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Council introduces ordinance updating Richmond's master fee schedule; most fees rise with 3.6% ECI adjustment
Summary
The City Council opened a public hearing and introduced an ordinance for first reading to update the master fee schedule. Most fees were adjusted using the 3.6% Employment Cost Index; two new fire department inspection fees were proposed. The council set the second reading for a later meeting and voted to introduce the ordinance unanimously.
The Richmond City Council held a public hearing May 20 and introduced an ordinance for first reading that updates the city's master fee schedule, applying the Employment Cost Index (ECI) adjustment of 3.6% to most fees and adding two new fire‑related inspection fees.
City staff explained that the master fee schedule is updated annually to reflect rising costs and to ensure fees better align to service delivery. The majority of fee categories will be adjusted by 3.6% (the ECI for the year), while other fees set by regional bodies (for example, subregional traffic mitigation and rental registry fees) remain controlled by those agencies. The staff memo and presentation noted that the traffic impact fee structure will move from a per‑unit basis to a per‑square‑foot approach to comply with Assembly Bill 602 and to make impact fees more equitable for smaller homes.
Two new fees proposed by the Fire Department would cover: (1) building‑owner/parent permanent fee to account for inspections and fire‑life‑safety system maintenance responsibilities of building owners who lease space to tenants; and (2) a fire hazard severity zone inspection fee for exterior fire hazard inspections required by policy, law or at homeowner request.
Staff said the ECI change would generate an estimated $373,000 in additional revenue citywide if permit volume and activity remain at current levels; most of that increase would come from community development (planning and building) fees. The ordinance introduction was followed by a second‑reading schedule: the ordinance will return for final adoption and an associated resolution setting the specific amounts at the next scheduled meeting.
Council voted unanimously to introduce the ordinance and to continue the process toward adoption. Staff noted ongoing work on related rate and impact studies (transportation and storm drainage) that will be completed later in FY26.
Ending: The council’s introduction begins the formal process; the second reading and resolution adopting fee levels will be scheduled for a future meeting.
