Building Permit Cost Estimator
Quick answer
Free estimator over 1,250 researched datapoints in 309 US cities: choose deck, fence, shed, patio, or garage plus your state and city, and get the typical permit fee, review time, and the threshold where a permit kicks in. Median fee across all tracked cities: about $175.
Pick your project and location and get the numbers that matter before you apply: the typical permit fee, how long review takes, and when a permit is required at all. Every answer comes from the research behind our state guides, 1,250 datapoints across 309 US cities, the same dataset published in full on the permit costs page and downloadable as CSV.
Typical permit fee:
Typical review time:
When a permit is needed:
Full local rules: state guide · Your application will also need a site plan: permit-ready from $89, in 24–48 hours
Planning ranges from our research, not quotes. Your building department's current fee schedule is the authority.
How the estimate works
City answers show our researched figures for that city verbatim. The "typical for state" answer spans the tracked cities in that state. Fees are planning ranges compiled from official city and county fee schedules, and review times assume a complete application. The full method, including what gets excluded and why, is on the methodology section of the data page.
What the permit fee does not include
Budgeting the whole application honestly, four other line items show up often:
- Plan review fees. Some cities bill review separately from the permit, commonly 25 to 65 percent of the permit fee.
- The site plan. Nearly every application in this tool's scope needs one. Free if you draw it yourself, $89 to $259 drafted and permit-ready, more from a surveyor when certified boundaries are required.
- Re-inspection fees, when work is not ready at the scheduled inspection.
- Trade permits, if your project adds electrical or plumbing (a lit garage, a heated shed), usually separate small permits.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is the permit cost estimator?
As accurate as published fee schedules allow: city answers show our researched range for that city, compiled from official sources, and state answers span the tracked cities. It is a planning tool, not a quote. Exact fees usually depend on your project's size or valuation, and your building department's current schedule is the authority.
Is this estimate a quote for my permit?
No. It is a researched range for budgeting and for sanity-checking numbers a contractor gives you. No online tool can quote your exact fee, because most cities price by project valuation or size at application time.
What should I budget besides the permit fee?
Plan review fees where billed separately, the site plan your application requires ($89 to $259 drafted, or your own time to draw one), possible trade permits for electrical or plumbing, and re-inspection fees if an inspection has to be repeated. The estimator page lists each with typical ranges.
How current is the data?
The dataset was compiled with our state guides in March 2026, with official source links re-verified in July 2026. Fee schedules typically change annually. If your city's numbers have moved, tell us via the contact page and we will update the dataset.
Permit requirements vary by city, county, and state. The information in this guide provides general guidance based on common building codes and practices across the US. Always verify requirements with your local building department before starting your project.