BuildingPermitCost How San Mateo calculates your permit fee
The city charges a building permit fee using a fee table based on project value, with a $288.95 minimum. Plan review is a separate charge: 70% of the permit fee. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work gets its own permits.
The fee table
Single family/duplex residential permit and inspection
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 – $500 | $288.95 |
| $501 – $2,000 | $288.95 for the first $500 + $12.84 per additional $100 or fraction |
| $2,001 – $25,000 | $500.86 for the first $2,000 + $22.33 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 – $50,000 | $1,065.98 for the first $25,000 + $28.48 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | $1,849.38 for the first $50,000 + $21.94 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 – $250,000 | $3,056.64 for the first $100,000 + $14.16 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $250,001 – $500,000 | $5,394.10 for the first $250,000 + $7.75 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 – $1,000,000 | $7,526.03 for the first $500,000 + $6.96 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $1,000,000 | $11,353.31 for the first $1,000,000 + $3.48 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
Commercial building permit and inspection
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 – $500 | $288.95 |
| $501 – $2,000 | $288.95 for the first $500 + $12.84 per additional $100 or fraction |
| $2,001 – $25,000 | $500.86 for the first $2,000 + $30.96 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 – $50,000 | $1,284.27 for the first $25,000 + $25.68 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | $1,990.66 for the first $50,000 + $29.65 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 – $500,000 | $3,621.74 for the first $100,000 + $8.87 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 – $1,000,000 | $7,526.03 for the first $500,000 + $10.55 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $1,000,001 – $5,000,000 | $13,331.17 for the first $1,000,000 + $1.64 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $5,000,001 – $10,000,000 | $20,549.09 for the first $5,000,000 + $2.60 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $10,000,001 – $25,000,000 | $34,830.84 for the first $10,000,000 + $1.39 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,000,001 – $50,000,000 | $57,743.26 for the first $25,000,000 + $1.04 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,000,001 – $75,000,000 | $86,306.76 for the first $50,000,000 + $1.04 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $75,000,000 | $114,870.26 for the first $75,000,000 + $0.52 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
Surcharges
- Planning support fee (plan check/inspection): 10% of the permit fee, minimum $210.00
- Park plan check and inspection services: 0.05% of the project value
- General Plan maintenance fee: 0.59% of the project value
- Technology fee: 0.15% of the project value
- Building Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund (state): $1.00 per $25,000 of value
What counts as project value
ICC Building Valuation Data table. 'Valuation shall be determined based upon the International Code Council's most recently published Building Valuation Table with a regional cost modifier of 2.93.' Valuation includes all trades (building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing).
Worked example: a $350,000 new home
- Building permit fee: $5,394.10 for the first $250,000.00 + $7.75 × 100 per $1,000.00 over = $6,169.10
- Plan review fee: 70% of $6,169.10 = $4,318.37
- Planning support fee (plan check/inspection): 10% of $6,169.10 = $616.91
- Park plan check and inspection services: 0.05% of $350,000.00 = $175.00
- General Plan maintenance fee: 0.59% of $350,000.00 = $2,065.00
- Technology fee: 0.15% of $350,000.00 = $525.00
- Building Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund (state): $1.00 × 14 per $25,000.00 = $14.00
- Total before trade permits: $13,883.38.
Fees people miss
May also apply (not in the totals above)
- Planning support fee (plan check/inspection): when the project requires a planning application or Planning Division review; $210.00 on the standard projects.
- Public Works support fee: when the project relates to an approved Planning Application; $253.61 on the standard projects.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Park and Recreation tax on residential building permits | $0.30 per $100 valuation |
| Strong motion instrumentation and seismic hazard mapping (state) | see notes |
| Fire plan check (San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department) | per occurrence |
| Plan review for changes/revisions or more than two rechecksWhen: plan changes or more than two rechecks | $294.87 per hour (min 1/2 hour) |
| Reinspection feeWhen: reinspection required | $282.78 per hour (min 1 hour) |
| Inspections outside normal business hoursWhen: after-hours inspection | $282.78 per hour (min 2 hours) |
| Reactivation fee for expired permitsWhen: expired permit reactivated | $176.04 each |
| Construction without a permitWhen: work started before permit issued | minimum 100% of applicable building permit fees |
| Violation of stop work orderWhen: stop work order violated | $282.78 per occurrence |
| Credit/debit card service feeWhen: paying by card | 2.6%+ |
Trade permits are separate. Electrical: Separate electrical permit fees in the Building Division schedule; not extracted. Plumbing: Not extracted. Mechanical: Not extracted.
How to apply
- Gather your plans and your project's total value.
- Submit to Community Development, Building Division through CSS Online Permit Center.
- Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.
- Questions: 650-522-7172 · 330 W 20th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94403