How We Collect This Data
Every permit fee in this database comes from one of two sources:
Individually researched from the city's published fee schedule. The source URL links directly to the fee document.
Approximated from the state's regional cost factor (BEA Regional Price Parity) applied to national ICC averages. Source URL points to the correct department but fees need verification.
Fee schedules are structured differently in every city. Some charge flat fees, others charge per $1,000 of construction value, others use tiered schedules based on project scope. We normalize all fees to a single representative number for the most common residential project in each category.
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 If a fee schedule changes between updates, the number may be temporarily out of date.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.
Currently: 28 cities in the database. All verified from published fee schedules.