Building Permit Fees in Tuscaloosa, AL (2026)

What common projects cost

Kitchen or bath remodel

$25,000 value, remodel 300 sq ft

$87.50

$87.50 building permit

Room addition

$75,000 value, addition 400 sq ft

$262.50

$262.50 building permit

New single-family home

$350,000 value, new single-family 2,400 sq ft

$1,225.00

$1,225.00 building permit

How Tuscaloosa calculates your permit fee

The city charges a building permit fee using $3.50 per $1,000 of project value.

The fee table

Residential (new construction, additions, repair/remodel)

$3.50 per $1,000 of project value.

Commercial

$12.21 per $1,000 of project value.

What counts as project value

Local valuation table. Residential new construction valuation: heated area $163.00/sf and unheated area $23.20/sf. Commercial new construction: ICC Building Valuation Data tables by square footage and construction type. Repair/remodel (both): defined by contract/estimate and validated according to ICC Building Valuation Data tables.

Worked example: a $350,000 new home

Building permit fee: $350,000.00 ÷ 1,000 × $3.50 = $1,225.00
Total before trade permits: $1,225.00.

Fees people miss

Fee	Amount
Water and sewer feesWhen: new or changed water/sewer service	see Water & Sewer Service Fees

How to apply

Gather your plans and your project's total value.
Submit to City of Tuscaloosa Building & Inspections through BluePrince Contractor Portal.
Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.
Questions: 311 (205-248-5311) · 2201 University Boulevard, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

Source record

Effective: not stated
Verified: 2026-11-05
Issuer: City of Tuscaloosa Building & Inspections
Valuation: Local valuation table
Confidence: medium

Apply for a Permit (Building & Inspections), 'Permit fees' section, Updated September 19, 2025

What this page does not cover (3)

No effective date; the fee section says 'Updated September 19, 2025'. No ordinance cited.
Residential new construction valuation uses $163.00/sf heated plus $23.20/sf unheated area; the calculator takes valuation and has no unheated-area input.
No plan review fee, minimum fee, or trade permit fees are stated on the page.

Separate electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire, impact, utility and school fees are usually not included unless they are listed. BuildingPermitCost is not a government permit office, and this is not legal advice.

Report an error · How we verify fees

How Tuscaloosa compares

A $25,000 remodel costs $87.50 in Tuscaloosa: 77% below the national median of $380.00, and the lowest of 7 places we cover in Alabama (state median $232.00).

A $75,000 addition costs $262.50 in Tuscaloosa: 68% below the national median of $820.58, and the lowest of 7 places we cover in Alabama (state median $607.00).

A $350,000 new home costs $1,225.00 in Tuscaloosa: 58% below the national median of $2,918.63, and the 2nd lowest of 7 places we cover in Alabama (state median $1,782.00).

Same standard projects everywhere, including plan review and required surcharges. All Alabama places · Compare side by side

Tuscaloosa permit fee FAQ

How much is a building permit in Tuscaloosa, AL?

A $25,000 remodel: $87.50. A $75,000 addition: $262.50. A $350,000 new single-family: $1,225.00. These include every fee the schedule applies to that project; trade permits are separate.

How does Tuscaloosa determine project value?

Local valuation table. Residential new construction valuation: heated area $163.00/sf and unheated area $23.20/sf. Commercial new construction: ICC Building Valuation Data tables by square footage and construction type. Repair/remodel (both): defined by contract/estimate and validated according to ICC Building Valuation Data tables.

When did these Tuscaloosa fees take effect?

The schedule does not state an effective date. We last checked it against the official source on Nov 5, 2026.