Quick Answer: Building permit fees in San Jose in 2025 depend on the project valuation and type. San Jose uses a plan check fee + inspection fee + various surcharges model. A typical room addition permit (400 sq ft, $200,000 project valuation) costs approximately $3,000-$7,000 in total permit fees. A kitchen remodel permit costs approximately $500-$2,000. A new detached ADU (800 sq ft) permit costs $8,000-$20,000+ including ADU-specific fees, school impact fees ($3-$5/sq ft), and utility connection fees. Permit fees are set by the San Jose fee schedule updated annually — your contractor should obtain a formal fee estimate from PBCE at the pre-application meeting.
San Jose Building Permit Fee Guide 2025
| Project Type | Permit Fee Range | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel (with electrical/plumbing changes) | $500 – $2,500 | Building + electrical + plumbing + mechanical permits |
| Bathroom remodel (with plumbing) | $400 – $1,800 | Building + plumbing + electrical permits |
| Room addition (200-400 sq ft) | $2,500 – $6,000 | Plan check + inspection + structural |
| Second story addition | $5,000 – $15,000 | Plan check + structural + energy compliance |
| Detached ADU (new construction, 500-800 sq ft) | $8,000 – $25,000 | Building + utility + school impact fees |
| Garage conversion ADU | $3,000 – $8,000 | Exempt from school fees; building + electrical + plumbing |
| Window replacement (new opening) | $300 – $700 | Building permit for new/expanded opening only |
| Deck or patio cover | $500 – $1,500 | Building permit |
| Roof replacement | $400 – $800 | Roofing permit (re-roofing) |
San Jose Permit Fee Structure — How It’s Calculated
San Jose permit fees include: (1) Plan check fee — typically 65-80% of the building permit fee, charged when plans are submitted; (2) Building permit fee — based on a table of project valuation; (3) Inspection fee — flat fee per inspection; (4) Energy compliance fee — for additions and ADUs; (5) School impact fee (SIF) — charged by the school district per square foot for ADUs and room additions ($3-$5/sq ft); (6) Utility connection fees — San Jose Water, PG&E, and sewer connection (for new ADUs only). The City of San Jose PBCE has a fee estimator at sanjoseca.gov/permitcenter.
Quartz Construction handles all permit applications and fees for San Jose projects — permit costs are included in our detailed project estimates. Learn about room addition services. CSLB #1003436 | Call (650) 749-7436.
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