Branson aldermen approve first reading to standardize building permit fees using ICC valuation table

Branson aldermen on Tuesday approved the first reading of ordinance 65-42, a revision to Chapter 18 of the Branson Municipal Code that changes how the city calculates building permit fees and adds several new flat-fee permit categories. The ordinance sets an implementation target of Oct. 1, 2025, to allow staff outreach and system updates.

City staff said the change replaces the current method — in which applicants supply an estimated construction value — with the International Code Council (ICC) building valuation table (August 2024). "The new fee structure will establish a consistent framework for calculating building permit fees to ensure clarity and consistency in permit fee calculations," Amanda, a member of the city's permitting staff, told the board during a detailed staff report.

Supporters said the new system narrows subjective variability and aligns Branson with nearby jurisdictions that already use ICC data. Building Services Supervisor Norm Tee described months of research and staff collaboration to prepare the proposal: "I just want to express my appreciation for the many, many months of research and collaboration in different parts of city government to come with to you with this proposal tonight." He added staff will publish guidance and an online calculator to help applicants estimate fees.

Under the ordinance text presented, the permit fee for square-footage-based permits will be: project square footage × ICC cost per square foot × permit multiplier. The proposal sets the permit multiplier at 0.0055 (an increase from 0.0053, a roughly 3.77% change). Staff said many fees will be similar, but the new method reduces underreporting of construction values and makes fees more predictable. Staff estimated the example impact for a 1,000-square-foot home would be roughly a $35–$40 difference compared with current calculations.

The proposal also creates two categories of permits: square-footage-based building permits and standalone flat-fee permits for defined projects such as pools, water heaters, reroofs and some mechanical work. Standalone permits will include the initial plan review in the flat fee. Plan review fees remain 50% of the building permit fee for applicable projects; application technology fees were not changed.

Staff proposed a temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) policy with a 60-day limit and a maximum of three consecutive TCOs; the draft sets TCO fees at $250 for residential and $500 for commercial temporary certificates. On enforcement, the ordinance would set the penalty for working without a permit at double the normal permit fee (with a stated $200 minimum), replacing the current fixed low penalty.

Board members asked how the changes affect typical homeowners. "If I take my Alderman hat off and I'm just a citizen... does this affect me? Is it more expensive? Is it less expensive?" asked Alderman Clay Cooper; staff responded that most routine residential work will remain straightforward and exempt activities (for example, painting, some minor repairs) are unchanged and that the online calculator and FAQ will simplify estimating fees.

Mayor Larry Milton and other aldermen praised the outreach and emphasized that the change aims for fairness and transparency. Staff asked for the board's support of the first reading and a planned Oct. 1 implementation date to allow for stakeholder outreach and software updates. The first reading passed on an affirmative voice vote; staff said it will return for the second/final reading after outreach and system updates.

What happens next: staff will publish explanatory materials and an online fee calculator, continue outreach to contractors and residents, and return the ordinance for a final reading once outreach and system configuration are complete.