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County committee approves updated code‑enforcement fee schedule and agrees to pursue solar permitting fee resolution
Summary
After reviewing comparable jurisdictions and inspection workloads, the committee approved a revised code enforcement fee schedule that raises several permit fees and signaled intent to adopt a resolution establishing a $3,000 per‑megawatt off‑site solar fee, while asking staff for permit-specific time and cost data.
Unidentified Speaker 1 presented a proposed update to the county building and code‑enforcement fee schedule, citing comparisons with neighboring counties and inflation adjustments for fees last set in 2014. The proposal included a $0.20 per square foot model for many residential permits with minimums and a flat $3,000-per-megawatt charge as a simple approach to off-site commercial solar arrays. "I looked at those, got the ranges that they were in," Speaker 1 said, explaining the methodology.
Supervisors discussed tradeoffs between a simple per‑megawatt fee and more complex schedules that tie fees to square footage or project valuation. Some members warned that high fees could shift development to adjacent counties; others noted the fees are user charges, not general tax levies. Committee members asked the department to provide sample permit workload data (number of site visits, hours per project) so the proposed fees can be calibrated against man‑hours and inspection frequency.
By voice vote the committee approved the presented rate sheet and instructed staff to prepare a resolution to adopt the new schedule at the next board cycle; staff were also asked to return with a short analysis showing time-per-permit and revenue projections under the new fees.
