BuildingPermitCost How Ontario calculates your permit fee
The city charges a building permit fee using a fee table based on project value, plus a $50.00 application fee, with a $30.00 minimum. Plan review is a separate charge: 80% of the permit fee.
The fee table
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 – $500 | $30.00 |
| $501 – $2,000 | $30.00 for the first $500 + $3.90 per additional $100 or fraction |
| $2,001 – $25,000 | $89.00 for the first $2,000 + $18.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 – $50,000 | $507.00 for the first $25,000 + $13.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | $834.00 for the first $50,000 + $9.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 – $500,000 | $1,288.00 for the first $100,000 + $7.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 – $1,000,000 | $4,193.00 for the first $500,000 + $6.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $1,000,000 | $7,273.00 for the first $1,000,000 + $4.73 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
Plus an application fee of $50.00.
Surcharges
- Earthquake (Residential) - state Strong Motion fee: 0.01% of the project value
- Earthquake (Commercial) - state Strong Motion fee: 0.021% of the project value
What counts as project value
Not stated in the schedule. Building permit fees are by valuation ('Valuation: $1 to $500' ...); the schedule does not say how valuation is determined.
Worked example: a $350,000 new home
- Building permit fee: $1,288.00 for the first $100,000.00 + $7.00 × 250 per $1,000.00 over = $3,038.00
- Application fee: fixed = $50.00
- Plan review fee: 80% of $3,038.00 = $2,430.40
- Earthquake (Residential) - state Strong Motion fee: 0.01% of $350,000.00 = $35.00
- Total before trade permits: $5,553.40.
Fees people miss
May also apply (not in the totals above)
- Building Permit (Single Family Home) - Flat Fee Review: when to a new single-family home when the Building Department applies its flat-fee review (the schedule does not say whether it replaces or adds to the valuation-based permit fee); $2,624.91 on the standard projects.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Building Permit (Multi Family Home) - Flat Fee ReviewWhen: multi-family home flat-fee review, subject to Building Department's review | $2,403.51 each |
| Building Plan Check (hourly)When: hourly plan check | $143.36 per hour |
| Exhibit/Phasing Plan CheckWhen: exhibit or phasing plan check | $286.72 per hour, 2 hour minimum |
| Expedited Plan Check Program (less than $1 million)When: expedited plan check requested | original plan check fee plus 50% |
| After Hours InspectionWhen: after-hours inspection requested | $215.04 per hour, 4 hour minimum |
| Soil Disturbance Permit - Dust ControlWhen: soil disturbance / dust control permit required | $301.00 each |
How to apply
- Gather your plans and your project's total value.
- Submit to Community Development - Building Department.
- Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.
- Questions: 909-395-2023 · 303 East B Street, Ontario, CA 91764