BuildingPermitCost How Lake Forest calculates your permit fee
The city charges a building permit fee using a fee table based on floor area. Plan review is a separate charge: its own fee table. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work gets its own permits.
The fee table
R-3 one & two family dwellings, new or additions
| Floor area | Fee |
|---|---|
| 0 sq ft – 100 sq ft | $493.00 |
| 100 sq ft – 500 sq ft | $888.00 |
| 500 sq ft – 1,000 sq ft | $1,184.00 |
| 1,000 sq ft – 2,000 sq ft | $1,874.00 |
| Over 2,000 sq ft | $1,874.00 for the first 2,000 sq ft + $691.00 per additional 1,000 sq ft or fraction |
R-3 residential remodels
| Floor area | Fee |
|---|---|
| 0 sq ft – 500 sq ft | $493.00 |
| 500 sq ft – 1,000 sq ft | $691.00 |
| 1,000 sq ft – 1,500 sq ft | $987.00 |
| 1,500 sq ft – 2,500 sq ft | $1,085.00 |
| Over 2,500 sq ft | $1,085.00 for the first 2,500 sq ft + $99.00 per additional 1,000 sq ft or fraction |
Added to every matching permit
- Intake / Processing fee (R-3 new or additions): a fee table based on floor area (R-3 one & two family dwellings, new or additions)
- Intake / Processing fee (R-3 remodels): a fee table based on floor area (R-3 residential remodels)
- Permit Issuance Fee: a flat $49.00 (All projects)
What counts as project value
Floor area (square feet). Building fees are fixed amounts by floor-area range and occupancy group, split into Intake/Processing, Plan Check and Permit columns, with a fee for each additional 1,000 square feet above the top range. The schedule does not use construction valuation.
Worked example: a $350,000 new home
- Building permit fee: $1,874.00 for the first 2,000 sq ft + $691.00 × 1 per 1,000 sq ft over = $2,565.00
- Plan review fee: $1,184.00 for the first 2,000 sq ft + $395.00 × 1 per 1,000 sq ft over = $1,579.00
- Intake / Processing fee (R-3 new or additions): $99.00 for the first 2,000 sq ft + $30.00 × 1 per 1,000 sq ft over = $129.00
- Permit Issuance Fee: flat fee = $49.00
- Total before trade permits: $4,322.00.
Fees people miss
May also apply (not in the totals above)
- Energy Plan Review, residential addition and/or alteration: when energy plan review required for the addition or alteration; $148.00 on the standard projects.
- Plumbing review (12% of base fees): when the permit requires plumbing review; $59.16 on the standard projects.
- Plumbing review (12% of plan check): when the permit requires plumbing review; $29.64 on the standard projects.
- Electrical review (12% of base fees): when the permit requires electrical review; $59.16 on the standard projects.
- Electrical review (12% of plan check): when the permit requires electrical review; $29.64 on the standard projects.
- Mechanical review (12% of base fees): when the permit requires mechanical review; $59.16 on the standard projects.
- Mechanical review (12% of plan check): when the permit requires mechanical review; $29.64 on the standard projects.
- Additional Fee for Air-Conditioning, residential (plan check): when the project includes air-conditioning; $543.00 on the standard projects.
- Additional Fee for Air-Conditioning, residential (permit): when the project includes air-conditioning; $543.00 on the standard projects.
- Energy Plan Review, new residential building: when energy plan review required for the new residential building; $247.00 on the standard projects.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel, minor / major | $345.00 each |
| Bathroom remodel, first full bathroom | $444.00 each |
| Re-inspection / missed inspection (after 3 missed/failed inspections)When: third re-inspection or later | $197.00 each |
| Excess plan review (after 3rd review)When: fourth plan review or later | $197.00 per hour |
| Plan check revisionsWhen: revisions submitted | $197.00 per hour |
| Work without a permit or beyond scopeWhen: work without a permit | 2x permit fee |
| Card service feeWhen: paid by card | 2.99% of payment |
Trade permits are separate. Electrical: Item fees (Intake/Plan Check/Permit columns), e.g. service meter $138 total, outlets/lights/switches 1-20 $69, residential main panel upgrade $227, residential EV charger $118. Minimum electrical inspection residential $148. Mechanical: Item fees, e.g. residential cooling/heating unit $69 each, ventilating fan $59, duct work each 10 inlets/outlets $59. Minimum mechanical inspection residential $148. Plumbing: Item fees, e.g. each plumbing fixture $39, gas piping 1-5 outlets $89, repipe $197. Minimum plumbing inspection residential $148.
How to apply
- Gather your plans and your project's total value and floor area.
- Submit to Community Development Department, Building & Safety.
- Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.