BuildingPermitCost How South Bend / St. Joseph County calculates your permit fee
The county charges a building permit fee using $0.98 per $1,000 of project value, with a $60.00 minimum. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work gets its own permits.
The fee table
Residential new construction and additions (ICC BVD x sq ft x $.00098)
$0.98 per $1,000 of project value, with a $60.00 minimum.
Remodeling, alterations and repairs over $500 (estimated construction cost)
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 – $100,000 | $60.00 to $545.00, read from the table (98 steps) |
| $100,001 – $1,000,000 | $550.00 for the first $100,000 + $0.90 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $1,000,000 | $1,360.00 for the first $1,000,000 + $0.60 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
Show the full table (100 rows)
| $1 – $3,000 | $60.00 |
| $3,001 – $4,000 | $65.00 |
| $4,001 – $5,000 | $70.00 |
| $5,001 – $6,000 | $75.00 |
| $6,001 – $7,000 | $80.00 |
| $7,001 – $8,000 | $85.00 |
| $8,001 – $9,000 | $90.00 |
| $9,001 – $10,000 | $95.00 |
| $10,001 – $11,000 | $100.00 |
| $11,001 – $12,000 | $105.00 |
| $12,001 – $13,000 | $110.00 |
| $13,001 – $14,000 | $115.00 |
| $14,001 – $15,000 | $120.00 |
| $15,001 – $16,000 | $125.00 |
| $16,001 – $17,000 | $130.00 |
| $17,001 – $18,000 | $135.00 |
| $18,001 – $19,000 | $140.00 |
| $19,001 – $20,000 | $145.00 |
| $20,001 – $21,000 | $150.00 |
| $21,001 – $22,000 | $155.00 |
| $22,001 – $23,000 | $160.00 |
| $23,001 – $24,000 | $165.00 |
| $24,001 – $25,000 | $170.00 |
| $25,001 – $26,000 | $175.00 |
| $26,001 – $27,000 | $180.00 |
| $27,001 – $28,000 | $185.00 |
| $28,001 – $29,000 | $190.00 |
| $29,001 – $30,000 | $195.00 |
| $30,001 – $31,000 | $200.00 |
| $31,001 – $32,000 | $205.00 |
| $32,001 – $33,000 | $210.00 |
| $33,001 – $34,000 | $215.00 |
| $34,001 – $35,000 | $220.00 |
| $35,001 – $36,000 | $225.00 |
| $36,001 – $37,000 | $230.00 |
| $37,001 – $38,000 | $235.00 |
| $38,001 – $39,000 | $240.00 |
| $39,001 – $40,000 | $245.00 |
| $40,001 – $41,000 | $250.00 |
| $41,001 – $42,000 | $255.00 |
| $42,001 – $43,000 | $260.00 |
| $43,001 – $44,000 | $265.00 |
| $44,001 – $45,000 | $270.00 |
| $45,001 – $46,000 | $275.00 |
| $46,001 – $47,000 | $280.00 |
| $47,001 – $48,000 | $285.00 |
| $48,001 – $49,000 | $290.00 |
| $49,001 – $50,000 | $295.00 |
| $50,001 – $51,000 | $300.00 |
| $51,001 – $52,000 | $305.00 |
| $52,001 – $53,000 | $310.00 |
| $53,001 – $54,000 | $315.00 |
| $54,001 – $55,000 | $320.00 |
| $55,001 – $56,000 | $325.00 |
| $56,001 – $57,000 | $330.00 |
| $57,001 – $58,000 | $335.00 |
| $58,001 – $59,000 | $340.00 |
| $59,001 – $60,000 | $345.00 |
| $60,001 – $61,000 | $350.00 |
| $61,001 – $62,000 | $355.00 |
| $62,001 – $63,000 | $360.00 |
| $63,001 – $64,000 | $365.00 |
| $64,001 – $65,000 | $370.00 |
| $65,001 – $66,000 | $375.00 |
| $66,001 – $67,000 | $380.00 |
| $67,001 – $68,000 | $385.00 |
| $68,001 – $69,000 | $390.00 |
| $69,001 – $70,000 | $395.00 |
| $70,001 – $71,000 | $400.00 |
| $71,001 – $72,000 | $405.00 |
| $72,001 – $73,000 | $410.00 |
| $73,001 – $74,000 | $415.00 |
| $74,001 – $75,000 | $420.00 |
| $75,001 – $76,000 | $425.00 |
| $76,001 – $77,000 | $430.00 |
| $77,001 – $78,000 | $435.00 |
| $78,001 – $79,000 | $440.00 |
| $79,001 – $80,000 | $445.00 |
| $80,001 – $81,000 | $450.00 |
| $81,001 – $82,000 | $455.00 |
| $82,001 – $83,000 | $460.00 |
| $83,001 – $84,000 | $465.00 |
| $84,001 – $85,000 | $470.00 |
| $85,001 – $86,000 | $475.00 |
| $86,001 – $87,000 | $480.00 |
| $87,001 – $88,000 | $485.00 |
| $88,001 – $89,000 | $490.00 |
| $89,001 – $90,000 | $495.00 |
| $90,001 – $91,000 | $500.00 |
| $91,001 – $92,000 | $505.00 |
| $92,001 – $93,000 | $510.00 |
| $93,001 – $94,000 | $515.00 |
| $94,001 – $95,000 | $520.00 |
| $95,001 – $96,000 | $525.00 |
| $96,001 – $97,000 | $530.00 |
| $97,001 – $98,000 | $535.00 |
| $98,001 – $99,000 | $540.00 |
| $99,001 – $100,000 | $545.00 |
| $100,001 – $1,000,000 | $550.00 for the first $100,000 + $0.90 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $1,000,000 | $1,360.00 for the first $1,000,000 + $0.60 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
Commercial new construction and additions (ICC BVD x sq ft x $.00098)
$0.98 per $1,000 of project value, with a $60.00 minimum.
What counts as project value
ICC Building Valuation Data table. New construction and additions: ICC Building Valuation Table cost per square foot in effect in January of each year, times total square footage (with occupancy reassignments). Remodeling, alterations and repairs: estimated construction cost.
Worked example: a $350,000 new home
- Building permit fee: $350,000.00 ÷ 1,000 × $0.98 = $343.00
- Total before trade permits: $343.00.
Fees people miss
May also apply (not in the totals above)
- Work without a permit penalty: when work started without a required permit; $340.00 on the standard projects.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Reinspection, commercial and industrial projectsWhen: reinspection needed | $60.00 each |
| Additional final inspection after a failed final inspectionWhen: failed final inspection | $80.00 each |
| Northeast Neighborhood Development Area design reviewWhen: stand-alone residential or commercial new construction in the Northeast Neighborhood Development Area | $160.00 each |
| Contractor registration (general contractors, homebuilders, remodelers)When: contractor registration | $125.00 per year |
Trade permits are separate. Electrical: Per-item fees (circuits $5 each, panels $7-$50, etc.), minimum permit fee $60. Plumbing: Per-fixture fees ($6 per fixture or trap), minimum permit fee $60. Mechanical: Per-appliance fees (e.g. heat pumps up to 7.5 tons $75 each), minimum permit fee $60.
How to apply
- Gather your plans and your project's total value.
- Submit to St. Joseph County/South Bend Building Department.
- Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.