Building and Planning asks board to raise permit valuation to fund an extra inspector

Cowlitz County building‑and‑planning staff asked commissioners for preliminary approval to update the valuation basis used to calculate building permit fees and to use the extra revenue to hire an additional staff member.

Tracy Jackson, appearing with Commissioner Sean Rowey, told the board the department is operating as a fee‑for‑service enterprise and has seen rising permit activity. Jackson said the county currently uses a building valuation factor of about 123.68 (the department’s current valuation) while nearby jurisdictions use the ICC annual (August 2025) average of about 170.8. She asked the board for permission to adopt the ICC August 2025 valuation as the basis for permit valuations and to update it annually each August.

Using last year’s numbers, Jackson estimated adopting the higher valuation could bring roughly $200,000 in additional permit revenue; a new, fully loaded FTE would cost between about $80,000 and $125,000 depending on certification level. Jackson said the department is busy — permit turnaround is roughly two weeks — and that increased revenue would let staff maintain or reduce turnaround times and provide coverage when employees retire or leave.

Commissioners asked for detail on how the higher valuation would translate into fee schedule changes and requested the staff return with formal fee‑increase proposals and the required public‑hearing schedule.

Next steps: staff will draft fee language and a public‑hearing calendar and return to the board for formal consideration.