Fire marshal presents permit fee schedule; commissioners approve fees and ask staff to set implementation plan

Liberty County Fire Marshal Andy Green presented a proposed fee schedule to cover plan reviews and inspections for fire‑safety systems, occupancy approvals and other fire‑related permits. The court voted to accept the fee schedule and directed staff to develop an implementation plan and a go‑live date.

Green told the court that until earlier this year there had been no consistent fee schedule in place for fire plan reviews or inspections, and that contractors and businesses were surprised fees had not previously been charged. The proposed schedule is intended to recover the county’s cost for review and for multiple on‑site inspection trips; Green gave an example where a sprinkler installation required seven site visits before final approval.

Commissioners and staff discussed administrative impacts. The court was told that the county’s permit software can collect the new fees online and that the permit office already handles permit workflows; commissioners asked staff to post the fee schedule publicly (including via the courthouse kiosks) and to set at least a 30‑day notice period before enforcement. Commissioners also asked the marshal and permit office to assess whether additional personnel are needed for enforcement and collection and to report back before budget adoption.

The court approved the fee schedule in concept by majority voice vote (three ayes, one nay) and required a written implementation plan from the marshal and the permit department before fees go into effect.