BuildingPermitCost How Buena Park calculates your permit fee
The city charges a building permit fee using a fee table based on project value, plus a $25.00 application fee, with a $65.00 minimum. Plan review is a separate charge: 85% of the permit fee (minimum $82.00). Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work gets its own permits.
The fee table
New commercial, industrial and residential
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 – $500 | $65.00 |
| $501 – $2,000 | $65.00 for the first $500 + $4.00 per additional $100 or fraction |
| $2,001 – $25,000 | $125.00 for the first $2,000 + $15.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 – $50,000 | $470.00 for the first $25,000 + $11.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | $745.00 for the first $50,000 + $8.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 – $500,000 | $1,145.00 for the first $100,000 + $5.50 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 – $1,000,000 | $3,345.00 for the first $500,000 + $5.15 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $1,000,000 | $5,920.00 for the first $1,000,000 + $4.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
Plus an application fee of $25.00.
Additions, alterations, tenant improvements
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 – $500 | $65.00 |
| $501 – $2,000 | $65.00 for the first $500 + $4.00 per additional $100 or fraction |
| $2,001 – $25,000 | $125.00 for the first $2,000 + $15.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 – $50,000 | $470.00 for the first $25,000 + $11.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | $745.00 for the first $50,000 + $8.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 – $500,000 | $1,145.00 for the first $100,000 + $5.50 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 – $1,000,000 | $3,345.00 for the first $500,000 + $5.15 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $1,000,000 | $5,920.00 for the first $1,000,000 + $4.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
Plus an application fee of $25.00.
Surcharges
- Electrical permit fee (new construction): 10% of the permit fee
- Plumbing permit fee (new construction): 6% of the permit fee
- Mechanical permit fee (new construction): 6% of the permit fee
- General Plan Maintenance surcharge: 4% of the permit fee
- Records Retention Fee, each permit issued: $1.50
What counts as project value
Higher of your bid or the valuation table. Table A is 'Based on Building Valuation as Determined by the Building Official or Data Published by the International Code Council'. Per CBC 109.3, the applicant's estimate includes total value of work (materials and labor); final valuation is set by the building official.
Worked example: a $350,000 new home
- Building permit fee: $1,145.00 for the first $100,000.00 + $5.50 × 250 per $1,000.00 over = $2,520.00
- Application fee: fixed = $25.00
- Plan review fee: 85% of $2,520.00 = $2,142.00
- Electrical permit fee (new construction): 10% of $2,520.00 = $252.00
- Plumbing permit fee (new construction): 6% of $2,520.00 = $151.20
- Mechanical permit fee (new construction): 6% of $2,520.00 = $151.20
- General Plan Maintenance surcharge: 4% of $2,520.00 = $100.80
- Records Retention Fee, each permit issued: fixed = $1.50
- Total before trade permits: $5,343.70.
Fees people miss
May also apply (not in the totals above)
- California Energy Conservation Compliance: when the project must show California Energy Code compliance (typical for new homes and additions); $47.00 on the standard projects.
- NPDES requirements fee: when the project is subject to NPDES stormwater requirements; $47.00 on the standard projects.
- Certificate of Occupancy: when a certificate of occupancy is issued (typically new homes); $47.00 on the standard projects.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Plan review, standard production units after modelWhen: production unit after model reviewed | $30.00 % of building permit fee |
| Additional plan review (re-checks, revisions)When: re-check or revision | $164.00 per hour, one-hour minimum |
| Re-inspectionWhen: re-inspection required | $130.00 each |
| Work without permitWhen: work started without permit | 2x regular permit fee |
| Temporary power pole (main pole)When: temporary power | $65.00 each |
| Records retention fee, per sheet of permitted drawings | $4.00 per sheet |
Trade permits are separate. Electrical: New construction: 10% of base building permit fee (modelled as a surcharge). Other electrical permits: Table A on project valuation; plan review greater of 85% or $82. Plumbing: New construction: 6% of base building permit fee. Other: Table A on project valuation. Mechanical: New construction: 6% of base building permit fee. Other: Table A on project valuation.
How to apply
- Gather your plans and your project's total value.
- Submit to Community Development Department, Building Division through Citizen Access.
- Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.