All About Fees

Below is a guide for estimating permit fees.

Building Permit

This fee is based on the valuation of the project. This fee should encompass the entire project, including materials and labor. For new structures or adding additional square footage, staff use the ICC tables to figure the value (https://www.iccsafe.org/products-and-services/i-codes/code-development-p...) An updated table is adopted on April 1 each year.

Once you have your value, you can either follow the fee schedule or use our handy chart (Building Permit Fees- Spreadsheet) below.  Find your value on the left and follow it across for your Building Permit Fee, Plan Review Fee, Fire and Life Safety Fee, and State Surcharge.  The columns on the right gives you the totals with or without the Fire and Life Safety Fee.

If you are adding square footage, school tax would apply (see CETs Page). If the valuation is more than $100,000, Metro Tax and the Affordable Housing Tax would apply (see CETs Page)

The permit fee pays for the inspections.

SDC’s may apply to a new dwelling unit or commercial project. Please contact the engineering division for an estimate at engineering@milwaukieoregon.gov

Mechanical Permit

For residential, all fees are located on the mechanical application. Add up all the fixtures being completed. The permit fee will be either the calculated amount or the minimum permit fee–whichever is greater.

No plan review fees are charged on residential and the permit fee pays for the inspections.

The state surcharge is 12 percent of the permit fee (permit fee x .12). The total will be the permit fee and state surcharge.

For commercial, staff calculate the permit fee based on the value of the project. Once a value has been calculated, follow the fee schedule below.

Electrical Permit

For residential, all fees are located on the electrical application. Add up all the work being done. The permit fee will be either the calculated amount or the minimum permit fee–whichever is greater. (New houses are calculated by the square footage only)

No plan review fees are charged on residential. The permit fee pays for the inspections.

The state surcharge is 12 percent of the permit fee (permit fee x .12). The total will be the permit fee and state surcharge.

For commercial, the fees are figured just like residential, however, depending on the project, a 25 percent plan review may apply. Plan review requirements are listed on the applications.

Plumbing Permit

For residential, all fees are located on the plumbing application. Add up all the work being done. The permit fee will be either the calculated amount or the minimum permit fee–whichever is greater. New houses are calculated by the number of bathrooms only.

No plan review fees are charged on residential and the permit fee pays for the inspections. The state surcharge is 12 percent of the permit fee (permit fee x .12), and the total will be the permit fee plus the state surcharge.

For commercial, the fees are figured just like residential, however, depending on the project, a 30 percent plan review may apply.

Fire Sprinklers, Fire Alarms, Fire Suppression

This permit is calculated just like the building permit, by valuation and with the same tables, and the permit fee pays for the inspections.

If the valuation is more than $100,000, the Metro Tax would apply (see CETs Page).

Erosion Control

Please see the erosion control page for information on these permits and fees.

Grading Permit

Grading permit fees are based on the cubic yards of cut and fill. Please refer to the fee schedule below for the fees. The total fee would be the permit fee plus the plan review fee, and the permit fee pays for the inspections.