How to calculate your building permit fees
Building permit fees are made up of several parts. The total cost depends on the size and value of your project.
These fees are estimates. Your final fees are calculated when your permit is approved.
Step 1: Find your project value
Start with the total value of your project. Include: materials, labor, and contractor profit. This amount is called the valuation.
Example:
- Materials: $40,000
- Labor: $30,000
- Profit: $5,000
Total valuation = $75,000
Step 2: Calculate the building permit fee
The building permit fee is based on your total valuation. Larger projects have higher fees.
For example:
- A project valued at $75,000 has a building permit fee of $900.
Step 3: Add the plan review fee
City staff review your plans before work begins.
The plan review fee is 65% of the building permit fee.
Example:
- Building permit fee: $900
- Plan review fee: $585
Step 4: Find out if impact fees apply
Impact fees help pay for parks, transportation, and library services.
For residential projects, impact fees may apply to new builds, basement finishes, and adding habitable/conditioned space. Residential impact fees only apply when the total finished/conditioned square footage exceeds 2,001 sq. ft., and converting unfinished space into finished space also counts toward the total square footage. Residential additions and expansions of unfinished space up to 500 sq. ft. are exempt from impact fees; however, this exemption is not cumulative.
For commercial projects, impact fees generally apply to new commercial occupancies or changes of use to a higher use category.
For additions and basement finishes:
- The first 500 square feet are usually exempt.
- Impact fees only apply if your project moves your home into a larger square footage category.
If your project does not increase your home's size enough to move into a new category, you may not owe impact fees.
Step 5: Check whether you need larger water or sewer service
Most remodels do not need new tap fees.
You only pay these fees if your project requires:
- A larger water tap, or
- A larger sewer tap
Contact Public Works at (303) 335-4608 if you are unsure.
Step 6: Add use taxes
Use taxes are based on 50% of the project valuation.
Boulder County Use Tax: 1.185% of 50% of the valuation
City of Louisville Use Tax: 3.775% of 50% of the valuation
Example
Project valuation: $75,000
| Fee |
Amount |
| Building permit fee |
$900.00 |
| Plan review fee |
$585.00 |
| Impact fees |
$0.00 |
| Water tap fee |
$0.00 |
| Sewer tap fee |
$0.00 |
| Boulder County use tax |
$444.38 |
| City of Louisville use tax |
$1,368.75 |
| Estimated total: |
$3,298.13 |
Fees by permit type
