Building permit fee restructuring
Summary
A long-overdue cost study produced a new fee schedule with some appeal fees more than tripling — a ROGO appeal would jump from $820 to $2,853, and a DOAH administrative hearing appeal to nearly $8,700. Critics say it prices ordinary residents out of their right to appeal; commissioners countered that applicants, not all taxpayers, should cover those costs.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 2
- Last 30 days
- 0
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Sep 14, 2026.
Impact analysis
The planning department has been running a deficit of over $2 million a year that general taxpayers absorb.
General taxpayers, who currently subsidize application processing costs.
Residents and small property owners who need to appeal county decisions face much higher costs.
Mentions & discussions (2)
BUDGET MEETING - Sep 14, 2026
A new state law bars charging inspection fees based on project value, so the county is hiring JRD & Associates for a $78,527 fee study. Fees will likely rise to fix a projected $570,000 shortfall, and Commissioner Cates warned higher small-permit fees could push people to skip permits.
Board of County Commissioners - Aug 19, 2026
A long-overdue cost study produced a new fee schedule with some appeal fees more than tripling — a ROGO appeal would jump from $820 to $2,853, and a DOAH administrative hearing appeal to nearly $8,700. Critics say it prices ordinary residents out of their right to appeal; commissioners countered that applicants, not all taxpayers, should cover those costs.
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Preserves building permit eligibility for two moderate-income units.
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