BuildingPermitCost How Portland calculates your permit fee
The city charges a building permit fee using a fee table based on project value, with a $167.00 minimum. Plan review is a separate charge: 65% of the permit fee. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work gets its own permits.
The fee table
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 – $500 | $167.00 |
| $501 – $2,000 | $167.00 for the first $500 + $3.59 per additional $100 or fraction |
| $2,001 – $25,000 | $220.85 for the first $2,000 + $13.91 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 – $50,000 | $540.78 for the first $25,000 + $10.26 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | $797.28 for the first $50,000 + $6.81 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $100,000 | $1,137.78 for the first $100,000 + $5.63 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
Added to every matching permit
- Development Services Fee - Residential: a fee table based on project value, with a $21.19 minimum (Residential)
- Development Services Fee - Commercial: a fee table based on project value, with a $26.49 minimum (Commercial)
- Zoning Inspection Fee, 1 & 2 family dwellings: a flat $125.00 (1 & 2 family new construction (and additions))
- Affordable Housing Construction Excise Tax (1%): 1% of project value (a flat $0.00 below $100,000) (All projects)
Surcharges
- State of Oregon surcharge: 12% of the permit fee
What counts as project value
Higher of your bid or the valuation table. Per OAR 918-050-0100: new construction and additions use the ICC Building Valuation Data table current as of April 1 of each year (occupancy and construction type x square footage, outside wall to outside wall); "The valuation used will be the greater of either the above calculated value or the value as stated by the applicant." Alterations and repairs use fair market value of all permitted work, including finish, MEP and contractor's profit.
Worked example: a $350,000 new home
- Building permit fee: $1,137.78 for the first $100,000.00 + $5.63 × 250 per $1,000.00 over = $2,545.28
- Plan review fee: 65% of $2,545.28 = $1,654.43
- Development Services Fee - Residential: $286.01 for the first $100,000.00 + $1.58 × 250 per $1,000.00 over = $681.01
- Zoning Inspection Fee, 1 & 2 family dwellings: flat fee = $125.00
- Affordable Housing Construction Excise Tax (1%): 1% of $350,000.00 = $3,500.00
- State of Oregon surcharge: 12% of $2,545.28 = $305.43
- Total before trade permits: $8,811.15.
Fees people miss
May also apply (not in the totals above)
- Fire and Life Safety Review Fee: when when fire and life safety plan review is required (applicability not stated in the schedule; typically commercial); $216.31 on the standard projects.
- Investigation fee (work before permit): when work started without a permit; $167.00 on the standard projects.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Reinspection | $167.00 per inspection |
| Additional plan review for changes/revisions, 1/2 hour or less | $114.00 each |
| Additional plan review for changes/revisions, over 1/2 hour | $228.00 per hour or fraction |
| Additional plan review checksheet (beyond 2) | $336.00 each |
| Zoning Permit Fee, 1 & 2 family dwellings | $48.00 each |
| Deferred submittal fee | 10% of building permit fee on deferred portion |
| Inspections outside normal business hoursWhen: after-hours inspection requested | $320.00 per hour |
| Permit reactivation (expired permit renewal) | one half the new permit fee |
| Metro Construction Excise Tax | see Oregon Metro |
| System Development Charges | varies |
| Commercial Zoning Inspection FeeWhen: commercial permits requiring Planning/Zoning review | $125.00 greater of 20% of building permit fee or $125 |
Trade permits are separate. Electrical: Separate Electrical Permit Fee Schedule effective July 10, 2026; not extracted. Plumbing: Separate Plumbing Permit Fee Schedule effective July 10, 2026; not extracted. Mechanical: Separate Mechanical Permit Fee Schedule effective July 10, 2026; not extracted.
How to apply
- Gather your plans and your project's total value.
- Submit to Portland Permitting & Development (Development Services Center).
- Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.
- Questions: 503-823-7300