BuildingPermitCost How Palo Alto 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: 125% of the permit fee.
The fee table
Single-family / duplex residential (by square footage)
| Floor area | Fee |
|---|---|
| 0 sq ft – 6,999 sq ft | $685.00 to $8,565.00, read from the table (15 steps) |
Show the full table (15 rows)
| 0 sq ft – 250 sq ft | $685.00 |
| 250 sq ft – 500 sq ft | $1,370.00 |
| 500 sq ft – 1,000 sq ft | $1,541.00 |
| 1,000 sq ft – 1,500 sq ft | $2,569.00 |
| 1,500 sq ft – 2,000 sq ft | $2,912.00 |
| 2,000 sq ft – 2,500 sq ft | $5,139.00 |
| 2,500 sq ft – 3,000 sq ft | $5,311.00 |
| 3,000 sq ft – 3,500 sq ft | $5,824.00 |
| 3,500 sq ft – 4,000 sq ft | $5,996.00 |
| 4,000 sq ft – 4,500 sq ft | $6,167.00 |
| 4,500 sq ft – 5,000 sq ft | $6,338.00 |
| 5,000 sq ft – 5,500 sq ft | $6,852.00 |
| 5,500 sq ft – 6,000 sq ft | $7,537.00 |
| 6,000 sq ft – 6,500 sq ft | $7,880.00 |
| 6,500 sq ft – 6,999 sq ft | $8,565.00 |
Multi-family and commercial (valuation)
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 – $2,000 | $1,370.00 |
| $2,001 – $25,000 | $1,370.00 for the first $2,000 + $29.79 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 – $50,000 | $2,056.00 for the first $25,000 + $41.11 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | $2,083.00 for the first $50,000 + $23.98 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 – $500,000 | $4,282.00 for the first $100,000 + $8.56 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 – $1,000,000 | $7,709.00 for the first $500,000 + $18.84 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $1,000,001 – $5,000,000 | $17,131.00 for the first $1,000,000 + $8.56 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $5,000,001 – $10,000,000 | $51,394.00 for the first $5,000,000 + $6.85 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $10,000,001 – $25,000,000 | $85,657.00 for the first $10,000,000 + $2.28 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,000,001 – $50,000,000 | $114,657.00 for the first $25,000,000 + $2.06 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $50,000,000 | $171,313.00 for the first $50,000,000 + $1.02 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
Added to every matching permit
- Base fee (single-family/duplex): a fee table based on floor area (Residential)
- Construction & Demolition (C&D) fee: a fee table based on project value (Residential)
Surcharges
- Planning/Zoning plan check: 35% of the permit fee
- Public Works plan check: 35% of the permit fee
- Planning/Zoning plan check (commercial): 15% of the permit fee
- Public Works plan check (commercial): 15% of the permit fee
- SB 1473 fee: $1.00 per $25,000 of value, minimum $1.00
- Strong Motion Instrument Program (residential): $0.14 per $1,000 of value, minimum $0.50
- Strong Motion Instrument Program (commercial): $0.29 per $1,000 of value, minimum $0.50
What counts as project value
Floor area (square feet). Single-family and duplex building inspection fees are set by square footage; multi-family and commercial by construction valuation. The schedule notes fees are based on 'construction valuation (commercial), square footage (residential)'. How valuation is determined (for SB 1473, SMIP, C&D and commercial) is not stated.
Worked example: a $350,000 new home
- Building permit fee: table value for 2,400 sq ft: $5,139.00 = $5,139.00
- Plan review fee: 125% of $5,139.00 = $6,423.75
- Base fee (single-family/duplex): table value for 2,400 sq ft: $1,277.00 = $1,277.00
- Construction & Demolition (C&D) fee: table value for $350,000.00: $579.00 = $579.00
- Planning/Zoning plan check: 35% of $5,139.00 = $1,798.65
- Public Works plan check: 35% of $5,139.00 = $1,798.65
- SB 1473 fee: $1.00 × 14 per $25,000.00 = $14.00
- Strong Motion Instrument Program (residential): $350,000.00 ÷ 1,000 × $0.14 = $47.25
- Total before trade permits: $17,077.30.
Fees people miss
May also apply (not in the totals above)
- Fire and Life Safety plan check (single-family/duplex): when the permit receives a Fire and Life Safety plan check (the schedule does not say which residential permits do); $109.60 on the standard projects.
- Certificate of Use and Occupancy (included in associated building permit): when a certificate of use and occupancy is issued with the permit (typically new construction); $196.00 on the standard projects.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Work without a permitWhen: work started without permit | 2 x building permit fee and plan review fee |
| Extension of building permit or applicationWhen: extension requested | $274.00 per extension |
| RevisionsWhen: plan revisions | $725.00 base fee per application |
| Hourly building plan review rateWhen: additional review time | $362.00 per hour |
| Deferred submittalWhen: deferred submittal | $725.00 base fee per application |
How to apply
- Gather your plans and your project's total value and floor area.
- Submit to Planning and Development Services - Development Services (Building).
- Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.