Permit Fees Collected by Building and Safety

The following fees are associated with Building Permit services rendered directly to customers:

Application Fee:

An application fee is assessed for all building permit applications for projects that require a review of the project plans.  Single trade permits for small projects, such as water heater change-outs, furnace change-outs, residential electrical panel upgrades, and similar small projects, which are not required to have plans for B&S review, are not assessed an application fee.

An application fee is collected when the application is received by B&S.  This fee is later credited to the project when the Plan Review fees are collected and the plans are submitted for B&S review.

The Application Fee amount can be found in Section A of the current adopted B&S Fee Schedule.

Plan Review Fee:

A Plan Review fee is assessed for all projects which require construction plans/drawings for review and approval by Building and Safety, such as room additions, large remodels, new buildings and structures, swimming pools and other accessory structures, and large Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) installations.

Plan Review fees are collected at the time of submittal of the plans for review by B&S.

Plan review fees may also apply to the review of projects with buildings located in Flood Zones and Hazardous Fire Areas, or buildings subject to State provisions for energy conservation, disabled access, and/or green building sustainability.

The plan review fee for the structural and architectural systems in a building is calculated as a percentage of the permit fee for the project.  Plan Review fees for MEP installations are calculated as a percentage of the permit fees for each of the respective trades.  For example, the Plan Review fee for the electrical system is a percentage of the electrical permit fee and not the entire Building Permit fee.  The same applies to Plumbing and Mechanical Plan Review fees.

The Plan Review Fees (sometimes referred to as “Plan Check Fees”) can be found in Section B of the current adopted B&S Fee Schedule.

Building Permit Fees:

Fees for building inspections conducted during construction of a project are referred to in the B&S Fee Schedule as “Building Permit Fees.”  The calculation of these fees is based on the estimated value of the project.  The estimated value of a project is called the “Project Valuation” in the B&S Fee Schedule. Its determination is based on the average estimated total construction cost if the project was constructed by a licensed contractor.

Building Permit (Inspection) fees may include surcharges for inspection of systems or building features regulated by the State of California for buildings in Flood Zones and Hazardous Fire Areas, or buildings subject to State provisions for energy conservation, disabled access, and/or green building sustainability.

Building permit (Inspection) fees are collected when the permit is issued by B&S.

You can use our current B&S Fee Tables for a quick reference to Building Permit fees for projects with a known estimated valuation of up to $1 million.  For projects with larger valuations, you can calculate an estimate of fees using the County’s Fee Estimator Tool. For a more comprehensive listing of fees that may apply to your project, please see the County’s adopted B&S B&S Fee Schedule.

Plumbing Permit Fees:

Plumbing Permit fees are based on the type and number of plumbing fixtures installed.  For new gas, water, or sewer lines on private property, the fees are based on linear feet of line installed.

Fees for plumbing systems in new buildings are typically based on the square footage of the building with some exceptions.

Plumbing permit (Inspection) fees are collected when the permit is issued by B&S.

A complete listing of fees for various plumbing fixture types can be found in Section F of the current adopted B&S Fee Schedule.

Mechanical Permit Fees:

Mechanical Permit fees are based on the type, size, and number of HVAC units, fans, or equipment installed and the number of outlets or registers in the system.

Fees for mechanical systems in new buildings are based on the square footage of the building with some exceptions.

Mechanical permit (Inspection) fees are collected when the permit is issued by B&S.

A complete listing of fees for various mechanical equipment types can be found in Section G of the current adopted B&S Fee Schedule.

Electrical Permit Fees:

Electrical Permit fees are based on the type, size, and a number of electrical fixtures and equipment installed and the number of outlets and switches in the system.

Fees for electrical systems in new buildings are based on the square footage of the building with some exceptions.

Electrical permit (Inspection) fees are collected when the permit is issued by B&S.

A complete listing of fees for various electrical equipment types and installations can be found in Section E of the current adopted B&S Fee Schedule.

Special B&S Permit Fees:

Fees for Special Permits intended for special uses or projects that require special consideration or requirements can be found in Section C of the current adopted B&S Fee Schedule.  These include permits for projects such as:

• Demolition of existing buildings or structures
• Manufactured homes and commercial coaches
• Antennas and equipment for telecommunication
• Agricultural buildings under 3,000 square feet
• Annual Maintenance Permits

Permit (Inspection) fees for Special Permits are collected when the permit is issued by B&S.

Issuance Fee:

An issuance fee is collected at the time the permit is issued.  The amount of this fee is based on whether the permit being issued is a Combination (multi-trade) permit or a single-trade permit.  The amount of this fee can be found in Section A of the current adopted B&S Fee Schedule.

Other B&S Service Fees:

A complete listing of other B&S services offered by the Building and Safety Division, and corresponding fees, can be found in Section D of the current adopted B&S Fee Schedule.