BuildingPermitCost Iowa permit fees at a glance
This page covers 4 cities and 2 counties in Iowa, each priced from its own official fee schedule. For the same $75,000 addition, totals run from $225.00 in Sioux City to $910.08 in Ames, with a Iowa median of $584.00, 29% below the median of $820.58 across all 267 places on this site.
The most common pricing method here is a fee table based on project value (3 of 6), followed by a flat fee (2) and a fee table based on floor area (1). For project value, 2 places use your contract or bid price and 2 places use a local valuation table.
1 of 6 charge a separate plan review fee.
6 of 6 schedules state an effective date, 4 of them from 2025 or later. Every page shows its effective date and the date we last checked it against the official source.
| Project | Iowa median | National median | Places |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 remodel | $285.00 | $380.00 | 5 |
| $75,000 addition | $584.00 | $820.58 | 5 |
| $350,000 new home | $1,670.00 | $2,918.63 | 6 |
Calculate your own project · Compare Iowa places side by side · Fees people often miss
Cities
| Jurisdiction | $25k remodel | $75k addition | $350k new home | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames | $438.26 | $910.08 | $2,656.35 | Nov 5, 2026 |
| Ankeny | $281.00 | $584.00 | $1,670.00 | Nov 5, 2026 |
| Cedar Rapids | $285.00 | $573.00 | $2,400.00 | Nov 4, 2026 |
| Sioux City | $225.00 | $225.00 | $700.00 | Nov 5, 2026 |
Counties
| Jurisdiction | $25k remodel | $75k addition | $350k new home | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | $314.86 | $639.36 | $1,800.36 | Nov 5, 2026 |
| Woodbury County | — | — | $250.00 | Nov 5, 2026 |
Iowa permit fee questions
How much is a building permit in Iowa?
It depends on the city or county, because each sets its own fees. Across the 5 places we cover in Iowa, the median for a $75,000 addition is $584.00 and for a $350,000 new home $1,670.00, including plan review and required surcharges.
Which Iowa places have the lowest and highest permit fees?
For a $75,000 addition, the lowest total we found is $225.00 in Sioux City, IA and the highest is $910.08 in Ames, IA. The tables on this page list every place we cover.
Totals use each jurisdiction's own formula for a 300 sq ft remodel, a 400 sq ft addition and a 2,400 sq ft wood-frame home. Trade permits and conditional fees are not included. Fees are estimates based on the official schedules; confirm with the permit office before applying.