BuildingPermitCost How San Diego County calculates your permit fee
The county 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
Single Family Dwelling/Duplex (plan check submittal)
| Floor area | Fee |
|---|---|
| Over 0 sq ft | $2,547.00 + $0.22 per additional sq ft or fraction |
Addition to SFD/Duplex requiring plan check submittal (larger than 100 sf)
| Floor area | Fee |
|---|---|
| Over 0 sq ft | $1,466.00 + $0.76 per additional sq ft or fraction |
Major SFD remodel, no additional square footage
A flat $1,896.00.
Project types not listed in the schedule (valuation-based), e.g. commercial buildings
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 – $10,000 | $374.00 |
| $10,001 – $50,000 | $374.00 for the first $10,000 + $1.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | $414.50 for the first $50,000 + $4.50 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 – $500,000 | $639.50 for the first $100,000 + $3.50 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 – $1,000,000 | $2,039.50 for the first $500,000 + $3.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $1,000,000 | $3,539.50 for the first $1,000,000 + $2.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
What counts as project value
Floor area (square feet). Listed residential permit types are priced as a fixed base plus a rate per square foot (separate plan review and permit fees). Project types not listed in the schedule are charged by total valuation using the 'Schedule of Building Permit Fees Based on Valuation'; the schedule does not say how valuation is determined.
Worked example: a $350,000 new home
- Building permit fee: $2,547.00 for the first 0 sq ft + $0.22 × 2,400 per sq ft over = $3,079.80
- Plan review fee: $2,310.00 for the first 0 sq ft + $0.36 × 2,400 per sq ft over = $3,166.80
- Total before trade permits: $6,246.60.
Fees people miss
May also apply (not in the totals above)
- Disabled accessibility inspection: when work subject to Title 24 disabled accessibility standards; $189.60 on the standard projects.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Re-inspection/progress inspectionWhen: re-inspection | $205.00 each |
| Address assignment with building permitWhen: new address needed | $171.00 each |
| Microfilming/records retention base feeWhen: records retention | $8.20 base, plus $2.10 per page / $40 plans flat |
| Plan review extension (expired plan review)When: plans resubmitted after plan review expiration | 25% of plan review fee |
| Green Building Program fee reductionWhen: voluntary participation in Green Building Program (Board Policy F-50) | -7.5% of plan check and permit fees |
| Missed appointment feeWhen: missed or late-cancelled plan submittal appointment | $282.00 each |
| Disabled accessibility plan reviewWhen: plans reviewed for Title 24 disabled accessibility compliance | additional 10% of the plan review fee |
Trade permits are separate. Electrical: Electrical only $392; electrical + plumbing or + mechanical $498; electrical, plumbing and mechanical $734. Plumbing: Plumbing only $392; plumbing and mechanical $498. Mechanical: Mechanical only $392.
How to apply
- Gather your plans and your project's total value and floor area.
- Submit to County of San Diego Planning & Development Services.
- Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.
- Questions: (858) 565-5920 · 5510 Overland Ave, Suite 110, San Diego, CA 92123