BuildingPermitCost How Appleton calculates your permit fee
The city charges a building permit fee using a fee table based on floor area, with a $75.00 minimum. Plan review is a separate charge: $0.10 per square foot (minimum $100.00). Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work gets its own permits.
The fee table
One and two-family dwellings
| Floor area | Fee |
|---|---|
| Over 0 sq ft | $20.00 per 100 sq ft or fraction |
remodels and alterations
| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 – $1,000,000 | $10.00 per $1,000 |
| Over $1,000,000 | $10,000.00 for the first $1,000,000 + $5.00 per additional $1,000 |
Offices, mercantile, factories and warehouses
| Volume | Fee |
|---|---|
| Over 0 cu ft | $10.00 per 1,000 cu ft |
Added to every matching permit
- Assessor property records maintenance fee (new 1-2 family): a flat $155.00 (Residential · new construction)
- Assessor property records maintenance fee (1-2 family addition): a flat $40.00 (Residential · additions)
- Assessor property records maintenance fee (1-2 family alteration): a flat $40.00 (Residential · remodels and alterations)
Surcharges
- Wisconsin state UDC sticker fee (one and two-family residential): $40.00
What counts as project value
Floor area (square feet). New one- and two-family dwellings: per 100 sq ft of floor area including basements, attached garages, carports and roofed decks/porches. Alterations: per $1,000 of estimated cost. Offices/mercantile and factories: per 1,000 cubic feet of volume.
Worked example: a $350,000 new home
- Building permit fee: $0.00 for the first 0 sq ft + $20.00 × 24 per 100 sq ft over = $480.00
- Plan review fee: 2,400 sq ft × $0.10 = $240.00
- Assessor property records maintenance fee (new 1-2 family): flat fee = $155.00
- Wisconsin state UDC sticker fee (one and two-family residential): fixed = $40.00
- Total before trade permits: $915.00.
Fees people miss
May also apply (not in the totals above)
- Residential erosion control permit: when the project disturbs soil and requires an erosion control permit; $75.00 on the standard projects.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| ReinspectionWhen: reinspection required | $75.00 each |
| Failure to obtain permit before workWhen: work commenced without a permit | triple the normal permit fee |
| One and two-family accessory buildingsWhen: accessory building | $10.00 per 100 sq ft |
| Multi-family dwellingsWhen: multi-family building | $15.00 per 100 sq ft |
Trade permits are separate. Electrical: Separate Electrical Permit Fee Schedule. Not extracted. Plumbing: Separate Plumbing & Sewer Permit Fee Schedule. Not extracted. Mechanical: Separate HVAC Permit Fee Schedule. Not extracted.
How to apply
- Gather your plans and your project's total value and floor area.
- Submit to Community Development Department, Inspection Division.
- Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.
- Questions: 920.832.6411 · 100 N. Appleton Street, Appleton, WI 54911