Kitchen and bath permit fees in Concord, CA
What the city requires a permit for, how to apply, how long plan review takes, and the formula the city uses to set fees. The worked example is a planning estimate, not a quote.
What needs a permit
Information Bulletin IB-022 (revised May 18, 2023) lists specific kitchen and bath items. A kitchen remodel and a bathroom remodel both need a building permit, new or as a replacement. Several related items need their own electrical or plumbing permit.
| Item | Permit if new | Permit if replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | Yes | Yes |
| Bathroom remodel | Yes | Yes |
| Shower or tub enclosure | Yes | Yes |
| Kitchen remodel, GFCI protection | Yes | Yes |
| Water heater | Yes | Yes |
| Exhaust fan (bathroom, kitchen, laundry) | Yes | Only if moving, a type change, or a rating increase |
| Garbage disposal | Yes | Only if the rating increases |
| Faucet or toilet | Yes | Only if moved |
This is a short list of the items most kitchen and bath projects touch. IB-022 covers more items; see the permit guide for how Concord compares with Pleasant Hill and Clayton.
How to apply
Concord takes building permit applications online through its Virtual Permit Center.
- Register for an account at the city's Virtual Permit Center
- Select "Building" as the application type, then "Create an Application"
- Enter the project address and confirm the auto-filled property information
- Add contact information for the applicant and the party paying fees (the "depositor")
- Add the licensed contractor's information, or note the project is owner-builder
- Describe the work and enter the construction value, including both materials and labor (owner labor needs a market-rate value)
- Upload a signed Contractor's Declaration, or an Owner/Builder form if no contractor is listed yet
- Submit the application and watch for a notice, typically within 3 business days, about missing information or fees due
- Pay the invoiced fees so the project can be routed for plan review
Plan review turnaround
The city's Plan Review Turn-A-Round Schedule, dated October 13, 2023, lists these as the maximum estimated business days for a residential alteration, which is the category a kitchen or bath remodel usually falls under. An additional 2 business days can be expected for processing, on top of the review times below, and the clock starts once fees are paid.
| Project type | First review | Subsequent reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Alteration | 10 business days | 5 business days |
| Alteration, minor (for example a tub or shower remodel) | 5 business days | 5 business days |
These are estimated maximums, not promises, and they can vary with staffing and workload.
What the city charges
Concord's Building Division fee schedule (Resolution 78-6042 Exhibit A, adopted April 28, 2026) sets most building permit fees from the project's construction valuation, the dollar value of materials and labor the city estimates for the work. A kitchen or bath remodel is charged under the general "Building Permit - General" category below, not the mechanical/electrical/plumbing-only or pool-only categories.
Plan review and inspection, by valuation
| Project valuation | Plan review fee | Inspection fee |
|---|---|---|
| $2,000 or less | $83.93 | $130.09 |
| $2,001 to $25,000 | $83.93, plus $9.93 per $1,000 over $2,000 | $130.09, plus $14.78 per $1,000 over $2,000 |
| $25,001 to $50,000 | $312.32, plus $23.78 per $1,000 over $25,000 | $470.03, plus $18.81 per $1,000 over $25,000 |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | $906.82, plus $18.76 per $1,000 over $50,000 | $940.28, plus $25.33 per $1,000 over $50,000 |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $1,844.82, plus $13.70 per $1,000 over $100,000 | $2,206.78, plus $20.93 per $1,000 over $100,000 |
Higher valuation tiers are in the published schedule. On top of plan review and inspection, most permits also carry:
- Administrative fee: $70, plus 0.0789 percent of valuation, capped at $550.
- Technology fee: 10.5 percent of the sum of the administrative, plan review, and inspection fees.
- California Building Standards Fee: $4 per $100,000 of valuation, $1 minimum.
- SMIP fee (residential, 1 to 3 stories): $13 per $100,000 of valuation, $0.50 minimum.
Worked example, not a quote: a kitchen remodel with a $75,000 construction valuation, the midpoint of a local 2026 price guide's "same layout replacement" range cited in the cost guide.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Administrative fee | $129.18 |
| Plan review fee | $1,375.82 |
| Inspection fee | $1,573.53 |
| Technology fee | $323.25 |
| California Building Standards Fee | $3.00 |
| SMIP fee | $9.75 |
| Estimated total | $3,414.53 |
This example uses the formulas above at one valuation. Your fee depends on the valuation the Building Official sets for your project, and a project that also needs engineering, planning, or other department review can add more. It is not a quote, and this site does not set or collect permit fees.
Permit fee questions
Does the fee schedule apply to a kitchen refresh with no layout change?
Yes. The city charges by construction valuation, not by whether the layout changes. A smaller refresh has a lower valuation and a lower fee under the same formula.
Can this site tell me my exact fee?
No. The city sets the final valuation and the fee. The worked example on this page is one scenario at one valuation, for planning only.
Sources
- City of Concord Information Bulletin IB-022, Work Requiring a Permit, revised May 18, 2023
- City of Concord Building Division fee schedule, Resolution 78-6042 Exhibit A, adopted April 28, 2026
- City of Concord, Apply for a Building Permit
- City of Concord, Building Permit Application Instructions
- City of Concord, Plan Review Turn-A-Round Schedule, dated October 13, 2023
Ask a licensed general contractor to follow up
Send a request with your address and whether this is a kitchen, a bathroom, or both. We pass your request to one independent licensed general contractor who serves Concord, CA, if one is available. On that call we do not quote a price, agree a scope, or book the job.
Free referral service, not a contractor. Calls to this site are recorded to confirm referrals and for quality. How this works.