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Commissioners direct public hearing on proposed building‑codes fee adjustments
Summary
Transportation & Development staff proposed changes to building‑codes program fees — notably raising the minimum hourly inspection rate from $85 to $120 and adding a $75 minor label inspection fee — and the board directed staff to schedule a public hearing at a regular business meeting.
County Transportation & Development presented proposed updates to the building codes fee schedule, and the Board directed staff to schedule a public hearing at a future regular business meeting.
Dan Johnson, director of Transportation & Development, said state statute requires permit and inspection fee changes be adopted by ordinance and that the county must notify the State Building Codes Division and provide a public hearing opportunity. Key proposals include increasing the department’s minimum hourly inspection rate from $85 to $120 (the last update to that rate was in 2010), adopting a $75 minor label inspection fee mandated by the state minor label program, and applying the board’s previously adopted policy for annual CPI adjustments with limited rounding for cash‑handling simplicity. Staff also proposed minor housekeeping edits to fee language with no fiscal impact.
Commissioners asked how the proposed minimum hourly rate compares regionally and whether the building community had been consulted. Johnson said the $120 rate would put Clackamas County near the middle of the metro market (jurisdictional comparables range from about $117 to $195) and that staff had discussed the package with the Home Builders Association (HBA); HBA will provide public comment at the hearing. Commissioner West moved to approve the proposed modifications and to direct staff to schedule a public hearing; Commissioner Schroeder seconded. The board called the poll and recorded a 3–0 vote in favor of scheduling the hearing.
Staff said the hearing will comply with required notice to the state building codes division and that fee adoption would follow the ordinance process.
