Committee agrees to waive city administrative permit fees for flood victims

Muskego’s Committee of the Whole on Oct. 14 voted unanimously to allow staff to waive the city’s administrative portion of building and permitting fees for residents with flood damage, while noting that third‑party inspection fees and contractor charges cannot be waived by the city.

The waiver applies to the city’s administrative fees tied to permits (the portion the city retains to cover staff time and processing). Staff told the committee the city uses outside inspectors for many code inspections and those vendor fees are passed through and cannot be waived by administrative action without supplemental funding. The waiver will be applied on a case‑by‑case basis, and staff said they will require applicants to indicate that the work is flood‑related.

Why it matters: The move reduces immediate out‑of‑pocket costs for residents who must repair or rebuild after flooding. The city will impose a time limit and suggested a default eligibility window of six months from the flood event, though staff said they could be flexible if residents demonstrate late‑arising insurance or recovery issues.

Action and vote

A motion to allow administrative‑fee waivers for flood victims passed unanimously on a roll‑call vote. The council recorded “yes” votes from all aldermen present and directed staff to implement the policy administratively.

Ending

Staff will implement the administrative‑fee waiver for flood victims and will return if council wants a formal ordinance or extension beyond the administratively set window.