BuildingPermitCost How Salt Lake City calculates your permit fee
The city charges a building permit fee using a fee table based on project value, with a $55.97 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 | $55.97 |
| $501 – $2,000 | $55.97 for the first $500 + $4.00 per additional $100 or fraction |
| $2,001 – $25,000 | $115.97 for the first $2,000 + $20.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 – $50,000 | $575.97 for the first $25,000 + $14.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | $925.97 for the first $50,000 + $10.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 – $500,000 | $1,425.97 for the first $100,000 + $8.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 – $1,000,000 | $4,625.97 for the first $500,000 + $7.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $1,000,000 | $8,125.97 for the first $1,000,000 + $5.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
What counts as project value
Not stated in the schedule. Building permit fees are based on 'Total project valuation' (City Code 18.32.035); the fee schedule does not say how valuation is determined.
Worked example: a $350,000 new home
- Building permit fee: $1,425.97 for the first $100,000.00 + $8.00 × 250 per $1,000.00 over = $3,425.97
- Plan review fee: 65% of $3,425.97 = $2,226.88
- Total before trade permits: $5,652.85.
Fees people miss
May also apply (not in the totals above)
- Expedited building plan review: when optional expedited review; $374.38 on the standard projects.
- Credit card use surcharge: when payment by credit card; $23.28 on the standard projects.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Hourly plan reviewWhen: deferred plan review items, project changes after issuance, non-building permit reviews | $146.00 per hour |
| Identical plan reviewWhen: identical plans (Utah Code 10-9a-510) | 30% of standard plan review fee |
| Renewing expired plan reviewWhen: expired plan review | half the original plan review fee, max $1,606, plus $182/hour for code-change review (2-hour minimum) |
| Demolition permit application, 5–2,000 sq ftWhen: demolition | $100.00 each |
| Impact fees, single family (per unit)When: new dwelling units | fire $171, park $5,173, police $59, transportation $429 per unit; storm water $374 per 1/4 acre |
Trade permits are separate. Electrical: Separate residential and commercial electrical schedules (commercial base fee $59, minimum $40). Not extracted. Plumbing: Base fee $59 plus per-fixture fees (e.g. fixture or trap $8 each). Mechanical: Separate mechanical permit schedule; not extracted.
How to apply
- Gather your plans and your project's total value.
- Submit to Salt Lake City Community and Neighborhoods (Building Services) through Accela Citizen Access.
- Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.
- Questions: 801-535-6000