BuildingPermitCost How Waco calculates your permit fee
The city charges a building permit fee using $0.45 per square foot. Plan review is a separate charge: a flat $60.00. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work gets its own permits.
The fee table
Residential structures: living area, non-living area and accessory structures
$0.45 per square foot.
Repairs & alterations to existing residential structures
A flat $200.00.
Commercial buildings (A, B, E, F, H, M, R multi-family, S and shell)
| Floor area | Fee |
|---|---|
| 0 sq ft – 100,000 sq ft | $0.30 per sq ft or fraction |
| Over 100,000 sq ft | $30,000.00 for the first 100,000 sq ft + $0.15 per additional sq ft or fraction |
Repairs & alterations to existing non-residential buildings and completion of shell buildings
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 – $2,000 | $50.00 |
| $2,001 – $50,000 | $50.00 for the first $2,000 + $5.50 per additional $1,000 |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | $265.00 for the first $50,000 + $4.50 per additional $1,000 |
| $100,001 – $500,000 | $490.00 for the first $100,000 + $3.50 per additional $1,000 |
| Over $500,000 | $1,890.00 for the first $500,000 + $2.50 per additional $1,000 |
Surcharges
- Technology Fee - Building: $15.00
What counts as project value
Floor area (square feet). Residential structures and new commercial buildings are priced per square foot (residential: living area, non-living area and accessory structures). Repairs and alterations to existing non-residential buildings use a valuation table; the page does not say how valuation is determined. Residential repairs and alterations are a flat $200.
Worked example: a $350,000 new home
- Building permit fee: 2,400 sq ft × $0.45 = $1,080.00
- Plan review fee: flat = $60.00
- Technology Fee - Building: fixed = $15.00
- Total before trade permits: $1,155.00.
Fees people miss
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Reinspection (1st failed)When: failed reinspection | $55.00 each |
| Temporary Certificate of Occupancy, initial 30 daysWhen: TCO requested | $200.00 each |
| Building design / scope of work changeWhen: scope change | $60.00 plus 10% of original permit fee |
| Permit renewalWhen: renewal | $60.00 50% of original permit fee or $60 minimum |
| Foundation only permitWhen: foundation-only permit | 1/3 cost of permit |
| Work without a permitWhen: work started without permit | fees doubled |
Trade permits are separate. Electrical: Administration fee $60 + technology fee $15 + items (services, circuits, motors, transformers). Plumbing: Plumbing & irrigation administration fee $60 + technology fee $15 + $8 per fixture/trap/water heater/gas appliance. Mechanical: Per-unit fees: furnace/heating unit up to 250,000 BTU $20; air handler up to 10,000 CFM $5; refrigerated unit up to 5 tons $20; other items not extracted.
How to apply
- Gather your plans and your project's total value and floor area.
- Submit to Inspection Services, Development Services.
- Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.