit fee data for 29+ U.S. cities. Every city verified from published fee schedules.

Start with the national picture: permit costs for every verified city, ranked →

Source-linked data
Re-verified on a rolling basis
Free forever
29+
Cities
19
States
29
Verified
14
Project Types

Explore Permit Costs Across the U.S.

Darker states have higher average permit costs. Click any city dot to see the full fee breakdown.

AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY Atlanta, GAAtlanta Austin, TXAustin Boston, MABoston Charlotte, NCCharlotte Chicago, ILChicago City of St. Louis, MOCity of St. Louis Columbus, OHColumbus Dallas, TXDallas Denver, CODenver Houston, TXHouston Kansas City, MOKansas City Las Vegas, NVLas Vegas Los Angeles, CALos Angeles Miami, FLMiami Minneapolis, MNMinneapolis Nashville, TNNashville New York, NYNew York Orlando, FLOrlando Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphia Phoenix, AZPhoenix Portland, ORPortland Raleigh, NCRaleigh Richmond, VARichmond San Antonio, TXSan Antonio San Diego, CASan Diego Seattle, WASeattle Springfield, MOSpringfield St. Louis County, MOSt. Louis County Tampa, FLTampa
Cheaper → More expensive Verified city

How much does a building permit cost?

A building permit is a government fee set by your city, separate from contractor labor and materials. Fees run from under $100 for minor work to several hundred dollars (sometimes more) for a major remodel, and they vary widely between cities. Every fee here is verified from the city's published schedule, not a national estimate. Search your city above, or compare a specific project type:

Bathroom Remodel Permit Cost →Kitchen Remodel Permit Cost →Roof Replacement Permit Cost →HVAC Permit Cost →Water Heater Permit Cost →Electrical Panel Permit Cost →Deck Permit Cost →Fence Permit Cost →Solar Panel Permit Cost →

How much does a building permit cost?

It depends on your city and the project. The permit is a government fee, separate from contractor and material costs, and ranges from under $100 for minor work to several hundred dollars (sometimes more) for a major remodel. Every fee on this site is verified from the city's published schedule.

Is the permit fee the same as my project cost?

No. The permit fee is a government charge for review and inspection. It does not include labor, materials, or design, which are usually far larger than the permit itself.

How do I find my city's permit fee?

Search your city in the box above, or open the city list. Each city page shows verified fees by project type with a link to the official source.

Are these permit fees verified?

Yes. Every fee is pulled from the city's published permit fee schedule, not estimated or scraped. Each city links to its official source.
Featured Cities

Explore Permit Fees by City

Click any city to see the full permit fee breakdown, project estimates, and source links.

Atlanta
GA
✓ Verified fees
Austin
TX
✓ Verified fees
Boston
MA
✓ Verified fees
Charlotte
NC
✓ Verified fees
Chicago
IL
✓ Verified fees
City of St. Louis
MO
✓ Verified fees
Columbus
OH
✓ Verified fees
Dallas
TX
✓ Verified fees
Denver
CO
✓ Verified fees
Houston
TX
✓ Verified fees
Kansas City
MO
✓ Verified fees
Las Vegas
NV
✓ Verified fees
View all 29 cities →
29
Verified Cities
19 of 50 states · 38% coverage · Adding more each release
19
States
Two Types of Permits
Building Permit
Structural & Major Work
Covers structural changes, additions, remodels, and major renovations. Required when you're changing the layout, load-bearing walls, or footprint of your home.
Usually pulled by: General contractor or homeowner
Trade Permit
Specialty Systems
Covers plumbing, electrical, HVAC/mechanical, and roofing. Required when you're touching water lines, wiring, ductwork, or roof structure. Most remodels need trade permits on top of the building permit.
Usually pulled by: Licensed trade contractor (plumber, electrician, HVAC tech)
Work that typically requires a permit:
• New construction (residential or commercial) • Additions: garage, deck, porch, ADU, carport • Expanding or demolishing an existing structure • Swimming pool installation • HVAC installation or replacement • Adding, moving, or removing walls • Roof installation or replacement • Finishing a basement • Solar panel installation • EV charging station installation • Generator installation • Fence installation • Siding installation • Window installation or replacement
Work that usually doesn't need a permit:
• Painting interior or exterior walls • Installing cabinets without changing the layout • Replacing carpet or flooring • Replacing fixtures in the same location • Cosmetic updates (countertops, backsplash, trim) • Landscaping and yard work
Rules vary by city. When in doubt, call your local building department before starting work.