BuildingPermitCost How Kennewick calculates your permit fee
The city charges a building permit fee using a fee table based on project value, with a $23.50 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 | $23.50 |
| $501 – $2,000 | $23.50 for the first $500 + $3.05 per additional $100 or fraction |
| $2,001 – $25,000 | $69.25 for the first $2,000 + $14.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $25,001 – $50,000 | $391.25 for the first $25,000 + $10.10 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001 – $100,000 | $643.75 for the first $50,000 + $7.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $100,001 – $500,000 | $993.75 for the first $100,000 + $5.60 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $500,001 – $1,000,000 | $3,233.75 for the first $500,000 + $4.75 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Over $1,000,000 | $5,608.75 for the first $1,000,000 + $3.65 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
Surcharges
- State Building Fee - Residential: $6.50
- State Building Fee - Commercial: $25.00
What counts as project value
Not stated in the schedule. Building permit fees are based on total project valuation (Valuation-Based Building Permit Fees, KMC 15.08.010). The fee schedule does not say how valuation is determined.
Worked example: a $350,000 new home
- Building permit fee: $993.75 for the first $100,000.00 + $5.60 × 250 per $1,000.00 over = $2,393.75
- Plan review fee: 65% of $2,393.75 = $1,555.94
- State Building Fee - Residential: fixed = $6.50
- Total before trade permits: $3,956.19.
Fees people miss
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Express permit convenience fee, new single family residenceWhen: express permit requested | 20% of permit fee |
| Express permit, miscellaneous residentialWhen: express permit requested | $150.00 20% of permit fee or $150, whichever is greater |
| Express permit, commercial tenant improvementsWhen: express permit requested | $400.00 30% of permit fee or $400, whichever is greater |
| Re-inspectionWhen: re-inspection required | $67.00 per hour (1-hour minimum) |
| After-hours inspectionWhen: inspection outside normal business hours | $67.00 per hour (2-hour minimum) |
| Plan review - revision or additionWhen: plan revisions | $67.00 per hour (1/2-hour minimum) |
Trade permits are separate. Mechanical: Item fees (KMC), e.g. furnace up to 100,000 BTU $14.80, appliance vent $7.25, ventilation fan $7.25, air handler up to 10,000 CFM $10.65. Not fully extracted. Plumbing: Plumbing permit issuance $20 plus item fees (KMC 15.40.020). Not fully extracted.
How to apply
- Gather your plans and your project's total value.
- Submit to Building Safety Division, Planning & Community Development.
- Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.