BuildingPermitCost How Washington County calculates your permit fee
The county charges a building permit fee using a fee table based on project value, with a $236.00 minimum. Plan review is a separate charge: 65% of the permit fee. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work gets its own permits.
The fee table
Building permit fees - residential only
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 – $2,000 | $236.00 |
| $2,001 – $25,000 | $236.00 for the first $2,000 + $19.00 per additional $1,000 |
| $25,001 – $50,000 | $673.00 for the first $25,000 + $14.50 per additional $1,000 |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | $1,035.50 for the first $50,000 + $9.25 per additional $1,000 |
| Over $100,000 | $1,498.00 for the first $100,000 + $8.25 per additional $1,000 |
Commercial building, commercial mechanical and other permit types
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 – $2,000 | $236.00 |
| $2,001 – $25,000 | $236.00 for the first $2,000 + $22.00 per additional $1,000 |
| $25,001 – $50,000 | $742.00 for the first $25,000 + $18.00 per additional $1,000 |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | $1,192.00 for the first $50,000 + $11.50 per additional $1,000 |
| Over $100,000 | $1,767.00 for the first $100,000 + $9.25 per additional $1,000 |
Surcharges
- Advanced Planning fee: 0.08% of the project value
- Code Compliance Fee: 0.008% of the project value
What counts as project value
Higher of your bid or the valuation table. New commercial: the higher of ICC Building Valuation Data (current as of July 1) x square footage, or the applicant's stated value. Alterations/repairs: fair market value of all work. Valuation includes finish work, roofing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC and contractor's profit, excluding fire systems. The schedule has a line 'Cost per square foot of new construction for 1- and 2-family dwellings' but prints no value.
Worked example: a $350,000 new home
- Building permit fee: $1,498.00 for the first $100,000.00 + $8.25 × 250 per $1,000.00 over = $3,560.50
- Plan review fee: 65% of $3,560.50 = $2,314.32
- Advanced Planning fee: 0.08% of $350,000.00 = $280.00
- Code Compliance Fee: 0.008% of $350,000.00 = $28.00
- Total before trade permits: $6,182.82.
Fees people miss
May also apply (not in the totals above)
- Development Compliance - Building Permit (Review): when the building permit requires land use development compliance review; $137.00 on the standard projects.
- Seismic Site Surcharge: when structures subject to ORS 455.447 seismic site requirements; $6.73 on the standard projects.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| State surcharge on all permit fees (except grading)When: state surcharge; rate not stated in the county schedule | |
| Additional plan review due to changes/revisionsWhen: plans revised after approval or beyond two review rounds | $236.00 per hour |
| Reinspection, special or additional inspectionsWhen: extra inspection | $236.00 per hour |
| Inspections outside normal hoursWhen: after-hours inspection requested | $353.00 per hour, 2-hour minimum |
| Temporary Certificate of Occupancy, residentialWhen: TCO requested | $324.00 each |
| Foundation-only permitWhen: foundation-only permit requested | $1,197.00 minimum |
| Deferred submittalsWhen: deferred submittal | $600.00 minimum |
Trade permits are separate. Plumbing: New SFR (includes first 100 ft): 1 bath $813, 2 bath $1,042, 3 bath $1,269, each additional bath/kitchen $224; fixtures $37 each; minimum $236. Plus state surcharge. Mechanical: Residential mechanical flat fee for new construction $455 (gas house package); per-item $21; minimum $236. Electrical: New residential per dwelling: 1,000 sq ft or less $366, each additional 500 sq ft or portion $102; service 200 A or less $236.
How to apply
- Gather your plans and your project's total value.
- Submit to Washington County Land Use & Transportation, Building Services through Public Permitting and Services Portal.
- Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.