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National Permit Intel · 2026

How Much Is a
Building Permit?

$425–$1,650 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 $425–$1,650 in 2026, ranging from $350 in low-cost metros to $2,550 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
$400–$1,625
Albany, NY
$450–$1,825
Albuquerque, NM
$425–$1,650
Allentown, PA
$450–$1,825
Amarillo, TX
$375–$1,500
Ann Arbor, MI
$450–$1,775
Appleton, WI
$400–$1,600
Asheville, NC
$425–$1,650
Atlanta, GA
$425–$1,725
Augusta, GA
$375–$1,525
Austin, TX
$450–$1,775
Baltimore, MD
$475–$1,875
Baton Rouge, LA
$400–$1,550
Bellingham, WA
$450–$1,825
Bend, OR
$475–$1,875
Billings, MT
$400–$1,650
Birmingham, AL
$350–$1,450
Boise, ID
$425–$1,675
Boston, MA
$550–$2,175
Boulder, CO
$500–$1,975
Bridgeport, CT
$525–$2,100
Buffalo, NY
$425–$1,650
Cape Coral, FL
$400–$1,650
Cedar Rapids, IA
$400–$1,600
Charleston, SC
$400–$1,650
Charlotte, NC
$425–$1,650
Charlottesville, VA
$425–$1,725
Chattanooga, TN
$375–$1,550
Chicago, IL
$450–$1,775
Cincinnati, OH
$400–$1,625
Cleveland, OH
$400–$1,625
Colorado Springs, CO
$425–$1,675
Columbia, SC
$400–$1,550
Columbus, OH
$400–$1,625
Corpus Christi, TX
$375–$1,525
Dallas, TX
$425–$1,700
Dayton, OH
$400–$1,575
Deltona, FL
$400–$1,600
Denver, CO
$525–$2,075
Des Moines, IA
$400–$1,650
Detroit, MI
$450–$1,775
Duluth, MN
$425–$1,725
Durham, NC
$400–$1,625
El Paso, TX
$375–$1,525
Eugene, OR
$450–$1,775
Evansville, IN
$375–$1,550
Fairbanks, AK
$550–$2,175
Fayetteville, AR
$375–$1,500
Fayetteville, NC
$375–$1,525
Fort Collins, CO
$425–$1,725
Fort Wayne, IN
$400–$1,550
Fresno, CA
$450–$1,825
Gainesville, FL
$400–$1,575
Grand Rapids, MI
$400–$1,625
Green Bay, WI
$425–$1,700
Greensboro, NC
$425–$1,650
Greenville, SC
$400–$1,575
Harrisburg, PA
$425–$1,725
Hartford, CT
$450–$1,750
Honolulu, HI
$600–$2,400
Houston, TX
$400–$1,600
Huntsville, AL
$375–$1,550
Indianapolis, IN
$400–$1,600
Jackson, MS
$375–$1,500
Jacksonville, FL
$425–$1,650
Kansas City, MO
$400–$1,600
Knoxville, TN
$400–$1,550
Lafayette, LA
$375–$1,525
Lakeland, FL
$400–$1,600
Lancaster, PA
$425–$1,700
Lansing, MI
$400–$1,650
Las Vegas, NV
$450–$1,775
Lexington, KY
$400–$1,550
Lincoln, NE
$400–$1,575
Little Rock, AR
$375–$1,500
Los Angeles, CA
$600–$2,375
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY
$375–$1,525
Lubbock, TX
$375–$1,500
Madison, WI
$425–$1,725
McAllen, TX
$350–$1,450
Memphis, TN
$375–$1,500
Miami, FL
$525–$2,075
Milwaukee, WI
$425–$1,750
Minneapolis, MN
$450–$1,775
Missoula, MT
$425–$1,700
Mobile, AL
$375–$1,500
Modesto, CA
$475–$1,875
Montgomery, AL
$375–$1,500
Myrtle Beach, SC
$400–$1,600
Nashville, TN
$450–$1,775
New Haven, CT
$500–$2,025
New Orleans, LA
$450–$1,825
New York, NY
$625–$2,450
North Port, FL
$425–$1,700
Ogden, UT
$400–$1,650
Oklahoma City, OK
$375–$1,500
Olympia, WA
$450–$1,825
Omaha, NE
$400–$1,600
Orlando, FL
$425–$1,700
Oxnard, CA
$550–$2,200
Pensacola, FL
$400–$1,550
Philadelphia, PA
$475–$1,950
Phoenix, AZ
$425–$1,650
Pittsburgh, PA
$425–$1,700
Portland, OR
$500–$2,025
Poughkeepsie, NY
$475–$1,925
Providence, RI
$450–$1,750
Provo, UT
$425–$1,650
Raleigh, NC
$425–$1,700
Reno, NV
$450–$1,800
Richmond, VA
$425–$1,650
Riverside, CA
$550–$2,200
Roanoke, VA
$400–$1,600
Rochester, MN
$425–$1,725
Rochester, NY
$425–$1,725
Sacramento, CA
$500–$1,975
Salem, OR
$450–$1,775
Salinas, CA
$550–$2,200
Salt Lake City, UT
$425–$1,700
San Antonio, TX
$400–$1,600
San Diego, CA
$575–$2,275
San Francisco, CA
$625–$2,550
San Jose, CA
$625–$2,500
Santa Barbara, CA
$575–$2,300
Santa Cruz, CA
$575–$2,350
Santa Fe, NM
$450–$1,800
Santa Rosa, CA
$550–$2,225
Savannah, GA
$400–$1,575
Scranton, PA
$425–$1,650
Seattle, WA
$575–$2,275
Shreveport, LA
$375–$1,500
South Bend, IN
$400–$1,600
Spokane, WA
$425–$1,700
Springfield, MA
$475–$1,875
Springfield, MO
$375–$1,500
St. Louis, MO
$425–$1,650
Stockton, CA
$525–$2,125
Syracuse, NY
$425–$1,700
Tallahassee, FL
$375–$1,550
Tampa, FL
$425–$1,700
Toledo, OH
$400–$1,600
Trenton, NJ
$500–$2,000
Tucson, AZ
$425–$1,650
Tulsa, OK
$375–$1,525
Vallejo, CA
$525–$2,100
Virginia Beach, VA
$425–$1,650
Waco, TX
$375–$1,500
Washington, DC
$550–$2,225
Wichita, KS
$375–$1,525
Winston-Salem, NC
$400–$1,575
Worcester, MA
$500–$2,000
Youngstown, OH
$400–$1,550

Building permit costs: FAQ

How much is a building permit for a remodel?
A building permit for a mid-size remodel typically costs $425–$1,650 in 2026, ranging from $350 in low-cost metros to $2,550 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.

Permits are 1 line of your bid. Check the rest.

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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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