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St. Clair Shores approves broad permit-fee increases, moves "work without permit" to penalty clause
Summary
The St. Clair Shores City Council approved a citywide revision of permit and application fees to take effect Jan. 1, 2026, with a 6-1 vote after amending the motion to treat "work without permit" as a penalty rather than a routine permit fee. Council debate focused on calculation methods and impacts on residents and applicants.
St. Clair Shores City Council on Dec. 1 approved a sweeping revision of the city's permit and application fee schedule to take effect Jan. 1, 2026, and amended the action to move charges for "work without a permit" into the ordinance's penalty clause.
Denise Pike, director of Community Development and Inspections, told the council the packet compiles board and permit fees that had not been reviewed for many years and that the department aimed to recover costs of service rather than create revenue. "We're not making a profit," Pike said, explaining that rising publication, mailing and inspection costs drove some increases.
The approved package includes several notable…
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