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National Permit Intel · 2026

How Much Is a
Building Permit?

$275–$1,075 for a typical mid-size remodel in 2026 — but your city sets the rate. Look up localized fees, rules, and timelines for 152 US metros below.

The short answer

A building permit for a mid-size remodel typically costs $275–$1,075 in 2026, ranging from $225 in low-cost metros to $1,650 for high-value projects in expensive markets. Most US jurisdictions charge a valuation-based fee of roughly 0.5–2% of project value, plus plan-review and per-trade permit minimums.

Permit guides by project

Requirements and fees differ by project type — pick yours, then pick your city.

Kitchen Remodel

Yes, if the work moves plumbing, adds circuits, changes gas lines, or removes walls. A same-layout cosmetic refresh usually needs no permit.

Bathroom Remodel

Yes, when fixtures move or new wiring/venting goes in. Swapping a vanity or retiling in place is usually exempt.

Basement Remodel

Yes — finishing a basement almost always needs building, electrical, and often plumbing permits, plus egress compliance for any bedroom.

Home Addition

Always — an addition is new structure. Expect full plan review, zoning checks, and multiple inspections.

ADU / Garage Conversion

Always — converting space into a dwelling unit triggers full plan review, zoning approval, and utility sign-offs.

Deck

Usually — any deck attached to the house or over about 30 inches off grade needs a permit; low floating decks are often exempt.

2026 permit fees in 152 US metros

Typical range for a mid-size remodel, localized to each metro's construction costs. Click through for rules and per-project guides.

Akron, OH
$275–$1,050
Albany, NY
$300–$1,200
Albuquerque, NM
$275–$1,075
Allentown, PA
$300–$1,200
Amarillo, TX
$250–$975
Ann Arbor, MI
$300–$1,150
Appleton, WI
$250–$1,050
Asheville, NC
$275–$1,075
Atlanta, GA
$275–$1,125
Augusta, GA
$250–$1,000
Austin, TX
$300–$1,150
Baltimore, MD
$300–$1,225
Baton Rouge, LA
$250–$1,025
Bellingham, WA
$300–$1,200
Bend, OR
$300–$1,225
Billings, MT
$275–$1,075
Birmingham, AL
$225–$950
Boise, ID
$275–$1,100
Boston, MA
$350–$1,425
Boulder, CO
$325–$1,275
Bridgeport, CT
$350–$1,375
Buffalo, NY
$275–$1,075
Cape Coral, FL
$275–$1,075
Cedar Rapids, IA
$250–$1,050
Charleston, SC
$275–$1,075
Charlotte, NC
$275–$1,075
Charlottesville, VA
$275–$1,125
Chattanooga, TN
$250–$1,000
Chicago, IL
$300–$1,150
Cincinnati, OH
$275–$1,050
Cleveland, OH
$275–$1,050
Colorado Springs, CO
$275–$1,100
Columbia, SC
$250–$1,025
Columbus, OH
$275–$1,050
Corpus Christi, TX
$250–$1,000
Dallas, TX
$275–$1,100
Dayton, OH
$250–$1,025
Deltona, FL
$250–$1,050
Denver, CO
$325–$1,350
Des Moines, IA
$275–$1,075
Detroit, MI
$300–$1,150
Duluth, MN
$275–$1,125
Durham, NC
$275–$1,050
El Paso, TX
$250–$1,000
Eugene, OR
$300–$1,150
Evansville, IN
$250–$1,000
Fairbanks, AK
$350–$1,425
Fayetteville, AR
$250–$975
Fayetteville, NC
$250–$1,000
Fort Collins, CO
$275–$1,125
Fort Wayne, IN
$250–$1,025
Fresno, CA
$300–$1,200
Gainesville, FL
$250–$1,025
Grand Rapids, MI
$275–$1,050
Green Bay, WI
$275–$1,100
Greensboro, NC
$275–$1,075
Greenville, SC
$250–$1,025
Harrisburg, PA
$275–$1,125
Hartford, CT
$300–$1,150
Honolulu, HI
$400–$1,575
Houston, TX
$275–$1,050
Huntsville, AL
$250–$1,000
Indianapolis, IN
$250–$1,050
Jackson, MS
$250–$975
Jacksonville, FL
$275–$1,075
Kansas City, MO
$275–$1,050
Knoxville, TN
$250–$1,025
Lafayette, LA
$250–$1,000
Lakeland, FL
$250–$1,050
Lancaster, PA
$275–$1,100
Lansing, MI
$275–$1,075
Las Vegas, NV
$300–$1,150
Lexington, KY
$250–$1,025
Lincoln, NE
$250–$1,025
Little Rock, AR
$250–$975
Los Angeles, CA
$375–$1,550
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY
$250–$1,000
Lubbock, TX
$250–$975
Madison, WI
$275–$1,125
McAllen, TX
$225–$950
Memphis, TN
$250–$975
Miami, FL
$325–$1,350
Milwaukee, WI
$275–$1,150
Minneapolis, MN
$300–$1,150
Missoula, MT
$275–$1,100
Mobile, AL
$250–$975
Modesto, CA
$300–$1,225
Montgomery, AL
$250–$975
Myrtle Beach, SC
$250–$1,050
Nashville, TN
$300–$1,150
New Haven, CT
$325–$1,325
New Orleans, LA
$300–$1,175
New York, NY
$400–$1,600
North Port, FL
$275–$1,100
Ogden, UT
$275–$1,075
Oklahoma City, OK
$250–$975
Olympia, WA
$300–$1,200
Omaha, NE
$275–$1,050
Orlando, FL
$275–$1,100
Oxnard, CA
$350–$1,450
Pensacola, FL
$250–$1,025
Philadelphia, PA
$325–$1,275
Phoenix, AZ
$275–$1,075
Pittsburgh, PA
$275–$1,100
Portland, OR
$325–$1,325
Poughkeepsie, NY
$325–$1,250
Providence, RI
$300–$1,150
Provo, UT
$275–$1,075
Raleigh, NC
$275–$1,100
Reno, NV
$300–$1,175
Richmond, VA
$275–$1,075
Riverside, CA
$350–$1,450
Roanoke, VA
$250–$1,050
Rochester, MN
$275–$1,125
Rochester, NY
$275–$1,125
Sacramento, CA
$325–$1,275
Salem, OR
$300–$1,150
Salinas, CA
$350–$1,450
Salt Lake City, UT
$275–$1,100
San Antonio, TX
$275–$1,050
San Diego, CA
$375–$1,500
San Francisco, CA
$425–$1,650
San Jose, CA
$400–$1,650
Santa Barbara, CA
$375–$1,500
Santa Cruz, CA
$375–$1,525
Santa Fe, NM
$300–$1,175
Santa Rosa, CA
$375–$1,450
Savannah, GA
$250–$1,025
Scranton, PA
$275–$1,075
Seattle, WA
$375–$1,500
Shreveport, LA
$250–$975
South Bend, IN
$250–$1,050
Spokane, WA
$275–$1,100
Springfield, MA
$300–$1,225
Springfield, MO
$250–$975
St. Louis, MO
$275–$1,075
Stockton, CA
$350–$1,375
Syracuse, NY
$275–$1,100
Tallahassee, FL
$250–$1,000
Tampa, FL
$275–$1,100
Toledo, OH
$275–$1,050
Trenton, NJ
$325–$1,300
Tucson, AZ
$275–$1,075
Tulsa, OK
$250–$1,000
Vallejo, CA
$350–$1,375
Virginia Beach, VA
$275–$1,075
Waco, TX
$250–$975
Washington, DC
$375–$1,450
Wichita, KS
$250–$1,000
Winston-Salem, NC
$250–$1,025
Worcester, MA
$325–$1,300
Youngstown, OH
$250–$1,025

Building permit costs: FAQ

How much is a building permit for a remodel?
A building permit for a mid-size remodel typically costs $275–$1,075 in 2026, ranging from $225 in low-cost metros to $1,650 for high-value projects in expensive markets. Most US jurisdictions charge a valuation-based fee of roughly 0.5–2% of project value, plus plan-review and per-trade permit minimums.
What determines building permit cost?
Project valuation drives the fee: most cities charge a percentage (commonly 0.5–2%) of the declared construction value, plus flat plan-review fees and minimums per trade permit (electrical, plumbing, mechanical). Bigger scope and pricier markets mean higher fees.
Does every remodeling project need a permit?
No. Structural work, electrical, plumbing, additions, decks, and roofing require permits almost everywhere. Cosmetic work — painting, flooring, countertops, same-layout cabinet swaps — generally does not. Rules vary by city, so check your local guide below.
Are permit fees included in a contractor's bid?
They should be, as a visible line item. A bid that omits permit fees is understating the real project cost — and a contractor who proposes skipping permits is creating resale and liability problems that land on you, not them.

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Data sources: Zonda Cost vs Value 2025; Houzz 2024 Cost Guides; BLS OEWS 2023; FRED regional price indices; Reddit homeowner & contractor reports.

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