Philippines Building Permit Cost Calculator
Estimate your full permit fee package — building, electrical, sanitary, and occupancy — based on project cost and location. Updated 2026 NBCP rates.
Estimate Your Permit Fees
| Building Permit Fee | ₱— |
| Electrical Permit | ₱— |
| Sanitary / Plumbing Permit | ₱— |
| Mechanical Permit (if applicable) | ₱— |
| Fencing Permit (perimeter) | ₱— |
| Certificate of Occupancy (after build) | ₱— |
| Total (excl. CO) | ₱— |
⚠️ Estimates only. Actual fees vary by LGU and are set at the assessor's discretion. Always verify with your local building official.
Need the full construction cost breakdown — materials, labor, and finishes?
Use the Full House Cost Calculator →Getting a building permit in the Philippines is not optional — and it is not cheap. Most homeowners building for the first time are caught off guard when the permit fees arrive. A ₱3,000,000 house project in a typical provincial city can easily rack up ₱40,000 to ₱60,000 in permit fees before a single CHB block is laid. In Metro Manila, that same project can push past ₱80,000. These fees are governed by Presidential Decree 1096 (the National Building Code of the Philippines, or NBCP), but each LGU sets its own multipliers — which is why fees vary so much from city to city.
This page breaks down every permit fee you will need to pay, explains how they are calculated, and tells you exactly what documents to prepare so you are not surprised at the assessor's window. The calculator above gives you a fast estimate based on your project cost and location. Use it as a planning number, then confirm with your local Office of the Building Official (OBO) before you budget.
One thing most people get wrong: the building permit fee is not one fee. It is a package of at least four to six separate permits — and you need all of them before construction can legally begin. Missing even one (like the electrical permit) can cause your project to be flagged during inspection and halt your Certificate of Occupancy later.
Building Permit Fee Reference by Project Cost (2026)
Approximate total permit package (building + electrical + sanitary + occupancy) for a standard residential project.
| Project Cost | Municipality / Rural | Provincial City | Metro Manila / HUC |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₱500,000 | ₱8,000–₱12,000 | ₱12,000–₱18,000 | ₱18,000–₱25,000 |
| ₱1,000,000 | ₱14,000–₱20,000 | ₱22,000–₱32,000 | ₱32,000–₱45,000 |
| ₱2,000,000 | ₱25,000–₱35,000 | ₱38,000–₱52,000 | ₱55,000–₱75,000 |
| ₱3,000,000 | ₱35,000–₱50,000 | ₱52,000–₱72,000 | ₱75,000–₱100,000 |
| ₱5,000,000 | ₱55,000–₱75,000 | ₱80,000–₱110,000 | ₱115,000–₱155,000 |
| ₱10,000,000 | ₱100,000–₱130,000 | ₱145,000–₱185,000 | ₱200,000–₱260,000 |
Ranges reflect LGU multiplier variance within each zone tier. Includes building, electrical, sanitary permits and Certificate of Occupancy estimate. Commercial projects add 20–40% to the above figures.
What the Building Permit Fee Actually Covers
The "building permit fee" is really a bundle of six separate government fees, each with its own computation. The main building permit fee itself is calculated as a percentage of your project's assessed construction cost — typically 0.5% to 1.5% depending on the LGU and structure type. On top of that you pay an electrical permit (computed based on connected load or floor area), a sanitary/plumbing permit (based on fixture count or floor area), and a fencing permit if you're building a perimeter wall.
The mechanical permit applies if your design includes elevators, escalators, fire suppression systems, or large HVAC installations — mostly relevant for commercial and multi-storey apartment buildings. If you're doing a simple bungalow, you can skip this line item. The Certificate of Occupancy is a separate fee paid at the end of construction, not upfront. It is computed similarly to the building permit fee but is often 30–50% of the original building permit cost.
One commonly missed item: if your project requires demolishing an existing structure, you also need a demolition permit, typically ₱2,000 to ₱8,000 depending on the size. This is processed before the building permit, not at the same time.
Documents You Need Before Applying
The most common reason building permit applications stall is missing or incorrectly prepared documents. Every LGU has slightly different requirements, but the core list is consistent across the Philippines under the NBCP. You will need: a notarized application form (available at the OBO), proof of ownership (TCT or deed of sale), updated real property tax clearance, and a lot plan prepared and signed by a licensed geodetic engineer. The lot plan must show the property boundaries, neighboring structures, and setback distances.
The design plans are where most applicants run into problems. You need full architectural plans signed by a PRC-licensed architect, structural plans signed by a licensed civil or structural engineer, electrical plans signed by a licensed electrical engineer, and sanitary/plumbing plans signed by a licensed sanitary engineer. All professionals must have current PRC licenses, and some LGUs also require a Professional Tax Receipt (PTR) issued by the local government. If any of your engineers are not registered in the LGU where your project is located, they may need to register locally first.
Beyond the technical plans, expect to submit a barangay clearance, a homeowners' association clearance if you're building in a subdivision, and a DOLE-compliant health and safety plan if the project costs exceed ₱5,000,000. Smart builders compile these documents 30 days before they intend to submit so they have buffer time to correct any issues without holding up the start date.
How LGUs Set Permit Fees (and Why Your City Might Cost More)
The NBCP sets the national floor rate for building permit fees, but LGUs are empowered to apply their own multipliers. Highly urbanized cities like Quezon City, Makati, and Pasig typically apply a 1.5x to 2x multiplier on top of the base NBCP rate. This is why a ₱2M project in Quezon City can cost ₱30,000 more in permit fees than the same project in a rural municipality in Batangas. The difference is not corruption — it is how the revenue code for each LGU is structured.
The silver lining: some progressive LGUs have streamlined the permit process significantly. Cities that have adopted the Philippine Business Hub or the One-Stop Shop system under ARTA can process simple residential permits in as little as 10 to 15 working days. Before you budget for 90 days of delay, check if your LGU has this system in place — it can make a material difference to your construction timeline.