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Committee updates building‑standards hearing fees, including $500 expedited hearing charge
Summary
The committee approved an emergency ordinance updating fees for hearings before the Board of Building Standards and Building Appeals, raising several filing fees and establishing a $500 expedited‑hearing option required by recent state law changes. Staff said owner‑occupants face the smallest increase.
The Committee of Development, Planning & Sustainability on Feb. 3 adopted an emergency ordinance amending Codified Ordinance 3103.21 to update filing and appeal fees for the Board of Building Standards and Building Appeals.
Armela Davis, executive secretary to the Board of Building Standards, told the committee the change responds to a state law enacted last September that requires expedited adjudication hearings to be available within 48 hours of filing in certain cases. "If they want to have an expediting hearing, only on adjudication orders," Davis said, explaining the new 48‑hour window and the city's authority to levy a fee for expedited service.
The proposed schedule in the meeting transcript raised several fees: the owner‑occupied single‑family appeal fee would rise from $15 to $20; non‑owner 1–4 family dwellings would move to $65 (previously $30); structures with 5–10 dwellings $150; 11 and up $250; mixed‑use commercial structures $350. Staff also listed $85 for certain fire or administrative appeals, $75 for product approvals and other appeals, and a $30 fee for time‑extension appeals. The expedited hearing fee to secure a 48‑hour hearing was described in the transcript as $500 (with reference to a $500–$1,000 range in authorized legislation).
Council members asked about which violations trigger hearings, how inspectors’ reports inform board decisions, and whether extensions after the standard 30‑day repair window would incur additional charges. Davis said the board evaluates progress from inspectors’ reports and that appellants who receive additional time may file for a time‑extension hearing and pay the $30 extension fee.
Councilman Slife questioned how the $500 expedited amount was determined and raised concern about the optics of creating a costly fast‑track option; Davis replied that the fee level was included in the Senate bill language authorizing expedited hearings. "I will say that I like that it's high because I don't like the idea that the state is sort of getting us into a pay to play model," Slife said as a caution during discussion.
Chair closed discussion and announced Ordinance 1536‑2025 "stands approved." The transcript records the committee adopting the ordinance but does not include a roll‑call tally.
Next steps noted in the meeting record include implementation of the new fee schedule by the Board of Building Standards; staff indicated the owner‑occupied increase is intentionally modest to reduce burdens on residents.
