Building permits have a published range of $525 – $3,114 for most projects, with a national average of $1,688.1 Angi (2026 data, from 167 verified projects) reports those figures; corporate sibling HomeAdvisor (2025 data) publishes a close but distinct average of $1,650 and a normal range of $530 – $3,040, with simple permits as low as $150 and large multi-permit projects up to $7,500 (its low and high extremes, outside the normal range). The sibling figures are near-identical but not the same, and matching figures alone don’t establish independent corroboration.1,2 Fixr (updated August 2025) publishes a separate national average of $550 – scoped to a house addition permit for a job of about 1,000 square feet – with an average range of $450 – $700, a $150 low end (remodeling under 500 sq.ft.), and a $2,000 high end (new construction of a 2,500 sq.ft. home). The sources price different scopes, and the pages state no shared sourcing.3 Permit fees are set by your local building department and vary widely by jurisdiction. Figures below are national averages*.
*National averages, not local quotes. Your fee depends on your city or county, the project type and size, and how many separate permits the work requires.
$1,688
national average (Angi)
$525–$3,114
most projects (Angi); HomeAdvisor normal range $530–$3,040
$550
average, ~1,000 sq.ft. house addition (Fixr)
$150–$2,000
construction permit (all three sources)
What the sources say
| Source | Headline figures | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Angi (2026 data, updated Sep 2026) | $1,688 average; most homeowners $525 – $3,114; $150 – $8,500 full span | From 167 verified projects; corporate sibling of HomeAdvisor; low/high extremes labeled as such |
| HomeAdvisor (2025 data, updated Jun 2026) | $1,650 average; normal range $530 – $3,040; $150 – $7,500 full span | Sibling-published; close to Angi but not identical – no reconciliation stated |
| Fixr (updated Aug 2025) | $550 average; average range $450 – $700; low $150; high $2,000 | Average scoped to a ~1,000 sq.ft. house addition permit; separately published, pages state no shared sourcing |
A general construction permit is priced at $150 – $2,000 by all three sources – identical figures across separately owned pages with no stated shared sourcing.
Cost by permit type
The sibling pair price most permit types identically; Fixr publishes its own spans, so each keeps its own labels:1,2,3
| Permit type | Angi / HomeAdvisor (sibling-published) | Fixr |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | $150 – $2,000 | $150 – $2,000 |
| Electrical | $10 – $500 | $50 – $500 |
| Plumbing | $50 – $500 | $50 – $400 |
| HVAC | $250 – $400 | $80 – $1,000 |
| Roofing | $250 – $500 | $400 – $1,000 |
| Garage conversion | $1,200 – $2,000 | $300 – $1,500 |
| Basement | $500 (Angi finishing) / $550 (HomeAdvisor) | $200 – $1,500 |
| Kitchen remodel | $1,000 | $150 – $900 |
| Bathroom remodel | $600 | $150 – $1,000 |
| Deck | $100 | $100 – $500 |
| Shed | $150 | $100 – $1,000 |
| Pergola | $100 | $100 – $450 |
| Fence | $100 – $200 (HomeAdvisor) | $70 – $400 |
| Window | $50 per window | $50 – $200 per window |
| Demolition | $200 | $100 – $550 |
| Swimming pool | $250 above-ground / $1,250 in-ground | $200 – $300 |
The Angi/HomeAdvisor column is sibling-published; where the two differ, each is named. The Fixr column is separately published on different spans, and the sources do not reconcile the differences. Fixr’s pool figure does not distinguish above-ground from in-ground; each source keeps its own label.
Additional and specialty permits (Fixr)
Fixr separately prices these permit types:3
| Permit type | Cost (Fixr) |
|---|---|
| Home addition | $450 – $700 |
| New house construction | $1,000 – $2,000 |
| Whole-home renovation | $300 – $800 |
| Occupancy permit | $300 – $1,000 |
| Owner-builder permit | $500 – $2,500 |
| Gas | $60 – $350 |
| Mechanical | $60 – $600 |
| Driveway | $70 – $400 |
| Carport | $100 – $300 |
| Patio | $100 – $400 |
| Water heater | $100 – $1,000 |
| Planning permit | $20 – $90 |
| Zoning permit | $100 – $250 |
| Development permit | $50 – $400 |
Cost by city (Angi)
Angi publishes average permit ranges across major U.S. cities – a reminder that local fee schedules drive the final number:1
| City | Average permit cost (Angi) |
|---|---|
| Boise, ID | $460 – $2,940 |
| Chicago, IL | $430 – $2,700 |
| Dallas, TX | $410 – $2,600 |
| Houston, TX | $410 – $2,600 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $640 – $4,080 |
| New York, NY | $560 – $3,520 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $430 – $2,710 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $500 – $3,180 |
| Portland, OR | $500 – $3,200 |
| San Antonio, TX | $410 – $2,610 |
Additional fees and permit services
Angi lists common add-on fees: certificate of occupancy $250, investigation fee $300, revision fee $150, certificate of appropriateness $150, technology fee $70, permit renewal or extension $800, and state surcharge $70.1 HomeAdvisor notes some jurisdictions add 1% – 5% of the contract value, particularly on commercial work.2 Fixr reports permit costs of $0.15 – $0.85 per square foot on some projects.3
Permit services and expediters bill separately: HomeAdvisor reports $35 – $70 per hour for a permit service; Fixr reports around $60 per hour (with permit research running $180 – $240 total), and expediters charging from a $300 minimum on remodels to $2,000 or more on new construction; Angi reports expeditor fees of $200 – $1,000. Each source prices a different service model, so the figures are not directly comparable.1,2,3
Related projects
See our guides to home additions, garage conversions, basement finishing, architects, and draftsmen for those projects.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a building permit cost?
Angi reports a $1,688 national average with most projects at $525 – $3,114; HomeAdvisor reports $1,650 and a normal range of $530 – $3,040. Fixr separately reports a $550 average for a roughly 1,000-square-foot house addition permit, within an average range of $450 – $700.1,2,3
How much is a construction permit?
All three sources price a general construction permit at $150 – $2,000 (identical figures, separately published with no stated shared sourcing).1,2,3
How much are electrical, plumbing, or HVAC permits?
The sibling pair report electrical at $10 – $500, plumbing at $50 – $500, and HVAC at $250 – $400. Fixr separately reports electrical $50 – $500, plumbing $50 – $400, and HVAC $80 – $1,000.1,2,3
How much does a permit expediter cost?
Angi reports $200 – $1,000; Fixr reports around $60 per hour, from a $300 minimum on remodels to $2,000 or more on new construction; HomeAdvisor reports permit services at $35 – $70 per hour.1,2,3
Related guides
Home Addition Cost
Garage Conversion Cost
Basement Finishing Cost
Architect Cost
Draftsman Cost
All cost guides
Sources
1. Angi — Building Permit Cost (2026 data)
2. HomeAdvisor — Building Permit Cost (2025 data)
3. Fixr — Building Permit Cost (updated Aug 2025)