Building Permit Fees in Garden Grove, CA (2026)

What common projects cost

Kitchen or bath remodel

$25,000 value, remodel 300 sq ft

$1,095.91

$578.99 building permit + $64.00 application + $376.34 plan review + $45.75 general plan and cultural arts + $10.00 building permit software + $5.00 building permit document retention + $11.58 one-stop construction services center surcharge + $3.25 strong motion instrumentation program (residential up to 3 stories) + $1.00 state building standards administrative special revolving fund fee (sb 1473)

Room addition

$75,000 value, addition 400 sq ft

$2,481.17

$1,351.00 building permit + $64.00 application + $878.15 plan review + $133.25 general plan and cultural arts + $10.00 building permit software + $5.00 building permit document retention + $27.02 one-stop construction services center surcharge + $9.75 strong motion instrumentation program (residential up to 3 stories) + $3.00 state building standards administrative special revolving fund fee (sb 1473)

New single-family home

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

$7,765.33

$4,199.00 building permit + $64.00 application + $2,729.35 plan review + $614.50 general plan and cultural arts + $10.00 building permit software + $5.00 building permit document retention + $83.98 one-stop construction services center surcharge + $45.50 strong motion instrumentation program (residential up to 3 stories) + $14.00 state building standards administrative special revolving fund fee (sb 1473)

How Garden Grove calculates your permit fee

The city charges a building permit fee using a fee table based on project value, plus a $64.00 application fee, with a $145.00 minimum. Plan review is a separate charge: 65% of the permit fee (minimum $60.00). Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work gets its own permits.

The fee table

Project value	Fee
$1 – $2,000	$145.00
$2,001 – $25,000	$144.75 for the first $2,000 + $18.88 per additional $1,000 or fraction
$25,001 – $50,000	$579.00 for the first $25,000 + $23.16 per additional $1,000 or fraction
$50,001 – $100,000	$1,158.00 for the first $50,000 + $7.72 per additional $1,000 or fraction
$100,001 – $500,000	$1,544.00 for the first $100,000 + $10.62 per additional $1,000 or fraction
$500,001 – $1,000,000	$5,790.00 for the first $500,000 + $4.63 per additional $1,000 or fraction
Over $1,000,000	$8,106.00 for the first $1,000,000 + $4.40 per additional $1,000 or fraction

Plus an application fee of $64.00.

Added to every matching permit

General Plan and Cultural Arts Fee: a fee table based on project value (All projects)

Surcharges

Building Permit Software Fee: $10.00
Building Permit Document Retention Fee: $5.00
One-Stop Construction Services Center Surcharge: 2% of the permit fee
Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (residential up to 3 stories): $0.13 per $1,000 of value
Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (all other): $0.28 per $1,000 of value
State Building Standards Administrative Special Revolving Fund Fee (SB 1473): $1.00 per $25,000 of value

What counts as project value

Not stated in the schedule. The building permit fee table is by 'Total Valuation'. The user fee schedule does not say how valuation is determined for the building permit table (the General Plan and Cultural Arts Fee refers to 'valuation as determined by the Building Official'). A separate valuation table PDF may exist on the Building & Safety pages (not read).

Worked example: a $350,000 new home

Building permit fee: $1,544.00 for the first $100,000.00 + $10.62 × 250 per $1,000.00 over = $4,199.00
Application fee: fixed = $64.00
Plan review fee: 65% of $4,199.00 = $2,729.35
General Plan and Cultural Arts Fee: $2.00 for the first $0.00 + $1.75 × 350 per $1,000.00 over = $614.50
Building Permit Software Fee: fixed = $10.00
Building Permit Document Retention Fee: fixed = $5.00
One-Stop Construction Services Center Surcharge: 2% of $4,199.00 = $83.98
Strong Motion Instrumentation Program (residential up to 3 stories): $350,000.00 ÷ 1,000 × $0.13 = $45.50
State Building Standards Administrative Special Revolving Fund Fee (SB 1473): $1.00 × 14 per $25,000.00 = $14.00
Total before trade permits: $7,765.33.

Fees people miss

May also apply (not in the totals above)

Plan review increase - state green building standards: when project subject to state green building standards (typical new house); $37.63 on the standard projects.
Plan review increase - state energy conservation standards: when project subject to state energy conservation standards (typical new house); $37.63 on the standard projects.
Plan review increase - state disabled access standards: when building subject to state disabled access standards; $37.63 on the standard projects.
Plan review increase - flood hazard overlay zone: when project located in a flood hazard overlay zone; $7.53 on the standard projects.
Planning plan check - single family residential (up to three houses): when Planning Division plan check; schedule does not say it applies to every building permit; $50.00 on the standard projects.
Engineering plan check for private projects - single family residential (up to three houses): when Engineering plan check for private projects; schedule does not say it applies to every building permit; $55.00 on the standard projects.

Fee	Amount
Issuance Fee for Combination PermitWhen: combination permit instead of single permit	$97.00 each
Supplemental Permit Issuance FeeWhen: supplemental permit	$32.00 each
Plan Retention FeeWhen: per plan sheet retained	$4.00 per sheet
Planning Document Retention FeeWhen: planning documents	$35.00 each
Reinspection feeWhen: reinspection	$193.00 each
Supplemental Plan ReviewWhen: supplemental review	$193.00 per hour (one hour minimum)
Overtime Inspection FeeWhen: inspection outside business hours	$232.00 per hour (two hour minimum)

Trade permits are separate. Electrical: Electrical plan review 85% of building permit fee ($97 min.); itemized electrical fees not extracted. Mechanical: Mechanical plan check 85% of building permit fee ($97 min.); itemized fees not extracted. Plumbing: Plumbing plan check 85% of building permit fee ($97 min.); building sewer first 100 ft $37, each additional 100 ft $12; other items not extracted.

How to apply

Gather your plans and your project's total value.
Submit to Community and Economic Development - Building & Safety.
Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.
Questions: 714-741-5000 · 11222 Acacia Parkway, Garden Grove, CA 92840

Source record

Effective: 2026-06-09
Verified: 2026-11-04
Issuer: Community and Economic Development - Building & Safety
Valuation: Not stated in the schedule
Confidence: medium

What this page does not cover (4)

Valuation method not stated in the user fee schedule (no reference to ICC BVD or a local valuation table)
Plan review increases of 10% each for state green building and energy conservation standards would apply to a typical new house; kept conditional because the base (plan review fee vs permit fee) and applicability need confirmation
Planning plan check (20%, max $50) and Engineering plan check (15%, max $55) for single-family residential are listed in other sections; unclear whether they are charged on every building permit
Itemized electrical, plumbing and mechanical fees not 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 Garden Grove compares

A $25,000 remodel costs $1,095.91 in Garden Grove: about 2.9 times the national median of $380.00, and the 18th lowest of 43 places we cover in California (state median $1,263.01).

A $75,000 addition costs $2,481.17 in Garden Grove: about 3 times the national median of $820.58, and the 22nd highest of 45 places we cover in California (state median $2,473.00).

A $350,000 new home costs $7,765.33 in Garden Grove: about 2.7 times the national median of $2,918.63, and the 22nd 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

Garden Grove permit fee FAQ

How much is a building permit in Garden Grove, CA?

A $25,000 remodel: $1,095.91. A $75,000 addition: $2,481.17. A $350,000 new single-family: $7,765.33. These include every fee the schedule applies to that project; trade permits are separate.

Is plan review included in the Garden Grove permit fee?

No. Plan review is charged separately at 65% of the permit fee (minimum $60.00).

How does Garden Grove determine project value?

Not stated in the schedule. The building permit fee table is by 'Total Valuation'. The user fee schedule does not say how valuation is determined for the building permit table (the General Plan and Cultural Arts Fee refers to 'valuation as determined by the Building Official'). A separate valuation table PDF may exist on the Building & Safety pages (not read).

Are electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits included?

No. They are separate permits. Electrical: Electrical plan review 85% of building permit fee ($97 min.); itemized electrical fees not extracted. Mechanical: Mechanical plan check 85% of building permit fee ($97 min.); itemized fees not extracted. Plumbing: Plumbing plan check 85% of building permit fee ($97 min.); building sewer first 100 ft $37, each additional 100 ft $12; other items not extracted.

When did these Garden Grove fees take effect?

The schedule is effective Jun 9, 2026 (“User Fees for Various City Services - Fee adjustments effective: 6/9/26”). We last checked it against the official source on Nov 4, 2026.