Building Permit Fees in Rockville, MD (2026)

What common projects cost

Kitchen or bath remodel

$25,000 value, remodel 300 sq ft

$319.73

$145.00 building permit + $145.00 application + $29.73 automation

Room addition

$75,000 value, addition 400 sq ft

$319.73

$145.00 building permit + $145.00 application + $29.73 automation

New single-family home

$350,000 value, new single-family 2,400 sq ft

$1,245.83

$840.00 building permit + $290.00 application + $115.83 automation

How Rockville calculates your permit fee

The city charges a building permit fee using $0.35 per square foot, plus a $290.00 application fee, with a $145.00 minimum. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work gets its own permits.

The fee table

Residential new dwelling (IRC)

$0.35 per square foot, plus a $290.00 application fee, with a $145.00 minimum.

Residential addition (IRC)

$0.35 per square foot, plus a $145.00 application fee, with a $145.00 minimum.

Residential alterations and repairs (IRC)

$0.35 per square foot, plus a $145.00 application fee, with a $145.00 minimum.

Commercial/multi-family new construction

$0.50 per square foot, or 1.8% of project value, whichever is greater, plus a $175.00 application fee, with a $175.00 minimum.

Commercial/multi-family alteration and repair

$0.45 per square foot, or 1.7% of project value, whichever is greater, plus a $175.00 application fee, with a $175.00 minimum.

Surcharges

Automation fee: 10.25% of the fee total

What counts as project value

Floor area (square feet). Residential fees are per square foot 'including basement, each floor, garage and roof' (new/additions) or 'of affected area' (alterations). Commercial: per square foot or a percentage of 'the total construction costs as estimated by the Building Official, whichever is greater'.

Worked example: a $350,000 new home

Building permit fee: 2,400 sq ft × $0.35 = $840.00
Application fee: fixed = $290.00
Automation fee: 10.25% of $1,130.00 = $115.83
Total before trade permits: $1,245.83.

Fees people miss

May also apply (not in the totals above)

Occupancy permit (per dwelling unit): when an occupancy permit is issued for the new dwelling; $125.00 on the standard projects.

Fee	Amount
Amendments, one- and two-family residential (third and subsequent reviews)When: third or later review	$100.00 per review
Amendments/revisions, commercial and multifamilyWhen: additional review	50% of original permit fee or $175, whichever is greater (max $2,430)
Administrative amendment to existing permitWhen: amendment requested	$45.00 per request
Permit extension (unexpired permit)When: extension requested	$70.00 per request
Inspector callback for re-inspectionWhen: re-inspection	$130.00 per request, per permit
Overtime inspectionsWhen: overtime inspection	$265.00 per inspection per inspector
Investigation of work without a permit (owner, residential)When: work started without permit	$205.00 per trade
Commercial occupancyWhen: commercial occupancy permit	$175.00 per 5,000 sq ft or fraction

Trade permits are separate. Electrical: Minimum $80; rough wiring 1-20 outlets $80, each additional 20 $20; fixtures 1-20 $80, each additional 20 $20; services from $100. Automation fee 10.25% added. Mechanical: Minimum $75; first mechanical unit $75, each additional unit $20. Automation fee 10.25% added. Plumbing: Minimum $80; first fixture $80, each additional fixture $20. Water meter and capital contribution fees separate. Automation fee 10.25% added (excludes capital contribution and water meter fees).

How to apply

Gather your plans and your project's total value and floor area.
Submit to Inspection Services Division online through the permit portal.
Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.

Source record

Effective: 2026-07-01
Verified: 2026-11-05
Issuer: Inspection Services Division
Valuation: Floor area (square feet)
Confidence: high

What this page does not cover (7)

Residential occupancy fee ($125 per dwelling unit) is listed without saying when it applies; it likely applies to every new dwelling. Stored as a conditional additional fee (not in the total) until confirmed.
Residential additions: the $145 filing fee ('Residential (other than new construction)') is used; the $290 'Residential New Construction ... per dwelling' filing fee is read as applying to new dwellings only.
Commercial additions are listed under both 'New construction and Additions' ($0.50/sq ft or 1.80%) and 'Alteration/Addition/Repair' ($0.45/sq ft or 1.70%); commercial additions are left uncomputed. The conflict touches no residential formula or standard total, so it is a note, not source_inconsistent.
Automation fee (10.25% of all permit and application fees) is modelled on the fee total; for commercial, whether it is also charged on the fire/life safety review fee is not stated.
Residential per-sq-ft measure includes 'roof' area; the calculator uses the floor area entered.
Water meter and water/sewer capital contribution fees (by meter size, e.g. 1-inch water $4,100, sewer $8,050) not modelled; Montgomery County or WSSC fees for Rockville projects not checked.
Fire protection system permit fees not extracted.

Separate electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire, impact, utility and school fees are usually not included unless they are listed. BuildingPermitCost is not a government permit office, and this is not legal advice.

Report an error · How we verify fees

How Rockville compares

A $25,000 remodel costs $319.73 in Rockville: 16% below the national median of $380.00.

A $75,000 addition costs $319.73 in Rockville: 61% below the national median of $820.58.

A $350,000 new home costs $1,245.83 in Rockville: 57% below the national median of $2,918.63.

Same standard projects everywhere, including plan review and required surcharges. All Maryland places · Compare side by side

Rockville permit fee FAQ

How much is a building permit in Rockville, MD?

A $25,000 remodel: $319.73. A $75,000 addition: $319.73. A $350,000 new single-family: $1,245.83. These include every fee the schedule applies to that project; trade permits are separate.

Is plan review included in the Rockville permit fee?

Rockville lists no separate plan review fee for these projects.

How does Rockville determine project value?

Floor area (square feet). Residential fees are per square foot 'including basement, each floor, garage and roof' (new/additions) or 'of affected area' (alterations). Commercial: per square foot or a percentage of 'the total construction costs as estimated by the Building Official, whichever is greater'.

Are electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits included?

No. They are separate permits. Electrical: Minimum $80; rough wiring 1-20 outlets $80, each additional 20 $20; fixtures 1-20 $80, each additional 20 $20; services from $100. Automation fee 10.25% added. Mechanical: Minimum $75; first mechanical unit $75, each additional unit $20. Automation fee 10.25% added. Plumbing: Minimum $80; first fixture $80, each additional fixture $20. Water meter and capital contribution fees separate. Automation fee 10.25% added (excludes capital contribution and water meter fees).

When did these Rockville fees take effect?

The schedule is effective Jul 1, 2026 (“Fee Schedule Effective July 1, 2026, Revised September 14, 2026 (FY 2027)”). We last checked it against the official source on Nov 5, 2026.