Building Fees and Taxes

Building permit fees and taxes are based off valuation of the work being done, to include labor and materials. (all fees are subject to the City's adopted Fee Schedule)

City of Black Hawk's Fee Schedule

This valuation is determined by:

• Taking the square footage of the remodel or build project
• Applying that number into the ICC Building Valuation Data Table
• We are currently under the Feb 2019

Fees are based on the 1997 Uniform Building Code and are as follows:

Valuation Chart:
Building, Plumbing, Heating Fees

Valuation of Work:

$1 to $500

• $23.50

$501 to $2,000

• $23.50 for the first $500 plus $3.05 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof, to and including $2,000

$2,001 to $25,000

• $69.25 for the first $2,000 plus $14 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $25,000

$25,001 to $50,000

• $391.25 for the first $25,000 plus $10.10 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000

$50,001 to $100,000

• $643.75 for the first $50,000 plus $7 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof to and including $100,000

$100,001 to $500,000

• $993.75 for the first $100,000 plus $5.60 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $500,000

$500,001 to $1 million

• $3,233.75 for the first $500,000 plus $4.75 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof

$1,000,001 and up

• $5,608.75 for the first $1 million plus $3.65 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof

Plan review fee:
Plan review fees are 65 percent of the building permit fee and shall be paid at the time the plans are submitted for review. The plan review fee includes all building, mechanical, plumbing and electrical fees. 

Use tax:
The city collects use tax on building materials at the time of building permit issuance. For use tax purposes, 50 percent of the total project valuation is assumed to be materials with the balance being labor. When purchasing materials for the project, the purchaser should show the building permit payment receipt to the supplier or retail home center. The supplier or home center should not charge any city sales tax since the Black Hawk use tax has been paid with the permit. Payment of county, state and other taxes is still required on materials.

Use tax = Total valuation x 50% (materials) x assessed rate

Example of fees associated with a job:

Total project value:                                     $20,000

Permit fee:                                                  $321.25 (taken from fee schedule)

Plan check fee:*                                         $208.81 (65% of permit fee)

Use tax:                                                       $600.00 ($20,000 x 50%) = $10,000 (material cost) x 6%

Total amount due for permit is                     $1,130.06

Electrical permit fees:

Not more than 1,000 sq. ft.                                                     $115

Over 1,000 sq. ft. and not more than 1,500 sq. ft.                  $172.50

Over 1,500 sq. ft. and not more than 2,000 sq. ft.                  $230

2001 sq ft and above                                                              $10

Other Inspections and Fees:

• Inspections outside of normal business hours (min. charge – four hours): $200 per hour
• Reinspection fees: $150 per hour
• Same day inspection fee (min. charge - two hours Paid in Advance): $150 per hour
• Inspections for which no fee is specifically indicated (min. charge – two hour): $150 per hour
• Additional plan review required by changes, additions or revisions to plans (min. charge – one hour): $150 per hour