Oak Grove council members on Monday raised concerns about building-permit fees after a resident reported an $838 permit charge for a large composite deck and another resident reported a prebuilt shed permit fee tied to the shed’s purchase price.

Council members said the fees felt high for homeowners and asked staff and the city’s building official to review how permit fees are calculated. “I have a problem with an $838 permit,” Councilmember Tradewell said, noting he wanted a cap or maximum fee for unusually large or expensive projects.

Andy Schroeder of Grama River Consultants, the city’s building official, told the council his office had reviewed the specific permit and that large projects and materials can change plan-review time and inspection scope. Schroeder said composite decking and larger footprint projects add code considerations such as flashing, ledger board attachment, footing sizing and higher review needs. “A lot of the ability or what you need to do to lock that deck into the structure of your home…you have to make sure that your footing sizes are correct,” Schroeder said.

Schroeder added that in 2024–25 the city issued about 70 deck permits and only two others fell into the pricing category that produced the $838 fee. He said staff will include maximum fees for some categories, including decks, in the city’s upcoming fee-schedule recommendation. “We are able to talk about a maximum fee for decks,” Schroeder said.

Council members also asked about a reported shed permit fee that appeared to be based on the purchase price of a prebuilt building. Schroeder said permits reflect on-site work and the building code threshold: structures larger than 200 square feet fall under the state building code, which requires plan review and inspections. He asked for the address and additional particulars so staff could verify whether the fee reflected on-site work or factory-built components.

Councilmember Wylie said the council should consider how fee schedules affect routine projects versus an occasional outlier. City staff said they will return with a fee-schedule proposal that includes maximum fees and will consider refunds for applicants if a revised maximum is adopted shortly after a costly permit was paid.

No formal change to the fee schedule was made Monday; staff said a proposed revised fee schedule, including maximums for decks and accessory buildings, would be presented in coming weeks.