Building Permit Fees in El Monte, CA (2026)

What common projects cost

Kitchen or bath remodel

$25,000 value, remodel 300 sq ft

$1,684.48

$880.29 building permit + $51.69 application + $748.25 plan review + $3.25 strong motion (smip) - state, residential + $1.00 green - state of california (building standards fee)

Room addition

$75,000 value, addition 400 sq ft

$3,686.61

$1,957.93 building permit + $51.69 application + $1,664.24 plan review + $9.75 strong motion (smip) - state, residential + $3.00 green - state of california (building standards fee)

New single-family home

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

$10,352.51

$5,535.85 building permit + $51.69 application + $4,705.47 plan review + $45.50 strong motion (smip) - state, residential + $14.00 green - state of california (building standards fee)

How El Monte calculates your permit fee

The city charges a building permit fee using a fee table based on project value, plus a $51.69 application fee, with a $81.70 minimum. Plan review is a separate charge: 85% of the permit fee (minimum $153.50). Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work gets its own permits.

The fee table

Project value	Fee
$1 – $700	$81.70
$701 – $1,000	$122.61
$1,001 – $25,000	$122.61 for the first $1,000 + $31.57 per additional $1,000 or fraction
$25,001 – $50,000	$882.55 for the first $25,000 + $24.27 per additional $1,000 or fraction
$50,001 – $100,000	$1,498.93 for the first $50,000 + $18.36 per additional $1,000 or fraction
Over $100,000	$2,413.35 for the first $100,000 + $12.49 per additional $1,000 or fraction

Plus an application fee of $51.69.

Surcharges

Strong Motion (SMIP) - State, residential: 0.013% of the project value, minimum $0.50
Strong Motion (SMIP) - State, commercial: 0.028% of the project value, minimum $0.50
Green - State of California (building standards fee): $1.00 per $25,000 of value

What counts as project value

Not stated in the schedule. The fee is 'based on valuation of project'. The schedule prints a Square Foot Construction Costs table by 2024 IBC group and construction type (R-3 one- and two-family VB $175.92/sq ft; U utility/private garages VB $71.07; unfinished R-3 basements $31.50/sq ft; shell-only deduct 20%), but does not say whether valuation is the table value, the contract price, or the higher of the two.

Worked example: a $350,000 new home

Building permit fee: $2,413.35 for the first $100,000.00 + $12.49 × 250 per $1,000.00 over = $5,535.85
Application fee: fixed = $51.69
Plan review fee: 85% of $5,535.85 = $4,705.47
Strong Motion (SMIP) - State, residential: 0.013% of $350,000.00 = $45.50
Green - State of California (building standards fee): $1.00 × 14 per $25,000.00 = $14.00
Total before trade permits: $10,352.51.

Fees people miss

May also apply (not in the totals above)

Energy fee (State energy regulations compliance): when the work must comply with the California Energy Commission rules and regulations (typical for new homes and conditioned additions); $88.03 on the standard projects.
Disabled access fee (Title 24 accessibility): when the work must comply with the State's disabled access and adaptability requirements (Title 24); $44.01 on the standard projects.

Fee	Amount
Additional plan check due to revisions or over 2nd submittalWhen: revisions or more than two submittals	$205.02 per hour
Art in Public Places feeWhen: total valuation exceeds $500,000 or a PUD of 4 or more units	per ordinance
School fees (El Monte Union High School District and others)When: projects exceeding 500 sq ft	per sq ft
Development impact fees / gradingWhen: as assessed by Public Works / Engineering	Public Works

Trade permits are separate. Electrical: Issuance $51.69 per permit plus system fees (new single/two-family $0.31 per sq ft; multifamily $0.21 per sq ft) or branch circuit / unit fees. Electrical plan check 70% of permit fee, min $205.02. Item table not fully extracted. Mechanical: Issuance $51.69 per permit plus per-appliance fees (e.g. furnace up to 100,000 BTU $50.83). Mechanical plan check 50% of permit fee. Item table not fully extracted. Plumbing: Issuance $51.69 per permit plus $30.58 per fixture or trap; other items not extracted.

How to apply

Gather your plans and your project's total value.
Submit to Economic Development Department, Building Division online through the permit portal.
Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.
Questions: 11333 Valley Blvd, El Monte, CA 91731

Source record

Effective: 2026-07-01
Verified: 2026-11-05
Issuer: Economic Development Department, Building Division
Valuation: Not stated in the schedule
Confidence: medium

City of El Monte Building Permit Fee Schedule FY 2026/2027 (Effective 7/1/2026)

What this page does not cover (4)

Valuation method not stated: the schedule prints a square-foot construction cost table (2024 IBC groups) but not whether it, the contract price, or the higher of the two sets valuation.
Energy fee (+10% of permit fee for work required to comply with Energy Commission rules) is conditional but applies to most new homes and additions; stored as a conditional surcharge. The source includes it (and the 5% access fee) in the permit fee used for the 85% plan check; the calculator's plan check may not include it.
Art in Public Places, school fees and impact fees are outside the building permit total.
Trade permit item tables only partly extracted.

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 El Monte compares

A $25,000 remodel costs $1,684.48 in El Monte: about 4.4 times the national median of $380.00, and the 11th highest of 43 places we cover in California (state median $1,263.01).

A $75,000 addition costs $3,686.61 in El Monte: about 4.5 times the national median of $820.58, and the 12th highest of 45 places we cover in California (state median $2,473.00).

A $350,000 new home costs $10,352.51 in El Monte: about 3.5 times the national median of $2,918.63, and the 13th highest of 47 places we cover in California (state median $6,927.50).

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

El Monte permit fee FAQ

How much is a building permit in El Monte, CA?

A $25,000 remodel: $1,684.48. A $75,000 addition: $3,686.61. A $350,000 new single-family: $10,352.51. These include every fee the schedule applies to that project; trade permits are separate.

Is plan review included in the El Monte permit fee?

No. Plan review is charged separately at 85% of the permit fee (minimum $153.50).

How does El Monte determine project value?

Not stated in the schedule. The fee is 'based on valuation of project'. The schedule prints a Square Foot Construction Costs table by 2024 IBC group and construction type (R-3 one- and two-family VB $175.92/sq ft; U utility/private garages VB $71.07; unfinished R-3 basements $31.50/sq ft; shell-only deduct 20%), but does not say whether valuation is the table value, the contract price, or the higher of the two.

Are electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits included?

No. They are separate permits. Electrical: Issuance $51.69 per permit plus system fees (new single/two-family $0.31 per sq ft; multifamily $0.21 per sq ft) or branch circuit / unit fees. Electrical plan check 70% of permit fee, min $205.02. Item table not fully extracted. Mechanical: Issuance $51.69 per permit plus per-appliance fees (e.g. furnace up to 100,000 BTU $50.83). Mechanical plan check 50% of permit fee. Item table not fully extracted. Plumbing: Issuance $51.69 per permit plus $30.58 per fixture or trap; other items not extracted.

When did these El Monte fees take effect?

The schedule is effective Jul 1, 2026 (“Building Permit Fee Schedule FY 2026/2027, effective date 7/1/2026”). We last checked it against the official source on Nov 5, 2026.