BuildingPermitCost How Boulder calculates your permit fee
The city charges a building permit fee using a fee table based on project value, with a $25.00 minimum. Plan review is a separate charge: 25% of the permit fee. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work gets its own permits.
The fee table
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 – $500 | $25.00 |
| $501 – $2,000 | $25.00 for the first $500 + $3.25 per additional $100 or fraction |
| $2,001 – $25,000 | $74.00 for the first $2,000 + $14.95 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 – $50,000 | $418.00 for the first $25,000 + $10.75 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | $686.00 for the first $50,000 + $7.45 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 – $500,000 | $1,059.00 for the first $100,000 + $5.95 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 – $1,000,000 | $3,447.00 for the first $500,000 + $5.05 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $1,000,000 | $5,979.00 for the first $1,000,000 + $3.85 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
Added to every matching permit
- Energy Code Fee (residential): a flat $83.90 (Residential new construction and additions)
- Energy Code Fee (commercial): a flat $104.05 (Commercial new construction and additions)
- Capital Facility Impact Fees (residential, per dwelling unit by unit size): a fee table based on floor area (New dwelling unit)
What counts as project value
Higher of your bid or the valuation table. Valuation is the higher of the City of Boulder Valuation Table (square-foot costs based on August 2025 ICC cost data) or the applicant's estimated value of the work. Scope factors applied to the table: new and additions 100%, alterations/repairs/tenant finish/basement finish 50%, core and shell 75%; unfinished basement $31.50 per sq ft. R-3 single family V-B: $170.80 per sq ft.
Worked example: a $350,000 new home
- Building permit fee: $1,059.00 for the first $100,000.00 + $5.95 × 250 per $1,000.00 over = $2,546.50
- Plan review fee: 25% of $2,546.50 = $636.63
- Energy Code Fee (residential): flat fee = $83.90
- Capital Facility Impact Fees (residential, per dwelling unit by unit size): table value for 2,400 sq ft: $10,283.00 = $10,283.00
- Total before trade permits: $13,550.03.
Fees people miss
May also apply (not in the totals above)
- Affordable Housing Fee (expansion of existing and replacement single-unit dwellings): when expansion of an existing single-unit dwelling or a replacement single-unit dwelling (applicability rules and exemptions per B.R.C. not stated on the schedule); $4,400.00 on the standard projects.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Construction and Demolition Deposit administrative feeWhen: permit requires a construction/demolition waste deposit (IBC 3601.2.3 / IRC R328.2.3) | $219.00 each |
| Reinspection FeeWhen: reinspection | $94.00 per occurrence |
| After-Hours Inspection FeeWhen: after-hours inspection | $123.00 per hour, 2-hour minimum |
| Temporary Certificate of Occupancy FeeWhen: TCO requested | $173.70 each |
| Construction use tax pre-payment | city 3.860% + county 1.335% on material valuation (50% of total valuation for building permits) |
| Work without permitWhen: work started or completed without an approved permit | building permit fee doubled |
| Development Excise Tax - TransportationWhen: new dwelling unit or new nonresidential floor area | $4,826.22 per detached dwelling unit (attached unit or mobile home $3,501.50; nonresidential $2.48 per sq ft) |
Trade permits are separate. Electrical: Residential (one- and two-unit dwellings and townhomes, new, remodels, additions) by enclosed living area: <500 sf $36.70; 500-999 sf $51.75; 1,000-1,499 sf $69.60; 1,500-1,999 sf $90.25; 2,000 sf or more $90.25 + $5.90 per 100 sf over 2,000 sf. Nonresidential/multifamily by cost of labor and materials (minimum $42.85). Mechanical: Mechanical and plumbing fees by valuation (minimum $13.60 for up to $100); not extracted. Plumbing: By plumbing valuation; not extracted.
How to apply
- Gather your plans and your project's total value.
- Submit to City of Boulder Planning & Development Services.
- Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.
- Questions: 303-441-1880 · 1101 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80302