Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fees Permits topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City building inspector proposes higher permit and reinspection fees, effective Oct. 1
Summary
Construction inspection staff proposed raising building inspection fees (example: building inspections from $100 to $150) and increasing reinspection charges to reduce repeat visits and cover rising department costs; staff recommended an Oct. 1 effective date for permit notices.
The City of Montgomery’s building inspector told council on June 15 that inspection operations have been able to hold a neutral balance for years but rising costs now require fee adjustments.
"The city's building inspection side has always been black but we just can't continue at the rate that we've been," the inspector said, describing the department's proposal to increase per‑inspection charges and to adjust reinspection fees as a deterrent to repeated fails. Under the proposed schedule, trade inspections would rise from $50 to $75, building inspections from $100 to $150, and reinspection charges would move to $200 for building reinspections and $100 for trade reinspection.
Staff characterized the changes as pass‑through permit fees meant to cover department costs rather than to generate profit for the city. "In building departments the whole concept is it's a pass through. The city's not supposed to lose money or make money," the inspector said.
Council members asked whether the increases are comparable with neighboring jurisdictions; the inspector said Panorama currently has a similar fee schedule but results vary by community and staffing. If the council approves the schedule, staff recommended an Oct. 1 effective date so permit applicants have advance notice and staff can update permit pricing and public notices.
Any formal adoption would require a separate ordinance or resolution and a public posting of the fee schedule; no vote took place during the workshop.
