Auburn Common Council adopts amended building code fee schedule, raises per-unit fees and cap

The Auburn Common Council on Jan. 20 adopted Ordinance No. 2026-1, amending chapter 163 of the City Code to change the Auburn Building Code fee schedule. The council approved an amendment that altered per-dwelling and accessory-structure fees and raised the maximum for certain multifamily calculations to $600.

Why it matters: The change increases permit fees for some residential and accessory-unit work and raises the ceiling used to cap multifamily fees, which will affect developers and property owners who apply for building permits in Auburn City.

What was proposed: A staff member from the building/planning office told the council the department asked for fee adjustments to better reflect the time and fuel costs of inspections and processing. The presenter then moved to amend section 163-10(c). As read into the record, the amendment would set new amounts for single- and two-family dwellings and accessory structures (the presenter read: "$150 per dwelling unit; $250 per accessory structure"), set multifamily subsection 1 to "$25 per dwelling unit" for hotel/motel units, and set subsection 2 to a "$600 maximum" for the multifamily calculation.

Council discussion focused on whether the current $300 cap for multifamily charges should rise if per-unit fees increased. Council members worked through the arithmetic in the meeting record and noted differing interim calculations during discussion; the council then voted on the amendment.

Vote and outcome: After no further discussion, the chair called for a voice vote on the amendment and declared the motion carried. The council then voted by voice to adopt Ordinance No. 2026-1 on second/final reading; the chair announced the motion carried. The meeting record shows a voice vote; the transcript does not record individual roll-call tallies.

What the ordinance contains (adopted language): The amendment as read into the record sets the per-unit/accessory fees and a $600 maximum for the affected multifamily subsection. The transcript contains the exact motion text read aloud by the presenter (quoted above). Where the transcript recorded inconsistent interim arithmetic during discussion, the council confirmed the amended language by vote rather than by a revised numeric calculation on the floor.

Next steps and context: With the adoption on second reading, the amended fee schedule will be part of the City of Auburn Code of Ordinances. The transcript does not state an effective date or whether the city will publish an implementation schedule; those details were not specified in the meeting record.