Agenda - Council Work Session - 10/28/2025

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INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL People Helping People Build a Safer World Building Valuation Data — AUGUST 2023 The International Code Council is pleased to provide the following Building Valuation Data (BVD) for its members. The BVD will be updated at six-month intervals, with the next update in February 2024. ICC strongly recommends that all jurisdictions and other interested parties actively evaluate and assess the impact of this BVD table before utilizing it in their current code enforcement related activities. The BVD table provides the "average" construction costs per square foot, which can be used in determining permit fees for a jurisdiction. Permit fee schedules are addressed in Section 109.2 of the 2021 International Building Code (IBC) whereas Section 109.3 addresses building permit valuations. The permit fees can be established by using the BVD table and a Permit Fee Multiplier, which is based on the total construction value within the jurisdiction for the past year. The Square Foot Construction Cost table presents factors that reflect relative value of one construction classification/occupancy group to another so that more expensive construction is assessed greater permit fees than less expensive construction. ICC has developed this data to aid jurisdictions in determining permit fees. It is important to note that while this BVD table does determine an estimated value of a building (i.e., Gross Area x Square Foot Construction Cost), this data is only intended to assist jurisdictions in determining their permit fees. This data table is not intended to be used as an estimating guide because the data only reflects average costs and is not representative of specific construction. This degree of precision is sufficient for the intended purpose, which is to help establish permit fees so as to fund code compliance activities. This BVD table provides jurisdictions with a simplified way to determine the estimated value of a building that does not rely on the permit applicant to determine the cost of construction. Therefore, the bidding process for a particular job and other associated factors do not affect the value of a building for determining the permit fee. Whether a specific project is bid at a cost above or below the computed value of construction does not affect the permit fee because the cost of related code enforcement activities is not directly affected by the bid process and results. Building Valuation The following building valuation data represents average valuations for most buildings. In conjunction with IBC Section 109.3, this data is offered as an aid for the building official to determine if the permit valuation is underestimated. Again it should be noted that, when using this data, these are "average" costs based on typical construction methods for each occupancy group and type of construction. The average costs include foundation work, structural and nonstructural building components, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and interior finish material. The data is a national average and does not take into account any regional cost differences. As such, the use of Regional Cost Modifiers is subject to the authority having jurisdiction. Permit Fee Multiplier Determine the Permit Fee Multiplier: 1. Based on historical records, determine the total annual construction value which has occurred within the jurisdiction for the past year. 2. Determine the percentage (%) of the building department budget expected to be provided by building permit revenue. 3. Bldg. Dept. Budget x (%) Permit Fee Multiplier = Total Annual Construction Value Example The building department operates on a $300,000 budget, and it expects to cover 75 percent of that from building permit fees. The total annual construction value which occurred within the jurisdiction in the previous year is $30,000,000. $300,000 x 75% Permit Fee Multiplier = = 0.0075 $30,000,000 Permit Fee The permit fee is determined using the building gross area, the Square Foot Construction Cost and the Permit Fee Multiplier. Permit Fee = Gross Area x Square Foot Construction Cost X Permit Fee Multiplier Example Type of Construction: IIB Area: 1st story = 8,000 sq. ft. 2nd story = 8,000 sq. ft. Height: 2 stories Permit Fee Multiplier = 0.0075 Use Group: B 1. Gross area: Business = 2 stories x 8,000 sq. ft. = 16,000 sq. ft. 2. Square Foot Construction Cost: B/IIB = $231.65/sq. ft. 3. Permit Fee: Business = 16,000 sq. ft. x $231.65/sq. ft x 0.0075 = $27,798