Permit Please?

I’m going over our accounts and tallying up our building expenses and came across an alarming fact.  We spent over $15,000 on permits.  Yes, just permits.  Not labor, not materials, just permits.  We built one house, not ten and we spent over $15,000 on permits.  I’m a little shocked.  Um, City of Seattle, you are welcome…I guess.  Doesn’t that seem like a lot?