Harney County court waives permit fees for flood repairs for six months

The Harney County Court voted April 15 to waive building permit fees for construction related to flood damage for six months, a move county officials said is intended to speed repairs and reduce up-front costs for households affected by recent flooding in Burns, Hines and other parts of the county.

County court members made the motion during a discussion prompted by a building-department update about the expected start of repair work after the floods. The motion passed on a voice vote; the court instructed staff to track waived fees and to verify that applicants qualify as flood victims so the county can seek reimbursement from state or federal programs if money becomes available.

The vote follows public comments and staff briefings describing local recovery efforts. A resident who spoke during public comment said the county received a $40,000 state payment that has been used to cover debris-hauling costs at the local landfill and that volunteer organizations including Team Rubicon, Mormon/LDS and Mennonite volunteers, and the Lions Club have been mobilizing to assist cleanup and repairs. County staff said the community resource hub and the emergency operations center will be focal points for coordinating volunteer groups and for capturing damage assessments needed for a potential FEMA presidential disaster declaration.

During the building-department update, staff proposed two approaches: set aside a limited fund to reimburse permit fees later, or waive fees up front for flood-related repairs and track those waivers as a recoverable expense. The building department official said some homeowners may be unable to afford permits and inspections and urged a path that allows safe, inspected repairs without creating immediate financial barriers. That official suggested starting with a modest local fund if the court preferred reimbursement rather than outright waivers.

Several court members and staff emphasized the need to document damage and to limit waivers to work directly related to flood repair and rebuilding. The court’s adopted motion specifies that the fee waiver applies to permits for repair and rebuilding due to flood damage and establishes an initial six-month window; staff said eligibility will be tied to affected areas defined by evacuation zones and other damage verification performed by county staff and the community resource hub.

County officials also described broader recovery coordination: the governor visited the area to see flood impacts; the county has been in communication with the Oregon Army National Guard; and Oregon Emergency Management and Oregon Health Authority staff have been coordinating housing and cleanup resources with county partners. A county official thanked local businesses for donations and assistance and said collecting comprehensive data — including volunteer work, donated materials, and debris removal receipts — is important to meet thresholds for state and federal reimbursement.

Motion details: the court’s motion to waive all permit fees for construction related to flood damage for six months was made and seconded, carried on a voice vote, and was recorded as approved by the court. Court members directed staff to post public notice of the waiver, to continue coordinating through the community resource hub and the EOC, and to keep a running ledger of waived fees for submission to reimbursement programs as applicable.

The court also discussed practical limits on volunteer work and safety concerns; building staff said they will continue to require permit applications and inspections for work that implicates life-safety systems (for example, electrical, plumbing, structural repairs), even where fees are waived, to ensure homes are safe for occupancy.