BuildingPermitCost How Los Angeles County calculates your permit fee
The county charges a building permit fee using a fee table based on project value, plus a $41.35 application fee, with a $65.36 minimum. Plan review is a separate charge: 85% of the permit fee (minimum $122.67). Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work gets its own permits.
The fee table
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 – $700 | $65.36 |
| $701 – $1,000 | $98.09 |
| $1,001 – $25,000 | $98.09 for the first $1,000 + $25.27 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 – $50,000 | $706.05 for the first $25,000 + $19.41 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | $1,199.14 for the first $50,000 + $14.70 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $100,000 | $1,930.69 for the first $100,000 + $9.99 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
Plus an application fee of $41.35.
Surcharges
- State Strong-Motion Instrumentation Program (SMIP), Group R: 0.013% of the project value, minimum $0.50
- State Strong-Motion Instrumentation Program (SMIP), other occupancies: 0.028% of the project value, minimum $0.50
- Plan maintenance fee: 2% of the permit fee, minimum $14.82
What counts as project value
Not stated in the schedule. Fees are based on 'total valuation' (Table 1-A). The valuation table says it 'is for reference only - for actual fees please input valuation into DAPTS'. The fee documents read do not say how the County determines valuation (contract price vs a valuation table).
Worked example: a $350,000 new home
- Building permit fee: $1,930.69 for the first $100,000.00 + $9.99 × 250 per $1,000.00 over = $4,428.19
- Application fee: fixed = $41.35
- Plan review fee: 85% of $4,428.19 = $3,763.96
- State Strong-Motion Instrumentation Program (SMIP), Group R: 0.013% of $350,000.00 = $45.50
- Plan maintenance fee: 2% of $4,428.19 = $88.56
- Total before trade permits: $8,367.56.
Fees people miss
May also apply (not in the totals above)
- Energy conservation (Title 24 energy) increase: when construction work required to comply with California Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission rules; $70.46 on the standard projects.
- Disabled access (Title 24) increase: when construction work required to comply with the State's disabled access and adaptability requirements (Title 24); $35.23 on the standard projects.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Combined building permit, one- or two-family dwelling with attached garageWhen: combined permit for a one-family or two-family dwelling and attached garage(s) (Sections 106.5.6 & 107.1) | 1.6 x building permit fee |
| Additional plan review (complexity, changes, revisions), per hourWhen: revisions or resubmittals | $164.02 per hour |
| Review of drawings in lieu of plans (Section 107.2)When: minor work without full plans | $122.67 each |
| Certificate of OccupancyWhen: when a certificate of occupancy is issued | $151.50 each |
| Investigation fee, work without permitWhen: work done without a required permit | $504.47 minimum (equal to permit fee) |
| Inspection outside normal business hoursWhen: after-hours inspection | $147.02 per hour |
| Demolition inspection (incl. sewage system termination)When: demolition permits | $244.88 each |
| Geotechnical report, site and plan reviewWhen: when geotechnical reports are required | 0.50% of valuation, min 1524.66, max 9829.51 |
| Pool/spa barrier inspectionWhen: swimming pools, spas and hot tubs | $137.95 each |
Trade permits are separate. Electrical: Separate 2026-27 County Electrical Code Fees PDF on the fee page; not extracted. Plumbing: Separate 2026-27 County Plumbing Code Fees PDF on the fee page; not extracted. Mechanical: Separate 2026-27 County Mechanical Code Fees PDF on the fee page; not extracted.
How to apply
- Gather your plans and your project's total value.
- Submit to Los Angeles County Public Works, Building and Safety Division through EPIC-LA / DAPTS.
- Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.