What a permit costs in 2026, by the job you are doing
Permit fees are set by your city or county, not by the contractor, and they scale with the value of the work. Small jobs are $50 to $200. A remodel or addition is $500 to $2,000 or more. Pick the permit for the range, what triggers it, and an estimate for your area.
How permit fees work
Most cities price permits one of two ways: a flat fee for small trade jobs (a water heater, a new circuit, a fence) or a percentage of the project value for construction (usually 1 to 2 percent, with a plan review fee of 50 to 65 percent of the permit fee on top). Inspections are included. The contractor usually pulls the permit and passes the cost through, sometimes with a markup for the trips to the building department.
What happens without one: the city can fine you double the permit fee, make you open up finished walls for inspection, or refuse a certificate of occupancy. At resale, unpermitted work shows up on the disclosure, the appraiser may not count it, and buyers negotiate it down. Insurers can deny a claim on unpermitted electrical or gas work. The permit is cheap next to any of those.
What will this cost me?
Pick the job and your area. Expedited plan review, where offered, usually costs 50 to 100 percent more.
Estimates from published 2026 cost guides. Get a written quote before work starts.
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Book a free 15 minute callNo pitch deck. We run your audit live on the call.Common questions
How much does a building permit cost?
$50 to $2,000 for most residential work in 2026. Small trade permits are $50 to $250. Remodels and additions are $500 to $2,000 or more, based on project value.
Who pulls the permit, me or the contractor?
Either. In most places a homeowner can pull a permit for their own house. For electrical, plumbing and HVAC, many states require the licensed contractor to pull it.
What happens if I do the work without a permit?
Fines, usually double the fee, possible tear out for inspection, problems at resale, and insurance claims that can be denied.