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Lake County officials propose 16–20% increase in building permit fees to match neighbor
Summary
County building staff proposed raising permit fees an average of 16–20% to align with Harney County; officials said fees were last raised in 2019 and legal staff recommended a two‑meeting adoption timeline to meet notice requirements.
Lake County building officials proposed raising the county’s building‑permit fee schedule by an average of 16 to 20 percent to bring Lake County in line with neighboring Harney County.
“Harney County was similar in size and population to Lake County,” Building Official Ken Cooper said at the Nov. 4 work session, and he described the proposed increase as reasonable. Building Department Assistant Director Jennifer Stephens told commissioners the department had not raised its fees since 2019 and that Harney County plans annual adjustments going forward. Stephens said the increase would vary by fee type and that all fees are assessed a 12 percent surcharge that is remitted to the State of Oregon.
Stephens outlined the administrative timeline: the Oregon Building Codes Division posts policy updates for 45 days for public comment, with an anticipated e‑permitting go‑live date of Jan. 1, 2026. County Counsel Paige Sully advised that a resolution could be adopted in a single meeting without a hearing but recommended using two board meetings to ensure statutory timing and notice requirements were met; commissioners agreed to schedule two meetings before final adoption.
The board closed the hearing at 9:48 a.m. and directed staff to proceed with the public‑notice steps and draft resolution for formal consideration in Regular Session.
