Building department outlines storm-response permitting process; council asks about fee waivers and timing

Bobby LaRue of the Monroe County Building Department briefed the council on the office’s storm-response procedures on June 24, describing how the department prioritizes power restoration and reconstruction inspections after storm events.

LaRue said that when local officials or commissioners declare an emergency, utility companies are authorized to restore power to buildings they determine safe; the building department follows up with inspections. For single-family residential repairs governed by Indiana’s residential code, LaRue said applicants should check the storm-date box on applications to receive expedited processing and a reduced permit fee intended to cover administrative costs.

LaRue said the storm reconstruction permitting fee for a single-family home is $100. He explained that non-residential or Class 1 structures (anything other than single-family homes, duplexes or townhouses) typically require additional review and in many cases require a portion of the permit to be reviewed by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, which can lengthen processing time.

Councilors asked whether the county could waive permit fees for homeowners after a storm and requested an estimate of the fiscal cost and average processing time if the county were to offset fees. LaRue said he would need time to calculate costs and that total processing time varies because the building department coordinates reviews with multiple departments.

Councilors expressed support for speeding permitting overall, noting statewide legislative changes and internal efforts to move permits faster while still providing compliance guidance.

No vote was taken; the item was an informational departmental update with a request from councilors for follow-up on fee-waiver cost estimates and average application-processing times.