One of the first questions we hear is how an architect’s fee works. The honest answer is that it depends on the project. We cater each contract to its project. Depending on budget, project scale, timeline and client needs, we structure our fees in one of three ways: a fixed fee, a percentage of the cost of construction, or an hourly basis.
This post explains each one, when it fits, and what to ask before you sign.
Fixed fee
A fixed fee is one agreed amount for a defined set of services. You know the cost of the architecture before the work begins.
We find this works for new buildings, when it is quite clear what the scope of work will be throughout the job. A new house starts from a survey and a program, so the drawings needed can be listed in advance.
A remodel is harder to fix in advance, because an existing house can hold surprises. On our Molino project in Mill Valley, demolition revealed substantial deficiencies in the original framing, and more reconstruction was required than anticipated. On Addison in San Francisco, an unexpected pipe led to a near floor-to-ceiling cabinet. When scope can shift like that, a fixed fee has to include an allowance for the unknown, or be revisited when the scope changes.
Ask: exactly which services and how many rounds of revision the fee includes, and how a change in scope will be priced.
Percentage of the cost of construction
Here the fee is calculated as a share of what the project costs to build. The fee follows the size and complexity of the work: a larger or more detailed project takes more drawings, more coordination and more time on site.
The actual percentage will vary, depending on the type of project. That is why we do not publish a single number. A new house on an open lot, a hillside remodel with excavation and an interior renovation each ask for a different amount of work per dollar built.
Ask: which construction costs the percentage applies to, at what point the cost figure is set, and what happens to the fee if the construction cost goes up or down.
Hourly
With an hourly arrangement you pay for the time spent on your project, at agreed rates.
We think this structure is probably the fairest for smaller jobs. The client ends up paying only for the time that is spent on the project, instead of paying for the built-in contingencies that are naturally part of a fixed fee or a percentage.
The trade-off is that the total is not known at the start. For that reason it suits work that is small or still being defined, such as a feasibility study or an early design phase.
Ask: for the hourly rates, an estimate of hours for each phase, and how often you will be billed.
The three structures side by side
- Fixed fee. Best when the scope is clear from the start, as with a new building. You know the total early. The fee carries built-in contingencies.
- Percentage of construction cost. The fee tracks the size and complexity of what is built. The percentage varies with the type of project.
- Hourly. Probably the fairest for smaller jobs. You pay only for time spent. The total is not fixed in advance.
Whichever applies, the contract should state it clearly.
What the fee covers
A fee only means something next to a list of services. These are the services we provide, in the order a project usually moves through them:
- Pre-design. Site analysis, feasibility studies and consultant selection (surveyors, geotechnical engineers).
- Programming. Prioritizing the necessary spaces within the project’s parameters.
- Schematic design. Developing functional and contextually appropriate design concepts within zoning requirements.
- Planning department submission. Acting as a liaison with city officials and adjacent property owners to help move the project through the planning department.
- Design development. Developing the design based on the planning approval, consulting with relevant experts as needed.
- Construction documents. Preparing detailed building plans and specifications for the building department and for construction.
- Building department submission. Facilitating the submission process with the city.
- Bidding and negotiation. Pre-qualifying contractors, publishing bidding documents, comparing bids and determining the best builder for the job.
- Construction observation. Construction-related services that protect the client’s interests and assist in timely completion of the project.
Not every project needs all nine. When you compare proposals from different architects, compare the services line by line before you compare the fee.
Costs outside the architect’s fee
Most projects need other professionals. Our project credits nearly always name a structural engineer. Some also name a geotechnical or soils engineer, a landscape architect or a lighting designer, and one names a civil engineer. Application and permit fees are charged by the city, not by the architect. Ask whether the consultants are included in the architect’s fee or hired directly by you. The California Architects Board recommends that the contract list the consultants that may be needed and say how they will be hired and paid.
What California requires in the contract
As of November 2026, California law requires an architect to have a written contract with the client, signed before services begin, with limited exceptions. According to the California Architects Board’s Consumer’s Guide to Hiring an Architect, the required contents include:
- A description of the project and of the services the architect will provide.
- The basis of compensation and the method of payment agreed upon by both parties.
- The name, address and license number of the architect, and the name and address of the client.
- The procedure for accommodating additional services.
- The procedure either party will use to terminate the contract.
- The project address.
- A statement identifying the ownership and use of the drawings and other documents the architect prepares.
- A statement, in at least 12-point type, that architects are licensed and regulated by the California Architects Board.
The same guide recommends several items that bear on the fee: an itemized list of basic services and the proposed fee, a definition of reimbursable expenses, a schedule of payment dates and amounts, and the amount of any retainer and how it will be applied. It also advises clients to be wary of excessive advances or retainer fees to begin services.
Phil Rossington’s California architect license number is C25251. The California Architects Board can tell you whether any architect is currently licensed.
Questions and answers
How do architects charge for a home remodel?
Usually in one of three ways: a fixed fee, a percentage of the cost of construction, or hourly. The right one depends on the budget, the scale of the project, the timeline and how clearly the scope can be defined at the start.
Is an hourly fee or a fixed fee better for a small project?
We think an hourly basis is probably the fairest for smaller jobs, because the client pays only for the time spent and not for the contingencies built into a fixed fee. A fixed fee works when the scope is quite clear throughout the job.
What percentage of construction cost does an architect charge?
It varies with the type of project, so we do not publish one figure. We set the fee structure after we understand the house, the site and what you want to do. Ask any architect you interview which costs the percentage applies to and when the cost figure is fixed.
Does an architect in California have to give me a written contract?
Yes, with limited exceptions. State law requires a written contract that describes the project, the services, the basis of compensation and the method of payment, among other items. The California Architects Board explains the requirements in its consumer guide, linked above.
Talk to us about your project
Our Services & Fees page lists what we do and how we charge. To find out which structure would suit your project, contact us and describe what you have in mind.
Phil Rossington founded Rossington Architecture in 1999 and leads every project in the office. Read more about the firm.
