Palm Coast council approves higher residential stormwater and inspection fees to fund new division

The Palm Coast City Council unanimously approved a resolution on Oct. 7 that raises residential stormwater permit and inspection fees and establishes a structured reinspection charge to help fund a newly organized Residential Site Development division.

Staff said the change is intended to align fees with the actual cost of plan review and inspections after the city reorganized staff to put more inspectors in the field. The new fee schedule applies to new residential construction and to permits for existing homes and yard improvements that affect drainage.

Acting City Manager Britney Johnston and staff member Patrick Buckley described the new division as a stand‑alone group responsible for plan review and field inspection of residential lot grading, drainage and right‑of‑way impacts. Buckley told the council the division consists of six full‑time positions (about four inspectors, one engineering technician and one supervisor) and has a projected budget of roughly $804,000. Staff assigned approximately 75 percent of the division’s workload to residential stormwater review and inspection and proposed fees to match that portion of the budget.

Key fee changes and compliance measures

- Staff reported plan‑review and inspection fees for new residential construction increased (plan review/inspection line items moved from a combined total of about $150 to about $260 for that portion of work). City staff said the total combined residential stormwater fee package (including engineering review) moved from roughly $350 to $500 for standard new builds. - Reinspection and repeat‑violation fees were adopted to deter non‑compliance: the schedule establishes $32.50 for initial inspections, a second inspection at $32.50, a $75 fee if a violation persists on a subsequent visit, and $150 for an additional return trip where non‑compliance continues.

Buckley said the change reflects a rise in fully‑encumbered personnel costs since the prior 2021 rate study, ongoing increases in work volume and the need to capture time for corrected plans and voluntary revisions. He said staff observed multiple return visits—some sites require six or more reinspection trips—so the reinspection surcharge is intended to create an incentive to correct violations promptly.

Public comment and council discussion

Several residents and long‑time Palm Coast speakers addressed the council during public comment. Jeanne Duarte and other residents described recurring drainage and flooding concerns in older neighborhoods after neighboring infill builds, and urged enforcement and developer responsibility. Mark Webb, representing broader community concerns, said he would like the city to compare the new fees to neighboring jurisdictions and suggested exploring licensing or other revenue options to support humane‑society and library services discussed elsewhere on the agenda.

Council members and staff emphasized the broader project to modernize the city’s lot grading and drainage criteria and to better document and track right‑of‑way permits (utilities and communications work). Staff said a more comprehensive right‑of‑way permit fee schedule and ordinance updates will come back to council in January.

Motion and vote

A motion to approve the resolution to adopt the updated residential stormwater review and inspection fee schedule passed unanimously. The council directed staff to continue work on right‑of‑way permit modernization and to provide follow‑up on implementation details.

Ending

Council members said they would monitor the implementation and the budgetary impacts and expected staff to return with proposed right‑of‑way fees, mapping and enforcement language in the municipal code. Residents were urged to continue reporting drainage and erosion issues so staff can inspect and document problems.