The Conroe City Council on Nov. 13 adopted an extensive update to the city’s Appendix A fee schedule, increasing fees and adding new charges intended to recover the cost of permits and related city services.

City staff described changes to dozens of permit categories — including a new residential plan-review fee, higher reinspection fees (from $50 up to $300 for repeated failures), revised electrical and plumbing fees tied to building size, and new cost‑recovery formulas for fire sprinkler and alarm systems (1.5% of contract cost in some cases). Street‑closure fees were heavily revised to reflect equipment and staff costs; water/sewer tap fees were adjusted to account for material and labor cost increases plus a 15% administrative charge; sign‑related fees and a digital‑billboard conversion fee (per prior development agreements) were also added or changed.

Staff said the schedule aligns Conroe with valuation tables and permitting practices used by similarly sized Texas cities and national building‑code guidance. ‘‘We have not charged a plan-review fee previously,’’ the building‑official told council, adding that charging for multiple plan reviews will discourage repeated incomplete submittals and speed approvals. The city is also implementing a new permitting software on Dec. 1 that staff said will improve turnaround times.

Builders and industry groups urged caution. A Greater Houston Builders Association representative asked the council to delay adoption until the city could show cost‑basis worksheets that tie specific fee increases to service improvements. Developer and planner John Sellers urged preserving an administrative lot‑consolidation tool and asked the city to limit large, undemonstrated fee hikes.

Council members questioned whether revenue from the increases would be used to hire additional plan reviewers and to fund the new digital permit platform; staff said revenue could be directed toward staffing and efficiency measures but hiring would follow normal budget processes.

Following the public hearing and discussion, Councilmember Harrell moved to accept the fee updates as presented; the motion received a second and passed by voice vote.

The fee ordinance as adopted will be incorporated into the code and reflected in the city’s permit portal. Staff indicated some fee coding and the new software integration will be finalized over the next month.