County planning department proposes building-fee increases to reach full cost recovery; committee receives study
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Summary
A county fee study recommends raising building plan-check and inspection fees (current cost recovery ~64%) and restructuring the fee schedule to improve predictability; the Hewlett Committee received the report and staff will post proposed schedules and bring them to the Board on May 26.
The Planning and Development Department presented a building-fee study recommending adjustments to roughly 60 unique fees in the building section to improve cost recovery and transparency.
Deputy Director Stuart Petrie told the committee that, without changes, the building section would recover about 64% of its costs and recommended fee adjustments and structural modifications so fees better align with service hours and business-process improvements. The department plans to post proposed fee schedules for public notice and bring a resolution to the Board of Supervisors on May 26; implementation would be expected toward the end of July 2026.
Petrie and Director Jacqueline Anciano said the fee changes are paired with a permit-process improvement project intended to reduce friction for applicants in the long run. "Some of these structural changes are supportive of the efforts that we are doing as part of that permit process improvement project," Petrie said.
A public commenter, Jeff Kweiser, noted that improving internal clarity and publication of required plan-set items may reduce unnecessary review rounds and staff hours. "Small example, but the question is, from that perspective, what did you guys look at as far as internal efficiency in addition to raising costs?" he asked.
Committee members pressed for clear translations of percentage changes into concrete dollar impacts for applicants and asked county counsel to clarify which projects might be protected from new fees under state law for builder-remedy and SB 330 submittals. County counsel said state provisions can freeze the ability to impose new fees after an application is submitted and offered to provide an off‑agenda memo with specifics.
The committee voted to receive the report (recorded roll call: Vice Chair Arenas "Yes"; Chair Abe-Koga "Aye"). Staff said they will provide quarterly updates on permit-process improvements and consider targeted outreach to explain fee changes and grandfathering rules for pipeline projects.
