Fee Schedule

(3) Building permit department fees. General requirements and conditions apply to all permits, registrations or other specific conditions are as follows:

Any fee for permit, registration and other fees identified in this section is required to be permitted as identified by the fee schedule(s).

No permit in any case or project discipline will be less than a minimum standard fifty dollars ($50.00) including the application fee, for processing and allows for one site inspection except as specifically identified elsewhere in this Code. Fees not specifically modified or adjusted will be charged a fee as previously established in Code.

a. Building fee schedule:

1. Commercial. New commercial construction, additions, alterations and repairs. The fee for all types of commercial constructions, additions, alterations, and repairs shall be computed at the rate of twenty cents ($0.20) per square foot of area covered by roof or similar structure to include stand alone foundations with required review approvals. This is the accumulative aggregate of all floor(s) square footages. Provided that the fee computed shall never be less than one hundred dollars ($100.00). Foundation only permits will have specific conditions required with allowance based on the project conditions.

2. Residential. The fee for all types of new one- and two-family residential dwelling construction, additions, alterations and repairs shall be computed at the rate of twenty cents ($0.20) per square foot covered by roof or similar structure. This is the accumulative aggregate of all floor(s) square footages. Provided that the fee computed shall never be less than fifty dollars ($50.00). Residential storage buildings one hundred (100) square feet and under are exempt from permit requirements, but must comply with setback requirements. Foundation-only permits for all types of new one- and two-family residential dwelling construction and additions shall not be allowed unless specifically authorized and fees paid as per normal construction of one-story under roof.

The construction of residential garages, shops, barns, storage and other utility type structures at 1,200 square feet or less are allowed to be constructed to residential standards, those structures over 1,200 square feet must be constructed to all commercial building for fire separations/distances, design loads and structural conditions, mechanical, electrical and plumbing codes and standards. Yet the structure can be used for private residential use only without required plumbing fixture ratios without any type of business, operation or advertisement use allowed with minimum improved residential off-street parking access. In no case can a structure over 1,200 square feet be allowed to be constructed closer than five (5) feet from any property line and must satisfy all property specific setback requirements. Shipping containers of any size shall not be permitted on a residential lot or within a residential subdivision.

3. Roof system repair or replacement. Roof system replacement and/or repairs in excess of 25 per cent of each roof requires permits.

i. The permit fee for any residential roofing repair or replacement shall be forty dollars ($40.00) for each structure inclusive of the application. This is for overlay only or replacement of like materials and any minor decking and structural work, with the approval of the building inspector or a plan reviewer.

ii. The permit for any commercial roofing, repair or replacements shall be fifty dollars ($50.00) for each structure plus the standard ten dollars ($10.00) application. This is for overlay only or replacement of like materials and any minor decking and structural work, with the approval of the building inspector or a plan reviewer.

Commercial roof projects where the roof is to be altered or structurally modified in any form must provide engineered drawings and the plan review fee of fifty dollars ($50.00), the building permit fee will be no less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00). The identified fees apply per each building.

Wood shingle, shake and other combustible roofing materials are specifically prohibited in any type of roofing project with the exception of minor repairs to existing residential single-family homes.

4. Plan checking and review.

i. Commercial building permit. An applicant for commercial building permit for construction, alteration, additions or repairs shall submit with the application two (2) sets of plans and specifications complete with topography, landscape, boundary survey, drainage, electrical, plumbing, ADA compliance, IECC compliance and heating-air conditioning. The applicant shall also submit a plan review fee in the amount equal to one-half (½) of the building permit fee of twenty cents ($0.20) per square foot of area covered under roof. This plan review fee shall be ten cents ($0.10) per square foot under roof. That said plan review fee shall never be less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) or more than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00). The plan review fee shall be submitted in advance when submitting the application package for construction, no routing or plan review will take place prior to the fees being satisfied. Plan checking fee shall not be refundable.

ii. Residential building permit. An applicant for a residential building permit for construction, alteration, additions, or repairs shall submit with the application two (2) sets of drawings of plans and specifications complete with a boundary survey, and any plans for plumbing, electrical, IECC compliance and heating-air conditions. The minimum plan review fee shall be computed at ten cents ($0.10) per square foot for any construction, alteration, additions or repairs for five hundred (500) square feet or more under roof. No plan review fee will be charged for any plan review of residential construction project covering less than five hundred (500) square feet under roof. All detached structures will be viewed as independent construction with plan review fees incurred for construction over five hundred (500) square feet under roof.

5. Application fee. Where not otherwise specified in this section, there shall be a ten dollar ($10.00) application fee charged for all permits issued, regardless of the discipline.

6. Fences. Permits for new residential fences shall be forty dollars ($40.00) including the application fee. Permits for new commercial fences shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00) per one thousand (1,000) linear feet or additional portion thereof plus an application fee. Permits for new commercial storage lot fences shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00) per five hundred (500) linear feet or additional portion thereof plus an application fee. The permit fee for a multi-family fence shall be calculated at the rate of twenty dollars ($20.00) for each five hundred (500) lineal feet or part thereof in the length of each side of the fence or wall, gates and doors inclusive plus an application fee. Repair and replacement of alike materials in the exact same location and elevations are exempt unless the fence and attachments thereof are found in violation of other City of Pasadena Code of Ordinances or specific business requirements.

7. Reinspection. Where all or any part of an operation authorized by a permit issued hereunder fails to pass inspection, a reinspection fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) may be charged for each required subsequent inspection.

8. Failure to obtain permit. The identification of a fee shall determine the requirement for a permit in any discipline in this Code. No construction, alteration, removal, demolition or other building operation shall be commenced until the required fees, as set forth in this Code, have been paid and a permit issued and where such operations have begun prior to issuance of the permit, all such operations shall cease and the property be placed on "HOLD" until a fee equal to twice the fee that would normally be required and a twenty-five dollar ($25.00) administrative fee have been paid and a proper permit approved and issued. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits shall be required for any category and/or work for which a fee is established. This includes any installation, modification, alteration, addition to, relocations or other work determined to require a permit per the building official or his duly appointed agent(s).

9. Driveways, approaches, sidewalk. The fee for construction or alteration of any portion of a driveway, approach or sidewalk shall be ten dollars ($10.00) for each portion when included in a building permit. The stand alone fee(s) will be the same plus the application but in no case less than forty dollars ($40.00) residential and sixty dollars ($60.00) commercial for each permit issued, inclusive of the application.

10. Carport, canopy, awning and similar overhead structure(s). The fee for each carport, canopy, awning and similar overhead structure(s) or installations will be calculated at ten cents ($0.10) per square foot under roof but in no case shall the permit be less than fifty dollars ($50.00) including application. The residential construction and/or erection must satisfy setbacks and construction requirements as identified in section 9-76 of this Code. Those structures in excess of five hundred (500) per square foot shall satisfy the plan review fee requirements and satisfy minimum commercial design requirements. Carports cannot be enclosed nor any portion of the structure capable of occupancy or habitation, this specifically prohibits storage areas above a residential carport unless the minimum required setbacks can be satisfied.

Any type of carport, canopy, awning and similar overhead structure(s) or installations at a commercial site or for commercial/business use, must satisfy all relative commercial building/plan review fee(s) and design requirements.

11. Culverts. The fee for a permit to install residential stormwater culverts shall be seventy-five dollars ($75.00).

12. Incinerators. The fee for a permit for the construction or installation of an incinerator shall be one hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00) for each unit.

13. Storage tanks and product lines. The permit fee for a permit for the installation or removal of any type above or below grade storage tank or product lines shall be one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00) for each tank.

14. Demolition. The fee for a permit for the demolition of a building, a structure or any portion thereof shall be fifty dollars ($50.00) for residential and one hundred dollars ($100.00) for commercial and the permit shall be good for thirty (30) days only or the duration of the remodel project. This fee is in addition to the normal building permit fee but can be added to at half the rate of the normal rate when inclusive in a building remodel permit. If a demolition fee is included with a commercial or residential building permit, the demolition is allowed to run concurrent with the respective building permit.

15. House moving within, into or out of the City of Pasadena. No structure can be relocated within or outside the city limits without the satisfying of an inspection prior to the move at a fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00). This fee is in addition to the permit fees and procedures for the building and placement and the other specifics identified elsewhere in the code(s). The licensed mover must provide approved routes and copies of TXDOT required permits prior to the start of the moving into, outside or within the jurisdiction of the City of Pasadena.

16. Paving. Paving installations, including landscape islands shall be priced at twenty dollars ($20.00) per every five thousand (5,000) square feet or portion thereof, with a minimum fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00). Any consideration or type of surface areas for storage lot shall be priced at seventy-five dollars ($75.00) per every three thousand (3,000) square feet or portion thereof, with a minimum fee of one hundred seventy-five dollars ($175.00), this permit will only be available with all required improvements.

Fee for a commercial, equipment/storage yard or multifamily residential parking lot area shall be based upon twenty dollars ($20.00) per first ten thousand (10,000) square feet and ten dollars ($10.00) per any additional five thousand (5,000) square feet or portion thereof. Fee for a one- or two-family residential off-street parking area shall be twenty dollars ($20.00).

17. Paving and/or parking repairs. Paving and/or parking repairs shall require a permit for any type repair or rework to include asphalt patching, potholes, curb and concrete repairs with a minimum fee of sixty dollars ($60.00). Repairs or improvements at/or over fifty (50) percent of existing area shall be brought into minimum off-street paving and parking requirements and current drainage requirements, with the exceptions of landscaping and parking count at existing business locations.

This does not supersede the change of use or ownership compliance requirements with regards to the certificate of occupancy program. This is to include storage lot surface areas. Storage lots require permit for any site repairs or improvements and must be completed to minimum codes and standards.

18. Swimming pools.

1. Swimming pool contractors must register the legal company name, officers, responsible party/parties and insurance information as required per minimum requirements for plumbing contractors to include insurance responsibilities and responsible party or parties are identified, with the permit department on a form provided by the permit department for an annual fee of fifty dollars ($50.00). This registration will be good for one calendar year from the date of initial registration or subsequent follow up annual registrations unless the required insurance is not maintained.

2. All swimming pools/spa(s) shall be permitted and fee(s) applied in the same manner as building permits with the improved water surface area, measured in square feet to be used in the building fee calculation of the pool(s)/spa(s). No pool/spa shall be used or in any way occupied for recreation without satisfying all inspections. All local, state and federal requirements shall be the responsibility of the permit holder. Any violation of these requirements will be the sole responsibility of the permit holder/contractor. Plan review fees will apply to all swimming pool projects.

3. All swimming pools/spas including decking must be set back a minimum of five (5) feet from the property line. There shall be no paving or decking elevated above the natural ground elevation of all adjacent properties.

19. Address modifications. The administrative fee of thirty-five dollars ($35.00) for each such condition shall be charged for changing or correcting permit addresses, application information or other modifications requested or necessary to any permit process, after the clerical setup of permits are completed by the permit office. This will only be completed after a written request is provided by the original applicant or owner stating specific requested revisions and reason(s) for the request.

20. Certificate of occupancy for an existing property, building or space. It shall be unlawful to make any change in the use or occupancy of any existing property, structure and/or space to be used for a commercial purpose which would make it subject to any special provision of this and any other applicable code, without obtaining a certificate of occupancy from the City of Pasadena Permit Department, prior to any release of utilities (electrical, gas or water) being approved by the City of Pasadena Building Official or the Permit Department. If there is no change within the use group classification by the new occupant of any existing structure to be used for a commercial purpose, the existing off-street parking requirements shall be deemed to be adequate. Variance procedures for any landscaping site plan requirements shall be submitted to the City of Pasadena Planning and Zoning Commission in accordance with chapter 9, building and general regulations, section 9-199(C) of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Pasadena. A certificate of occupancy shall be approved only after application is made and all codes deemed in compliance after inspection by the building official, the fire marshal, health department, traffic department and the planning department or designated representatives. Such certifications shall be indicative that the structure or space meets the intent of the provisions of law governing building regulations for the purposed new occupant/occupancy and that such change does not result in any greater hazard to the public safety or welfare. A fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for the inspections shall be submitted with the application for the certificate of occupancy.

21. Certificates of occupancy. Certificates of occupancy issued with a one- or two-family project will be a fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) added to the permit and plan review fees. Commercial project certificate of occupancy's in conjunction with a permit will be a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) added to the permit and plan review fees.

22. Temporary certificate of occupancy or a letter of completion. The fee for a temporary certificate of occupancy or a letter of completion (no occupancy) shall be fifty dollars ($50.00) and will only be provided at written request of the owner, applicant or the general contractor.

23. Temporary utility release(s). The fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) will be required with a written request for any and all utility release(s) to an owner or agent for the cleaning, showing or other requests for commercial spaces without occupancy. This type of release(s) will only be available after inspector site inspection and approval for a maximum of ninety (90) days but can be renewed for the same price for each additional ninety (90) days or portion thereof with an additional written request and department approval.

24. Annual building contractor registration fee. All building and remodel contractors must register with the City of Pasadena Permit Department for an initial fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00) and annual renewal fee of seventy-five dollars ($75.00). Residential contractors must provide verifiable Builder Registration proof of compliance with the Texas Residential Construction Commission program. Commercial building contractors for any new construction or the remodel of an existing structure must provide a minimum proof of three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00) liability insurance with the City of Pasadena as a certificate holder. The annual City of Pasadena registration will be valid concurrent with the same date as the state for residential contractors, the commercial builders/contractors' registration will be valid for one year from the annual anniversary of the registration date, or the valid insurance period whichever is most stringent. Loss of registration with the state or failure to maintain proper insurance will void any City of Pasadena registration and require renewal to reinstate the required registration.

Exemption: Homeowners with homestead exemptions per the current tax records or an individual that is building or remodeling a personal single-family dwelling for the purpose of habitation by this same individual are exempt from this registration.

b. Mechanical fee schedule (HVAC/Refrigeration):

Mechanical contractor annual registration

Application fee .....10.00

Residential replacement of A/C condenser (each) .....40.00

Residential replacement of heater or air handler (each) .....40.00

Residential replacement of evaporator and drains (each) .....40.00

Residential addition or replacement of air treatment system (each) .....40.00

Residential addition or replacement of exhaust vents .....40.00

Complete installation or replacement of residential heating and/or air conditioning system (each-plus $5.00/ton) .....50.00

A/C duct replacement, addition or extension (plus $3.00/outlet) .....30.00

Decorative appliance installation or replacement (each) .....40.00

Minimum/miscellaneous air condition permits .....50.00

Class 1 commercial exhaust hood (each) .....100.00

Class 2 commercial exhaust hood (each) .....50.00

Unit or infrared heaters (each additional $25.00) .....40.00

Refrigeration permit (plus $3.00/ton) .....40.00

Boiler installation or replacement (plus $3.00/HP) .....50.00

Boiler application or operating permit (each) .....75.00

Complete installation or replacement of commercial heating and/or air conditioning system (each-plus $5.00/ton) .....60.00

Commercial replacement of A/C condenser (each-plus $5.00/ton) .....60.00

Commercial replacement of heating or air handler (each-plus $5.00/ton) .....60.00

Chiller replacement or installation (plus $3.00/ton) .....75.00

Cooling tower replacement or installation (plus $3.00/ton) .....75.00

Temporary operating permit (A/C, heating or boiler) .....40.00

Commercial ventilation system (per fan) .....40.00

Registration of energy inspector, or apartment maintenance personnel (paid annually) .....50.00

Re-inspection fee .....50.00

c. Electrical fee schedule: 

Electrical contractor (any type) annual registration