Rockville, MD Building Permit Fees (2026)
Residential building permit fees from the City of Rockville's FY27 fee schedule, Resolution No. 08A-26, adopted by the Mayor and Council on May 4, 2026 and effective July 1, 2026. Rockville is an incorporated city in Montgomery County that issues its own building permits through its Inspection Services Division, so Montgomery County's permit fees do not apply inside city limits. Rockville prices homes and additions by square footage: $0.35 per square foot, plus a filing fee and a 10.25% automation fee. Every figure below comes from the resolution; any estimate is labeled as one.
This page covers: City of Rockville building permit fees for single-family detached homes and townhouses under Section 2 (Chapter 5, Buildings and Building Regulations) of Resolution No. 08A-26: the $0.35 per square foot rate for new construction, additions, and alterations, the $145 minimum permit fee, the $145 filing fee and $290 single-family dwelling filing fee, the 10.25% automation fee, flat fees for pools, fences, solar panels, and demolition, and the city's plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permit fees for reference.
This page does NOT cover: Montgomery County development impact taxes or any other county charge, Capital Contribution charges for new City water and sewer services, zoning, sediment control, stormwater, forest and tree preservation, and right-of-way fees (set in other sections of the same resolution), and fees from utilities or homeowners associations. Properties outside Rockville city limits are permitted by Montgomery County, not the City; see Montgomery County permit fees.
Filing-fee note: The resolution lists both a $145.00 filing fee and a $290.00 filing fee per dwelling for single-family dwelling (SFD) permits. It does not define which permits count as SFD permits (a new house only, or also additions and alterations to an existing house) or say whether both fees are ever charged together. It also lists no filing fee in the subsections for fences, pools, and demolition. Totals below state which filing fee they include; confirm with Inspection Services before budgeting.
Rockville, MD charges $0.35 per square foot for new homes, additions, and alterations, with a $145 minimum, plus a filing fee and a 10.25% automation fee on all application and permit fees. A 600 sq ft addition costs $391.39 with the $145 filing fee ($210 permit + $145 + 10.25%), or an estimated $551.25 if the $290 single-family dwelling filing fee applies instead ($711.11 if both are charged). A new house with 3,000 sq ft of counted area is an estimated $1,477.35 with the $290 single-family filing fee, or $1,637.21 if the $145 filing fee is also charged. An in-ground pool permit is a flat $605 ($667.01 with the automation fee). Maryland adds no statewide permit levy.
- New construction and additions cost $0.35 per square foot, counting the basement, each floor, the garage, and the roof. Alterations and repairs cost $0.35 per square foot of the affected area.
- The $145 minimum applies to single-family and townhouse building permits (new construction, additions, alterations), so one under about 415 sq ft pays $145 before the filing and automation fees. Solar panel permits are excluded; pools, fences, and demolition have their own flat fees.
- A 10.25% automation fee is added to all application and permit fees, including the trade permits. It is the largest add-on on most Rockville permits.
- Flat fees: in-ground pool $605, above-ground pool $145, fences and small accessory structures $100, solar panels $125 (electrical work included), and voluntary demolition $605.
- Trade permits are separate: plumbing and gas fixtures are $80 for the first and $20 for each additional, mechanical is $75 for the first unit, and pool electrical is $215.
- The fees took effect July 1, 2026 under the city's FY27 resolution; Rockville has adopted a new fee resolution taking effect each July 1 since 2023.
Rockville Residential Building Permit Fee Schedule
Section 2 of Resolution No. 08A-26 sets building permit fees for single-family detached homes and townhouses, then for other structures such as pools and fences, then for demolition. Rockville is not in the PermitPrice fee calculator yet because the filing-fee rules below need confirmation; use the worked examples on this page instead.
| Residential Permit Line | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New construction / addition | $0.35 / sq ft | Including basement, each floor, garage, and roof |
| Alteration / repair | $0.35 / sq ft | Square feet of the affected area |
| Minimum permit fee | $145.00 | Excludes solar panel permits |
| Solar panels | $125.00 | Includes electrical work |
| Swimming pool - residential in-ground | $605.00 | Flat (Other Structures) |
| Swimming pool - residential above-ground | $145.00 | Flat (Other Structures) |
| Fences and small accessory structures | $100.00 | Flat (Other Structures) |
| Structures not otherwise listed | $0.35 / sq ft | Including basement, each floor, and roof; minimum $175.00 |
| Demolition - voluntary | $605.00 | If condemned by the City after hearings: $605.00 plus $0.06 per cubic foot |
| Demolition - interior only | $175.00 | Paid in addition to permit fees |
| Foundation-only permit | $570.00 | Paid in addition to permit fees |
Source: City of Rockville Resolution No. 08A-26, Section 2 (Chapter 5, Buildings and Building Regulations), adopted May 4, 2026, effective July 1, 2026. Verified October 30, 2026. Decks and sheds are not named lines; ask Inspection Services whether a deck is priced as an addition, an alteration, or a structure not otherwise listed.
Fee components and add-ons
| Component | Amount | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Automation fee | 10.25% | Of all application and permit fees; listed under building, other structures, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical (EV charging outlets excluded) |
| Filing fee | $145.00 | Listed in the single-family and townhouse subsection |
| Filing fee - single-family dwelling (SFD) permits | $290.00 per dwelling | "SFD permits"; the resolution does not define which permits that covers or say whether the $145 filing fee is also charged |
| Inspector call back | $130.00 | Unless otherwise provided |
| Permit or plan revision - residential | $100.00 per revision | Administrative amendments $45.00 each |
| Working without a required permit | $205.00 | Owner doing work on residential property; $405.00 for all others |
| Inspection outside business hours | $265.00 | Per inspection, per inspector; $70.00 per hour beyond 4 hours |
| Permit extension - unexpired permit | $70.00 | Expired within 12 months: 50% of the original fee, the minimum permit cost, or $67.25, whichever is greater, up to $2,430.00 |
| State permit levy | None | Maryland has no statewide percentage building-permit levy |
Residential trade permits (separate permits)
| Trade Line | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing and gas fixtures | $80 first + $20 each additional | Water or sewer replacement on private property $80.00 each; plumber must hold a City of Rockville license |
| Mechanical | $75 first unit + $20 each additional | A unit is each 100,000 BTU of heating or 60,000 BTU of cooling, among other definitions |
| Electrical - outlets, fixtures, dedicated circuits | $80 first block + $20 each additional | Outlets and fixtures in blocks of 20; circuits per unit; minimum electrical fee $80.00 |
| Electrical - service up to 225 amp | $100.00 | Over 225 to 400 amp $125.00 |
| Electrical - swimming pool | $215.00 | All pool electrical equipment |
| EV charging | $35.00 per outlet | Excluded from the automation fee and the electrical minimum |
Source: Resolution No. 08A-26, Plumbing and Mechanical Permit Fee Schedule and Electrical Fee Schedule. Each trade schedule adds the 10.25% automation fee. Trade permits are separate permits and are not included in the building permit totals unless an example says so.
How Rockville Calculates Building Permit Fees
| Step | What Happens | Rockville Rule |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Measure the area | Add up the area the city counts. | New work: basement, each floor, garage, and roof. Alterations: the affected area only. |
| 2. Apply the rate | Multiply by $0.35, or use the flat fee for pools, fences, solar, or demolition. | For single-family and townhouse permits, a result under $145 is raised to the $145 minimum (solar excluded). Pools, fences, and demolition use their own flat fees; structures not otherwise listed have a $175 minimum. |
| 3. Add the filing fee | Residential permits carry a filing fee. | $145.00; "SFD permits" $290.00 per dwelling (scope not defined in the resolution). |
| 4. Add the automation fee | 10.25% of all application and permit fees. | Applied to the permit fee and the filing fee; results on this page are rounded to the cent. |
| 5. No value basis, no levy | Construction cost does not enter the residential fee. | No Maryland statewide levy. Multi-family and non-residential work use a separate rate with a valuation option. |
Worked Examples
Example 1: Residential addition, 600 sq ft
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | 600 sq ft × $0.35 | $210.00 |
| Filing fee | Flat | $145.00 |
| Automation fee | $355 × 10.25% | $36.39 |
| Total with the $145 filing fee | $210 + $145 + $36.39 | $391.39 |
Assumptions: 600 sq ft of counted area (including any basement and roof area the city counts for the addition). The $210 and $145 are exact from the resolution; the automation fee is $36.3875, rounded to the cent. This total assumes the $145 filing fee; if the City treats an addition to a single-family house as an SFD permit and charges the $290 filing fee instead, the total is $551.25 ($500 × 1.1025); if both filing fees are charged, it is $711.11 ($645 × 1.1025). A small addition under about 415 sq ft pays the $145 minimum instead of the square-foot fee. Trade permits for the addition are separate.
Example 2: New single-family home, 3,000 sq ft of counted area
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | 3,000 sq ft × $0.35 | $1,050.00 |
| Filing fee - single-family dwelling | Per dwelling | $290.00 |
| Automation fee | $1,340 × 10.25% | $137.35 |
| Estimated Total ($290 filing fee only) | $1,050 + $290 + $137.35 | $1,477.35 |
| Estimated Total if the $145 filing fee is also charged | ($1,050 + $290 + $145) × 1.1025 | $1,637.21 |
Estimate: The $0.35 rate and both filing fees are exact from the resolution, but the resolution does not say whether the $145 filing fee is charged in addition to the $290 single-family dwelling filing fee, so both totals are shown. The 3,000 sq ft is an assumed total of the basement, floors, garage, and roof area the city counts. Plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permits, Capital Contribution charges for a new City water and sewer service ($12,150 for a 1-inch meter, the minimum for new residential construction), and Montgomery County impact taxes are not included.
Example 3: In-ground pool with pool electrical
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pool building permit | Flat | $605.00 |
| Pool electrical permit | Flat | $215.00 |
| Automation fee | $62.01 + $22.04 | $84.05 |
| Pool Building + Electrical Total | $605 + $215 + $84.05 | $904.05 |
Assumptions: The $605 and $215 are exact; 10.25% of each is rounded to the cent. The Other Structures subsection lists no filing fee, so none is included; if Inspection Services charges the $145 filing fee on a pool permit, the total becomes $1,063.92 (automation fee recomputed on $750 and $215). Pool plumbing, a pool barrier fence, and any above-ground pool ($145 flat) are separate.
Example 4: Fence, solar panels, and an HVAC replacement
| Permit | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fence | $100 + 10.25% | $110.25 |
| Solar panels (electrical included), before any filing fee | $125 + 10.25% | $137.81 |
| HVAC replacement, one mechanical unit | $75 + 10.25% | $82.69 |
| Voluntary demolition (for comparison) | $605 + 10.25% | $667.01 |
Assumptions: Each base fee is exact from the resolution and the automation fee is rounded to the cent. Fence and mechanical permits are listed outside the subsection that carries the filing fee, so none is included; if a $145 filing fee is charged, recompute the automation fee on the combined amount (it adds $159.86 to either the fence or the HVAC total). Solar panels are listed in the same residential subsection as the filing fees, so a filing fee may apply: with the $145 filing fee, the solar total is $297.68 ($270 × 1.1025). A heat pump or furnace larger than one mechanical unit (100,000 BTU heating or 60,000 BTU cooling) adds $20 per extra unit before the automation fee.
Practitioner Insight
The first question in Rockville is whether you are in the city at all. Many homes with a Rockville mailing address sit outside city limits and are permitted by Montgomery County, whose fee structure is different (see Montgomery County permit fees). Confirm with the City before you apply; the city's permit search lists its permit records. Gaithersburg is the other Montgomery County city that issues its own permits, under its own fee schedule.
Inside the city, the fee is easy to estimate: square footage times $0.35, a filing fee, then 10.25% on everything. The automation fee is easy to miss because it is not a separate line in the residential table; it is restated under every fee subsection. Rockville counts more area than many jurisdictions on new work (the basement, garage, and roof are all in), so measure the way the city does before comparing it with a county that charges only finished floor area, such as Calvert County. Call Inspection Services at 240-314-8240.
Permit Requirements - Common Residential Projects in Rockville
| Project Type | Schedule Line | Fee Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New single-family home | Named | $0.35/sq ft | 3,000 sq ft counted: est. $1,477.35 to $1,637.21 with filing and automation fees |
| Addition | Named | $0.35/sq ft | 600 sq ft: $391.39 with the $145 filing fee; $551.25 with the $290 SFD filing fee; $711.11 with both |
| Alteration / interior remodel | Named | $0.35/sq ft affected | $145 minimum, plus filing and automation fees |
| Swimming pool | Named | $605 / $145 flat | In-ground / above-ground; pool electrical $215 separate |
| Fence or small accessory structure | Named | $100 flat | $110.25 with the automation fee |
| Solar panels | Named | $125 flat | Includes electrical work; minimum fee does not apply; filing fee may apply |
| Demolition | Named | $605 flat | Interior-only demolition $175 |
| Deck or shed | Not named | - | Ask Inspection Services which line applies |
City of Rockville Inspection Services Division
Community Planning and Development Services - Inspection Services Division
Rockville City Hall, 111 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850
240-314-8240
permits@rockvillemd.gov - Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm
Resolution No. 08A-26 (FY27)
Adopted May 4, 2026; effective July 1, 2026
When This Estimate May Not Apply
Your property is outside Rockville city limits
A Rockville mailing address does not by itself place a property inside the city. Outside city limits, Montgomery County issues the permit and its own fees apply.
The filing fee that applies is not spelled out
The resolution lists a $145 filing fee and a $290 filing fee per single-family dwelling without saying whether both apply to a new house, does not define which permits count as SFD permits, and lists no filing fee for pools, fences, or demolition. The new-home and addition totals are shown both ways; other totals leave the filing fee out where the resolution does not list one, and the solar total is shown with and without it.
Decks and sheds are not named lines
The resolution has no deck or shed line, so this page gives no fee for them. A deck could be priced as an addition, an alteration, a small accessory structure ($100), or a structure not otherwise listed ($0.35 per sq ft, $175 minimum); ask Inspection Services.
New homes carry much larger charges than the permit
A new City water and sewer service carries a Capital Contribution charge ($12,150 for a 1-inch meter under the same resolution), and Montgomery County impact taxes may apply. Neither is included in the permit totals on this page.
Fees change each fiscal year
Rockville has revised its fee resolution every year since 2023, each taking effect July 1. These figures are the FY27 amounts in effect from July 1, 2026; a FY28 resolution would replace them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
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City of Rockville Resolution No. 08A-26: To Revise the Schedule of Various User and Regulatory Fees (FY27) Adopted May 4, 2026; effective July 1, 2026 - Primary source for every fee on this page - Verified October 30, 2026.
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City of Rockville - Search Permits and Property History Current - Source for the Inspection Services Division contact details - Verified October 30, 2026.
Outside city limits? Check Montgomery County's permit fees, or compare nearby Maryland jurisdictions.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your Rockville permit cost, two related numbers complete your total budget picture:
Property tax impact after your project closes
A permitted project may change the property's assessed value. Maryland's State Department of Assessments and Taxation performs that assessment and certifies it to the local jurisdictions, separately from this permit fee.
Utility connection and impact charges
Capital Contribution charges for new City water and sewer services and any county impact taxes on new construction are separate from the building permit and are excluded from the figures above.
These charges are administered separately from the building permit fee, though the responsible office and billing process vary by jurisdiction. See which tool covers each charge →