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Brookfield board adopts new building‑permit fee structure after debate over impact on small projects
Summary
Trustees voted 5–1 to raise the village’s minimum permit fee to $100, keep a 1.75% general permit fee, and add a plan‑review charge; trustees asked staff to publish clearer guidance on which projects will trigger plan review.
The Brookfield Village Board adopted an ordinance on Jan. 13 to revise building‑permit charges, raising the minimum permit fee and adding a plan‑review fee structure designed to capture staff time and reduce pass‑through costs for larger reviews.
Village staff told the board Brookfield had not adjusted fees since about 2018 and compared the proposed schedule with neighboring communities. The adopted ordinance keeps the general permit fee at 1.75%, raises the minimum permit fee to $100 and establishes a plan‑review fee calculated in half‑hour or hour increments; staff said a half‑hour increment would cover many small projects and larger projects could require multiple hours of review.
Trustees spent substantive time discussing how the new structure could affect small projects. Trustee Cote said he was not in favor of the change, arguing it could be “cost prohibitive” for small repairs and might prompt residents to do work without permits. Trustee Cote cast the lone recorded no vote when the ordinance passed 5–1. Other trustees and staff said the intent is to align Brookfield with surrounding towns and to ensure the building department can cover staff time and any outsourced reviews.
Staff said examples of when plan‑review fees would apply include interior remodels, additions, decks, sheds and garages; routine maintenance such as replacing a few deck boards would not require a permit. Staff committed to publishing clearer guidance, checklists and an informational outreach piece so residents could see whether their project would trigger a plan‑review fee and to estimate likely fee ranges.
Village staff noted that larger commercial or multifamily reviews would continue to be sent to the village’s external plan‑review provider (B&F Technical Code Services) and that pass‑through arrangements for those outside reviews would not change under the new ordinance.
Ending: The ordinance takes effect as adopted; staff said they will prepare outreach materials and permit checklists to reduce surprise costs for residents.
