Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing And Code Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee approves increase in residential occupancy inspection fee to $75 effective May 1, 2025
Summary
The community development committee voted to raise residential occupancy inspection and permit fees from $50 to $75, citing program costs and a projected break-even for inspections; the change was approved by roll call and will take effect May 1, 2025.
The community development committee voted to raise the residential occupancy inspection and permit fee from $50 to $75, effective May 1, 2025, to cover program costs staff said have left the inspection program operating at a deficit.
Community Development Director Greg Anderson and Chief Building Official Chad Truen told the committee the occupancy inspection program (required on changes of ownership or occupancy) averages inspections that take 45–60 minutes and includes one reinspection within 30 days. Anderson said staff currently complete between roughly 2,000 and 3,300 inspections in prior years and that the program is projected to run about $40,000 in the red at current rates.
"We are coming to the committee and the council today to propose changes that would go into effect May 1, 2025," Anderson said, recommending a $75 fee so the program would break even. He said the fee would continue to cover the initial inspection plus one reinspection; additional reinspections would keep the existing $35 reinspection charge.
Committee members asked about escalation and staffing. Anderson said the $75 figure reflects current costs and the department would revisit fees or staffing during future budget cycles if workloads grow. Committee members asked whether an escalator should be codified; staff said that is a policy decision for the council and that they will return with staffing requests if inspection volumes require additional inspectors.
Public comment included a Ward 6 resident, Ron Zalms, who challenged some of the presentation’s accounting and urged staff to verify the inspection and revenue numbers; staff responded with year-by-year inspection counts and said the presentation used precise internal data rather than the summary numbers that appear in the city budget documents.
The committee voted on the motion to approve the fee increase; a roll-call vote recorded the following: Chairman Jim Campbell — yes; Jerry Albert — yes; Nathan Parchman — yes; Stephanie Smallinger — yes. The motion passed.
Ending: Staff said the department will implement the May 1 start date and continue monitoring volumes and costs; the increase will appear as a recommendation to council where final adoption will be scheduled as required by ordinance.
