Illinois Commercial Building Permit Cost Estimator
Estimate the cost of a commercial building permit in Illinois based on your project's construction valuation, type, and municipality size. Fees are calculated using ICC/IBC-based sliding scale schedules commonly adopted across Illinois jurisdictions.
Formula & Fee Schedule
Base Building Permit Fee — ICC sliding-scale schedule (widely adopted in Illinois):
- $1 – $500: $23.50 flat
- $501 – $2,000: $23.50 + $3.05 per $100 (or fraction) over $500
- $2,001 – $25,000: $69.25 + $14.00 per $1,000 over $2,000
- $25,001 – $50,000: $391.25 + $10.10 per $1,000 over $25,000
- $50,001 – $100,000: $643.75 + $7.00 per $1,000 over $50,000
- $100,001 – $500,000: $993.75 + $5.60 per $1,000 over $100,000
- $500,001 – $1,000,000: $3,233.75 + $4.75 per $1,000 over $500,000
- $1,000,001+: $5,608.75 + $3.65 per $1,000 over $1,000,000
Project Type Multiplier: New/Addition = 1.00 × | Alteration = 0.85 × | Change of Occupancy = 0.70 ×
Municipality Multiplier: Large (100k+ pop.) = 1.20 × | Medium = 1.00 × | Small/Village = 0.90 ×
Plan Review Fee = Base Fee × 65%
Inspection Fee = (Sq Ft × $0.08) + ((Stories − 1) × $75)
Fire Suppression Permit = $150 + (Sq Ft × $0.12)
Electrical Permit = max($150, $100 + Sq Ft × $0.04)
Plumbing Permit = max($125, $75 + Sq Ft × $0.035)
HVAC / Mechanical Permit = max($100, $75 + Sq Ft × $0.03)
Illinois CDB State Surcharge = Base Fee × 1%
Total = Base + Plan Review + Inspection + Fire + Electrical + Plumbing + HVAC + State Surcharge
Assumptions & References
- Base fee schedule follows the ICC Building Valuation Fee Table adopted by the majority of Illinois municipalities via the Illinois Municipal League model ordinance.
- Plan review fee of 65% of base permit fee is the ICC model ordinance standard and is used by Chicago, Aurora, Naperville, and most Illinois jurisdictions.
- Construction valuation should reflect total project cost (materials + labor), consistent with IBC Section 109.3 and Illinois local ordinance requirements.
- Fire suppression permit fees are based on the Illinois State Fire Marshal schedule and typical local fire district fee structures.
- Electrical permit fees reference the Illinois Commerce Commission and local electrical inspection authority schedules.
- Plumbing permit fees are based on the Illinois Plumbing Code (225 ILCS 320) and local health department schedules.
- The Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) surcharge of 1% applies to commercial permits per 20 ILCS 3105/10.02-1.
- Municipality size multipliers reflect documented fee differentials between large, medium, and small Illinois jurisdictions based on published fee schedules from Chicago, Rockford, Springfield, Naperville, Peoria, and sample villages.
- Chicago uses a separate, more complex fee schedule; this tool provides a reasonable approximation for planning purposes.
- This tool provides estimates only. Actual permit fees must be confirmed with the applicable local building department prior to permit application.