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Do you need a permit to demolish a building?

Permits for demolitions are set locally: the city or county building department decides, under the code it has adopted. Below are the official rules and fees we verified, in each department's own words.

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On this page
  1. What cities charge for a demolition permit
  2. Before you start
  3. Sources

What cities charge for a demolition permit

Fee lines as each city’s schedule states them, never added up into a total; how permit fees work explains valuation formulas and minimums.

CityFeeAs the schedule states it
New York City, NYPermit for demolition and removalMultiply building frontage in feet or fraction thereof × number of stories of the building × $2.60, but not less than $260.1
Houston, TXBuilding Demolition Base Charge for First Story$94.002
Phoenix, AZDemolition permit, single-family residential structure(Including single-Family accessory buildings) … $983
San Antonio, TXResidential - Demolition PermitResidential - Demolition Permit $86.304
Dallas, TXDemolition FeeDemolition Fee $205 + $0.21 for each square foot of floor area5
Jacksonville, FLDemolition of single family residential buildings - BID permit feeBID permit fee · $37.50 · Development Services Fee · $12.50 · C & D Debris Fee per 1000 square feet of floor area or fractional part thereof · $400.006
Charlotte, NCDemolition Permit, structure less than 500 sq ft (total of Code Enforcement, Air Quality, Environmental Health, Historic Landmarks)Less than 500 ft2 $125.00 $150.00 $100.00 $125.00 $500.007
Columbus, OHDemolition (1, 2, and 3 Family)Demolition (includes 1 inspection) $2758
Indianapolis, INWrecking Permit: Residential--Accessory Structure Demolition$40 per application; 949
Indianapolis, INWrecking Permit: Residential--Primary Structure Demolition$40 per application; 1279
San Francisco, CADemolition Permit Fee$72410
Oklahoma City, OKDemolition fee, first storyFirst story · $38.00 · $70.00 · $74.00 · $78.00 · 60-12-8 (a)11
El Paso, TXBuilding Permits: Demolition Permit$115 plus applicable technology fee12
Boston, MALong Form Building$50.00 Primary fee plus $10.00 per $1,000.00 of the estimated cost of work.13
Detroit, MIWrecking/demolition, each building not exceeding 30,000 cu. ft., without basementNot exceeding 30,000 cu. Ft. – without basement Each $14314
Detroit, MIWrecking/demolition, each building not exceeding 30,000 cu. ft., with basementNot exceeding 30,000 cu. Ft. – with basement Each $24914
Portland, ORDemolition/Deconstruction Fee: residential with basementResidential - with basement $1,352.0015
Portland, ORDemolition/Deconstruction Fee: residential without basementResidential - without basement $1,352.0015
Memphis, TNDemolitiona. Permits to demolish structures as provided for in the Existing Building Code, the fees shall be at the rate of $9 for each 25,000 cubic feet, or fraction thereof, with a minimum fee of $70 and maximum fee of $560.16
Baltimore, MDDemolition (other than interior only), 1- and 2-family dwellings1- and 2-family dwellings $0.03 per cubic foot volume of structure Minimum $30017
Milwaukee, WIRazing or demolishing a buildinga. The permit fee for the razing or demolishing of any building or structure shall be $55 plus $0.005 per cubic foot of the volume of the building.18
Milwaukee, WIInterior demolitionb. The permit fee for interior demolition of any building or structure shall be computed at 2% of the cost of demolition. The minimum fee shall be $75.18
Albuquerque, NMDemolition permit fee (up to 1,500 sq ft)$47.0019
Albuquerque, NMDemolition permit fee, each additional 500 sq ft$10.0019
Tucson, AZInterior and/or Exterior Demolition$84.26 per 5,000 sq ft of area to be demolished, per floor20
Fresno, CADemolition - ResidentialDemolition - Residential 102.72 192.9221
Sacramento, CAWrecking Permit (residential, flat building permit fee)Wrecking Permit $175 N/A Total removal of a residential structure22
Mesa, AZDemolitionDemolition (no fee required for condemnation) $120.00 Each23
Kansas City, MODemolition permit, one- and two-family dwellings and detached accessory buildings per buildingbuildings per building … $90.0024
Kansas City, MOPre-demolition inspection fee, one and two family detached dwellings per buildingOne and two family detached dwellings per building: … $38.0024
Raleigh, NCDemolition of a building or structureDemolition Permit Fee $136.00 $150.00 Per Permit25
Colorado Springs, COWrecking Permit FeeWrecking Permit Fee $30.0026
Virginia Beach, VADemolition permit$50 per structure/building27
Oakland, CADemolition/Removal of Buildings, Structures, Pools - Basic1. · Basic · 805.93 Per Permit28
Arlington, TXDemolition permitDemolish, wreck, raze, or dismantle a building or structure within the City $200.00 per building29
Aurora, COFlat rate: demolition, SFR deck, commercial signs, SFR patio cover$402 EACH • Demolition (full or partial building) • Single Family Residential Deck • Commercial Signs • Single Family Residential Patio Cover30
Aurora, CODemolition Permit Fee (Full or Partial Building)Demolition Permit Fee (Full or Partial Building) $40231
Philadelphia, PAGeneral DemolitionGeneral Demolition $25.30 per 100 sq. ft. or fraction thereof (maximum $50,600; minimum $253)32
Austin, TXDemolition Permit (each)$81.0733

Before you start

Find your city’s demolition rule with the permit checker. What to check before you buy materials (city limits, limits in the rule, zoning and HOA rules) and the order of the steps are in how to get a building permit; what an exemption does not cover is in work exempt from a permit.

Sources

  1. 2022 NYC Construction Codes, General Administrative Provisions (Admin. Code Title 28), Chapter 1 AdministrationCity of New York, Department of BuildingsChecked November 7, 2026
  2. City Fee ScheduleCity of Houston, Finance Department (City-Wide Fee Schedule)Effective January 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  3. PDD Fee Schedule, Phoenix City Code Chapter 9, Appendix A.2City of Phoenix, Planning & Development DepartmentEffective January 20, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  4. FY 2027 Development Fee ScheduleCity of San Antonio, Development Services DepartmentRevised October 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  5. Permit Fee Schedule, Effective July 1, 2025City of Dallas, Planning & Development DepartmentEffective July 1, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
  6. City Fees (Categorized by Departments)City of Jacksonville, City Fees page (Building Inspection Division - Section 320.409)Checked November 7, 2026
  7. Mecklenburg County Government Fee Ordinance, Land Use and Environmental Services (revised July 1, 2026)Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners / Land Use and Environmental Services Agency (LUESA)Revised July 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  8. 2026 Combined Development Related Fee ScheduleCity of Columbus, Department of Building and Zoning ServicesPublished 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  9. Fee Schedule (as of January 5, 2026) [XLSX]City of Indianapolis, Department of Business and Neighborhood ServicesEffective January 5, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  10. Fee Schedule Table 1A-G: Inspections, Surveys and Reports (July 2026)City and County of San Francisco, Department of Building InspectionEffective July 12, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  11. Development Services Fee Changes (Fees Changing July 1, 2025)City of Oklahoma City, Development Services Department, Development CenterEffective July 1, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
  12. City of El Paso FY2026-2027 Adopted Budget, FY 2027 Schedule C Departmental Fee ListCity of El Paso, Office of Management & BudgetAdopted August 18, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  13. Building Fees 5 15 23 (ISD fee schedule)City of Boston, Inspectional Services DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
  14. City of Detroit BSEED Fee Schedule, Effective January 1, 2024, Modified 7/18/2025City of Detroit, Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department (BSEED)Revised July 18, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
  15. Exhibit A, Building and Other Permits Fee Schedule, Effective Date: July 10, 2026 (Ordinance 192193)City of Portland, Portland Permitting & Development (Council Ordinance 192193, City eFiles record)Effective July 10, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  16. 2021 Memphis and Shelby County Building Code (joint ordinance and local amendments)Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code EnforcementChecked November 8, 2026
  17. Section 109. Fees (Building Code)City of Baltimore Law Library (Department of Legislative Reference)Checked November 7, 2026
  18. Milwaukee Code of Ordinances ch. 200, subchapter 5 (Fees)City of Milwaukee, Department of Neighborhood ServicesRevised November 8, 2024Checked November 8, 2026
  19. 2024 City of Albuquerque Uniform Administrative Code (Exhibit A)City of Albuquerque, Planning Department, Building Safety DivisionChecked November 7, 2026
  20. Planning and Permitting Fee Schedule (Adopted Year 1 Fee Schedule, FY27)City of Tucson, Planning & Development Services Department (PDSD)Effective July 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  21. City of Fresno Master Fee Schedule - Planning & Development Fees (effective 07/01/2026)City of Fresno, Planning and Development DepartmentEffective July 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  22. Building Division Fee Detail: Table A (valuation) and Table B.1 (flat fee building permits)City of Sacramento (Fees and Charges database, Community Development Department)Revised July 19, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
  23. Schedule of Fees and Charges - Development ServicesCity of Mesa, Development Services DepartmentRevised July 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  24. Committee Substitute for Ordinance No. 220612 (final Legistar version text)City of Kansas City, Missouri, Office of the City Clerk (Legistar legislative record)Adopted October 27, 2022Checked November 7, 2026
  25. Development Fee Guide July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027City of Raleigh, Planning and DevelopmentEffective July 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  26. Fee Schedule - Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (Appendix B: Fee Schedule, 2023 PPRBC)Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD)Effective June 30, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
  27. Building Permits | City of Virginia BeachCity of Virginia Beach, Planning & Community Development, Permits & InspectionsChecked November 7, 2026
  28. Fiscal Year 2026-27 Master Fee ScheduleCity of Oakland (Master Fee Schedule, Planning & Building Department section)Effective July 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  29. City of Arlington Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule, Effective October 1, 2026 (Resolution No. 26-288)City of Arlington, Planning & Development ServicesEffective October 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  30. 2026 Flat Rate Fee Permits (Flat-Rate Fee, Revised 08/2026, Form #A175)City of Aurora, Development Services Department, Building DivisionRevised August 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  31. Fee Schedule 3 - Permit and Plan Review Fees (Effective 2026)City of Aurora, Development Services DepartmentEffective 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  32. PG_012_INF Construction Permit Fees (Rev 7.2026), Effective October 1, 2026City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and InspectionsRevised July 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  33. City of Austin Fee Schedule | Residential Building Plan Review & Inspection Permit FeesCity of Austin, Austin Development ServicesEffective October 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026