BuildingPermitCost How Dublin calculates your permit fee
The city charges a building permit fee using a fee table based on project value, with a $52.00 minimum. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work gets its own permits.
The fee table
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 – $500 | $52.00 |
| $501 – $1,000 | $186.00 |
| $1,001 – $2,000 | $244.00 |
| $2,001 – $3,000 | $295.00 |
| $3,001 – $4,000 | $336.00 |
| $4,001 – $5,000 | $402.00 |
| $5,001 – $10,000 | $402.00 for the first $5,000 + $86.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $10,001 – $50,000 | $835.00 for the first $10,000 + $43.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | $2,582.00 for the first $50,000 + $49.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 – $500,000 | $5,093.00 for the first $100,000 + $29.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 – $1,000,000 | $17,190.00 for the first $500,000 + $16.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $1,000,001 – $5,000,000 | $25,706.00 for the first $1,000,000 + $14.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $5,000,001 – $10,000,000 | $86,646.00 for the first $5,000,000 + $10.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $10,000,000 | $142,908.00 for the first $10,000,000 + $10.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
Surcharges
- Technology Surcharge: 2% of the permit fee
- California Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (SMIP), residential: $0.13 per $1,000 of value
- California Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (SMIP), non-residential: $0.28 per $1,000 of value
- California Building Standards Commission Green Building Valuation Surcharge: $1.00 per $25,000 of value
What counts as project value
Not stated in the schedule. Section 7.1: 'The determination of the valuation and annual adjustments to the valuation shall be made by the Building Official as authorized in Dublin Municipal Code section 7.28.430(E).' The schedule does not say whether a valuation table or contract price is used.
Worked example: a $350,000 new home
- Building permit fee: $5,093.00 for the first $100,000.00 + $29.00 × 250 per $1,000.00 over = $12,343.00
- Technology Surcharge: 2% of $12,343.00 = $246.86
- California Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (SMIP), residential: $350,000.00 ÷ 1,000 × $0.13 = $45.50
- California Building Standards Commission Green Building Valuation Surcharge: $1.00 × 14 per $25,000.00 = $14.00
- Total before trade permits: $12,649.36.
Fees people miss
May also apply (not in the totals above)
- Low Carbon Concrete Surcharge: when specific projects subject to the low carbon concrete rules; $24.12 on the standard projects.
- Expediting fee: when expediting approved by the Building Official; $0.00 on the standard projects.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Demolition permits and removal of underground tanksWhen: demolition or tank removal | 50% of the valuation-table fee |
| Master Plan Check table, single-family detached tract housingWhen: tract housing using a Master Plan Check | $4,380.00 first $100,000; $12 per additional $1,000 to $500,000; $9,510 first $500,000 plus $6 per additional $1,000 |
| Re-inspection feeWhen: re-inspection required | $248.00 each |
| After-hours serviceWhen: service outside regular working hours | $350.00 per hour, 4-hour minimum |
| Temporary Certificate of OccupancyWhen: TCO requested | $267.00 per application |
| Building & Safety composite hourly rate (T&M)When: additional plan checking, plan revisions, alternate methods and other T&M work | $305.00 per hour |
| Credit card transaction feeWhen: payment by credit card | 3% of transaction |
| Construction debris & demolition, bondedWhen: construction and demolition debris program (Section 7.5); applicability to a typical permit not stated | $541.00 per application |
Trade permits are separate. Electrical: Residential flat fees per item (e.g. first circuit $241, each additional $23, first panel $219); otherwise valuation table. Plumbing: Residential flat fees (plumbing fixture $217, water piping system $271, gas piping $319). Mechanical: Residential HVAC system $262; non-residential in-kind HVAC first unit $917, each additional $180.
Will fees go up?
The schedule provides for a 3.1% adjustment each July 1 (start of fiscal year). FY 2026-27 schedule adjusted by CPI change Dec 2024-Dec 2025 (+3.10%); values stored are the 7/1/26 column.
How to apply
- Gather your plans and your project's total value.
- Submit to City of Dublin Building & Safety Division.
- Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.