A permit fee report is a planning document, not a bill. This is how we read one before we talk to a city.
Start with the high end
The total is shown as a range. Budget to the high figure. Cities rarely charge less than their published schedule, but they often add a surcharge, a records fee, or a utility capacity charge that was not on the first list you saw.
The 750 sq ft line
California exempts ADUs under 750 sq ft from local development impact fees. At 750 sq ft and above, a city may charge impact fees in proportion to the primary home. If your design is close to the line, ask the plan checker how the city measures floor area — some count covered porches, some do not.
Which lines to verify first
- Impact fees — the widest range and the most city-specific. Ask for the current impact fee schedule and whether the ADU exemption applies at your size.
- Utility connections — often set by a separate water or sewer district, not the building department. Ask who bills it and when.
- School district fees — charged per square foot by the district, usually only above 500 sq ft. Confirm the current rate with the district office.
Building permit and plan check fees are the most predictable: they follow the city’s valuation table and change once a year at most.
What to bring to the counter
- The report, printed or on your phone.
- A rough site plan with the proposed floor area.
- Your parcel number (APN), so staff can check zoning and any overlay districts.
Ask for the estimate in writing. A written pre-application estimate is the number you can plan against.