Ic INTERNATIONAL
CODE COUNCIL People Helping People Build a Safer World® Building Valuation Data - FEBRUARY 2026
The International Code Council is pleased to provide the components, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and interior finish following Building Valuation Data (BVD) for its members. The material. The data is a national average and does not take into BVD will be updated at six-month intervals, with the next update account any regional cost differences. As such, the use of in August 2026. ICC strongly recommends that all jurisdictions Regional Cost Modifiers is subject to the authority having and other interested parties actively evaluate and assess the jurisdiction. impact of this BVD table before utilizing it in their current code enforcement related activities. Permit Fee Multiplier
The BVD table provides the "average" construction costs per Determine the Permit Fee Multiplier:
square foot, which can be used in determining permit fees for a 1. Based on historical records, determine the total annual jurisdiction. Permit fee schedules are addressed in Section construction value which has occurred within the 109.2 of the 2024 International Building Code (IBC) whereas jurisdiction for the past year.
Section 109.3 addresses building permit valuations. The permit 2. Determine the percentage (%) of the building fees can be established by using the BVD table and a Permit department budget expected to be provided by building Fee Multiplier, which is based on the total construction value permit revenue. within the jurisdiction for the past year. The Square Foot 3.
Construction Cost table presents factors that reflect relative Bldg. Dept. Budget x (%) value of one construction classification/occupancy group to Permit Fee Multiplier = Total Annual Construction Value
another so that more expensive construction is assessed greater permit fees than less expensive construction.
Example
ICC has developed this data to aid jurisdictions in determining The building department operates on a $300,000 budget, and it 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 expects to cover 75 percent of that from building permit fees.
Square Foot Construction Cost), this data is only intended to The total annual construction value which occurred within the assist jurisdictions in determining their permit fees. This data jurisdiction in the previous year is $30,000,000. table is not intended to be used as an estimating guide because $300,000 × 75% the data only reflects average costs and is not representative of Permit Fee Multiplier = = 0.0075 specific construction. $30,000,000
This degree of precision is sufficient for the intended purpose, Permit Fee which is to help establish permit fees so as to fund code compliance activities. This BVD table provides jurisdictions with The permit fee is determined using the building gross area, the a simplified way to determine the estimated value of a building Square Foot Construction Cost and the Permit Fee Multiplier. that does not rely on the permit applicant to determine the cost of construction. Therefore, the bidding process for a particular Permit Fee = Gross Area x Square Foot Construction Cost job and other associated factors do not affect the value of a X Permit Fee Multiplier building for determining the permit fee. Whether a specific project is bid at a cost above or below the computed value of Example construction does not affect the permit fee because the cost of Type of Construction: IIB
related code enforcement activities is not directly affected by the Area: 1st story = 8,000 sq. ft.
bid process and results. 2nd story = 8,000 sq. ft.
Height: 2 stories
Building Valuation Permit Fee Multiplier = 0.0075
Use Group: B
The following building valuation data represents average 1. Gross area:
valuations for most buildings. In conjunction with IBC Section Business = 2 stories × 8,000 sq. ft. = 16,000 sq. ft 109.3, this data is offered as an aid for the building official to . Square Foot Construction Cost B/IIB = $274.77/sq. ft
determine if the permit valuation is underestimated. Again, it should be noted that, when using this data, these are "average" Business = 16,000 sq. ft. x $274.77/sq. ft x 0.0075 costs based on typical construction methods for each = $32,972.40 occupancy group and type of construction. The average costs include foundation work, structural and nonstructural building Important Points
• For purposes of establishing the Permit Fee Multiplier, the estimated total annual construction value for a given • The BVD is not intended to apply to alterations or
time period (1 year) is the sum of each building's value repairs to existing buildings. Because the scope of
(Gross Area x Square Foot Construction Cost) for that
alterations or repairs to an existing building varies so time period (e.g., 1 year).
greatly, the Square Foot Construction Costs table does
not reflect accurate values for that purpose. However,
• The Square Foot Construction Cost does not include
the Square Foot Construction Costs table can be used
the price of the land on which the building is built. The to determine the cost of an addition that is basically a Square Foot Construction Cost takes into account
stand-alone building which happens to be attached to
everything from foundation work to the roof structure
an existing building. In the case of such additions, the and coverings but does not include the price of the land. only alterations to the existing building would involve the The cost of the land does not affect the cost of related attachment of the addition to the existing building and code enforcement activities and is not included in the
the openings between the addition and the existing
Square Foot Construction Cost.
building.
Square Foot Construction Costs a, b, c
Group (2024 International Building
IA IB HIA lIB IlIA HIB IV VA VB
Code)
A-1 Assembly, theaters, with stage 357.33 344.89 333.96 321.01 300.49 291.98 310.03 280.47 269.61 A-1 Assembly, theaters, without stage 328.57 316.12 305.20 292.25 271.49 262.97 281.27 251.46 240.61 A-2 Assembly, nightclubs 277.44 269.30 260.84 250.89 234.99 228.61 242.28 213.69 205.58 A-2 Assembly, restaurants, bars, banquet 276.44 268.30 258.84 249.89 232.99 227.61 241.28 211.69 204.58 halls
A-3 Assembly, churches 331.74 319.29 308.36 295.42 275.14 266.62 284.43 255.12 244.26 A-3 Assembly, general, community halls, 276.12 263.67 251.75 239.80 218.28 210.76 228.82 198.26 188.40 libraries, museums
A-4 Assembly, arenas 327.57 315.12 303.20 291.25 269.49 261.97 280.27 249.46 239.61 B Business 309.01 297.89 287.04 274.77 250.17 241.34 264.17 223.59 213.27 E Educational 296.02 285.47 275.84 264.24 245.34 232.84 255.15 214.74 207.79 F-1 Factory and industrial, moderate hazard 169.11 160.95 150.84 145.13 129.25 122.95 138.37 107.18 99.77 F-2 Factory and industrial, low hazard 168.11 159.95 150.84 144.13 129.25 121.95 137.37 107.18 98.77 H-1 High Hazard, explosives 157.75 149.59 140.48 133.77 119.20 111.90 127.00 97.13 N.P.
H234 High Hazard 157.75 149.59 140.48 133.77 119.20 111.90 127.00 97.13 88.73 H-5 HPM 309.01 297.89 287.04 274.77 250.17 241.34 264.17 223.59 213.27 I-1 Institutional, supervised environment 283.25 273.10 263.35 253.39 231.93 225.70 252.86 208.88 201.43 I-2 Institutional, hospitals 485.04 473.91 463.07 450.80 425.24 N.P. 440.20 398.66 N.P.
I-2 Institutional, nursing homes 334.61 323.48 312.64 300.37 277.75 N.P. 289.77 251.17 N.P. 1-3 Institutional, restrained 325.77 314.64 303.80 291.53 269.89 260.06 280.93 263.64 230.99 1-4 Institutional, day care facilities 283.25 273.10 263.35 253.39 231.93 225.70 252.86 208.88 201.43 M Mercantile 207.08 198.94 189.48 180.53 164.30 158.91 171.92 143.00 135.89 R-1 Residential, hotels 286.53 276.38 266.63 256.68 | 234.71 228.48 256.15 211.66 204.20 R-2 Residential, multiple family 239.24 229.09 219.34 209.38 188.69 182.45 208.85 165.63 158.18 R-3 Residential, one- and two-family d 224.62 218.65 213.40 208.84 201.86 194.67 213.06 187.70 175.92 R-4 Residential, care/assisted living 283.25 273.10 263.35 253.39 231.93 | 225.70 252.86 208.88 201.43 facilities
S-1 Storage, moderate hazard 156.75 148.59 138.48 132.77 117.20 110.90 126.00 95.13 87.73 S-2 Storage, low hazard 155.75 147.59 138.48 131.77 117.20 109.90 125.00 95.13 86.73 U Utility, miscellaneous 125.18 118.05 109.33 104.91 93.46 87.55 99.89 74.38 71.07 Private Garages use Utility, miscellaneo
or shell only buildings deduct 20 perce
N.P. = not permitted
Unfinished basements (Group R-3) = $31.50 per sq. f