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Council tables building-permit inspection fee increases after concerns about steep, immediate hikes
Summary
Washington Terrace City Council on April 7, 2026, voted to table Resolution 206-3, which would have restructured building permit inspection fees and added a $55 reinspection/no-show charge, after councilmembers raised concerns about large one-time increases and asked staff to provide phased options and comparator data.
Washington Terrace City Council on Tuesday voted to table Resolution 206-3, a staff proposal to amend building permit inspection fees that would have removed the reinspection charge from the base permit cost and added a separate $55 reinspection/no-show fee.
City staff member Sherry explained that the proposed schedule would list reinspection as a separate line item and that over-the-counter permit fees vary by type; staff presented the recommendation and an attachment with detailed fee figures. Sherry told council the $55 reinspection/no-show fee was new and that the total fees reflect the service cost per permit type.
Several councilmembers pushed back on the size and speed of the increases. Councilmember (S6) said some specialized inspection fees would rise sharply (he cited examples in the discussion suggesting some fees would move from about $47 to more than $200) and called the immediate, large increases “sticker shock,” urging a phased approach. He asked staff to bring comparative fee schedules from neighboring cities and to provide permit-count data for a 90-day period; Sherry said staff did not have the permit count on hand and would ask Tyler to follow up.
Councilmembers debated implementation timing and phasing options, suggesting alternatives ranging from a short, in-year phase to a two-year ramp. Staff noted many permits are pulled by contractors rather than homeowners and said the council could set an effective date tied to the fee schedule (staff identified July 1 and August 1 as possible dates aligned with the fiscal year and billing cycles).
Councilmember (S6) moved to table Resolution 206-3 for further discussion and to place the item on an upcoming work session so staff could supply interjurisdictional comparisons and proposed phasing; Councilmember (S8) seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote and the item was tabled for later consideration and additional staff analysis.
The tabled item will return to the council after staff provides the requested permit volume data and fee comparisons; the council discussed aiming to place the item on the April 14 or April 20 work session calendar if staff can supply the information in time.
