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Fire department seeks fee updates, code amendments to align costs with services
Summary
Staff proposed amendments to County Code Chapter 15 and a fee study to better recover the costs of fire‑prevention inspections and related services; the study estimates new or adjusted fees would recover roughly $547,000 and include new hourly rates for inspections and updated permit charges.
The county fire department presented proposed updates to Chapter 15 of the County Code and a fee study intended to align fees with the cost of services under Proposition 218 guidance. Fire staff said the study identifies fee categories (inspections, certificates of fire protection, event safety, vegetation management) where existing charges fall below cost and recommended adjustments intended to recover an estimated $547,000.
Staff summarized key proposed changes: updated hourly rates for inspection work, consolidated certain residential fire‑safety certification fees, a revised fee for events and concerts to better match staff time, and new charges for land‑use‑related fire‑clearance reviews that were not previously feeable. The department said a consultant analyzed time‑and‑materials rates and recommended a standard hourly rate to be used when calculating plan‑review and inspection charges.
Board members asked about the frequency of fee updates and the schedule for implementation; staff said the last comprehensive update was years ago and proposed an indexation and annual review cadence following adoption. Fire staff said, if adopted, the new fees would take effect in July (staff cited a July effective date for ordinance implementation) and that the department expects to update permitting procedures to reduce duplicate certification steps.
Members of the board emphasized the public‑safety rationale — staff noted fees support inspections, hydrant and access reviews, and planning work that helps reduce wildland‑urban fire risk — and requested continued outreach to affected businesses and property owners before final adoption. The board introduced the ordinance changes and moved the fee recommendations forward on the agenda for later adoption steps.
