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Discussion Forum

New Single Family Permit Costs

left handed hammer | Posted in General Discussion on December 12, 2006 08:43am

What are you paying in permit fees for new construction, and how long does it take to get your permit from the time you submit?  What State are you in? 

I think this will be interesting to see the responses.

 

Me – Washington State, $12,500 for 2985 sf.  This includes sewer, water and all building permits, Ie seperate plumbing and electrical permits don’t need to be pulled.  Takes about six months assuming your plans conform to cities codes and don’t require revisions.

Friend in unicorporated area of King County spent $60,000 to get his permit because of the “sensitive areas” around his house.  Most of this money went to independent contracts, ie geotechs, biologists.  Took him about a year to get a permit. 

How about you?

 

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Replies

  1. geilerzimmermann | Dec 12, 2006 12:32pm | #1

    Here in the Pocono mts of pennsylvania we average about 3000.00 for a 2400 sq ft house.

    mark

    1. brownbagg | Dec 12, 2006 02:59pm | #2

      two years ago. $218 about seven minutes.

  2. RippySkippy | Dec 12, 2006 03:12pm | #3

    Central Iowa (rural area), $1,500 for 2300 sq ft, and about 3 minutes in the county office. In that time the inspector came out of his office and approved site plan on the spot. Can't say enough good things about the man.

    Rip

  3. User avater
    BossHog | Dec 12, 2006 04:15pm | #4

    We have to pay $20 to get one. It's basically just done so they make sure they update the taxable assessments.

    Q: What's a chimney sweep's most common ailment?
    A: The flue.
    1. andy_engel | Dec 12, 2006 04:36pm | #5

      Clearly you lack sufficient government there. Let me see if some of ours is willing to make the move.Andy

      "Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein (or maybe Mark Twain)

      "Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom

      "Everything not forbidden is compulsory." T.H. White, The Book of Merlin

      1. User avater
        BossHog | Dec 12, 2006 04:43pm | #6

        Two years ago there were NO permit fees. People aer pissed off that they have to pony up $20 just so the county can raise their taxes. I can't imagine how people would squeal if there were actually building codes that they had to follow...
        Q: What's a three-season bed?
        A: One without a spring.

        1. User avater
          Matt | Dec 13, 2006 02:07pm | #18

          Does that mean there are no inspections either?

          1. User avater
            BossHog | Dec 13, 2006 03:41pm | #20

            "Does that mean there are no inspections either?"

            Yup.

            Any moron can slap up anything they want. and many do.
            A tomb now suffices him for whom the world was not enough [On the tombstone of Alexander the Great]

    2. Piffin | Dec 13, 2006 02:19am | #16

      When I moved here and got my own permit, it floored me to learn that the fee was at that time only $25 for th ebasic permit. It had been the same for a hundred years or whatever. It was costing the Town a good minimum $150 to process it and do the site checks. it is more realistic now.I was so suprised because when I was in a similar sized rural town in CO, the fee was a few hundred plus tap fees of close to ten grand 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

  4. MNMusher | Dec 12, 2006 05:47pm | #7

    Aitkin County, MN
    $250.00 for rolling in a '59 Marshfield or building a 3 million dollar getaway lake place. Left handed's $12,500 permit fee is at least 12 times higher than the assesed value of the hundreds of occupied trailers mouldering into the ground around here. First time in the permit office I was proudly told "We don't have a code here". Working around the county I have also found that they don't have a concept of frost footings or flashing either.

    1. brownbagg | Dec 12, 2006 08:18pm | #8

      basically our county puts the liability on the engineer and designer so if its by a license company then pay the fee and you out in seven minute. Property tax is where they make it up.

  5. Rockford | Dec 12, 2006 09:15pm | #9

    Here in California, every city is different in terms of rules and fees.  I fall under the Los Angeles jurisdiction and paid about $10,000.00 for a new construction, 3,000 sf SFR.  The actual building permit totalled to about $3K.  The balance of it was for school fees.- And my kids don't even attend the Los Angeles public schools!

    1. migraine | Dec 12, 2006 09:45pm | #10

      8 years ago,  my 650 sqft additon was around 3k and that includes around $2 sqft for school fees.  Now in that area, everyone who builds or adds on, gets a $14k assesment for the new traffic coridor, no matter what size they build.  this is on top of all other fees.  Southwest Riverside County, Calif. 

      If I remember correctly, it costs arounf $10k to hook up to sewer and water, not including labor/material costs.  I'm glad we were on well and septic, even though the well cost was $20k

      Washington state, you pay a 1.1% excise tax fee on the estimated cost of your home.  Not including other permit fees, water, sewer, electric.  All builders/contractors charge  a sales tax of around 7 3/4% on all costs, not just materials.(so much for the state not having state income taxes).  This includes when you sell/buy a home, too.

      1. BryanSayer | Dec 13, 2006 01:39am | #13

        As you noted, it is a SALES tax, not an income tax.Of course, it takes income to pay a sales tax.

  6. DoRight | Dec 12, 2006 10:08pm | #11

    12k?  Where in WA state?

    I think  it is cheaper on the east side of teh state.

    1. left handed hammer | Dec 12, 2006 11:22pm | #12

      western washington. Yeah eastern washington is probably cheaper.

  7. RW | Dec 13, 2006 01:47am | #14

    Permits in general, $50 flat rate plus $2 per $1000 of sale cost. New construction, add impact fees, I don't know for sure but I think 07 they're going to be about $7K, paid with the permit.

    How long? If your ducks are in a row about ten minutes. If you walk in with a napkin sketch, who knows.

    Real trucks dont have sparkplugs

  8. Piffin | Dec 13, 2006 02:09am | #15

    Ten cents a square foot for living areas, and five cents for decks, unfinished basements, attics, garages, etc.

    Add for wastee water design and the plumbing permit, maybe another five hundred. If you are not in a sensitive area requiring additional research and backup, you could have the permit in six weeks with less than a thousand bucks probably.

    Island off coast of Maine

     

     

    Welcome to the
    Taunton University of
    Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
     where ...
    Excellence is its own reward!

  9. JasonQ | Dec 13, 2006 08:06am | #17

    Sarpy County, Nebraska (Omaha 'burbs): 2900SF 2-story, subdivision lot - $4500.  That includes water hookup, curb grind, etc. 

    Jason

  10. User avater
    Matt | Dec 13, 2006 02:18pm | #19

    Raleigh NC.  ~ $2800 for a 2000 Sq Ft house.  It takes about 3 or 4 weeks.  Of the $2800 I think roughly $800 is the permit, and the other 2000 is impact and utility fees.  They are always comming up with something new though... This tiime it is a $50 fee on your first water bill for "new water service".

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