It’s a little hard to determine the cost of beginning a permit because there are so many moving parts. However, this should at least give you a reasonable idea. All the components below are necessary expenses to bring your permit application to the building department. From this “log-in” phase, it can take from 60 to 90 days for a review to begin.
- Hire a surveyor.
- The majority of all projects will require a survey to determine the existing aspects of the property such as exact size, location of improvements, and so on. Many architects won’t begin a project without a survey.
- This cost varies from $500 to $800.
- Hire a soils engineer.
- If the project is a free standing new structure, a soil report is a requirement. In non-typical soil conditions, it’s a good idea for any project. The good news is that this information isn’t needed before the architectural design begins.
- This cost also varies from $500 to $800.
- Hire an architect / structural engineer.
- This varies from person to person and from project to project. Your best option is to contact one and see what they charge.
- Most architects will have a construction cost range for projects similar to yours. Typically building a project is approximately 50% to 65% of the cost to buy the same thing already built.
- Normally, half of the fee is due when design is complete and the remainder when the drawings are complete.
- Pay the permit fee.
- The zoning fee is a function of project cost but normally it varies from $100 – $200.
- Using the most typical cost range, the building permit fee is $770 for the first $100,000 and $5.60 for each additional $1000. So for a construction cost of 150k the fee would be $1050, and so on.
- Pay the wastewater fee.
- The wastewater fee, if we are doing no construction is $100.
- With construction it runs about $300, unless a new tap is required.
Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the above.
Steve Culbertson
Landmarkk