HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09142010 - SD.6RECOMMENDATION(S):
ACCEPT the report from the Conservation and Development Director concerning the
following adjustments to Building Inspection Fees in the Land Development Fee Schedule
necessary to recover costs for services:
1. Increase minimum fees for building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits.
2. Increase fees for reinspection of work.
3. Increase the hourly rates charged for inspection services.
4. Increase the fee for a building demolition permit.
5. Increase fees for code compliance investigations and reports.
6. Modify the collection of program participation fees for the Residential Rental Inspection
Program and establish fees for interior inspection of rental units.
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 09/14/2010 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
ABSENT:Gayle B. Uilkema, District II
Supervisor
Contact: Jason Crapo,
925-335-1108
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: September 14, 2010
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc:
SD. 6
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Catherine Kutsuris, Conservation & Development Director
Date:September 14, 2010
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Proposed Adjustments to Building Inspection Fees in the Land Development Fee Schedule
OPEN the public hearing, ACCEPT any written or oral public testimony related to the
proposed fee changes, and CLOSE the public hearing;
DETERMINE for the purposes
RECOMMENDATION(S): (CONT'D)
of compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act, that the project is Exempt pursuant to
CEQA Guidelines Section 15273 (fees established by public agencies to meet operating expenses);
ADOPT Resolution #2010/450 which incorporates revisions to the fee schedule; and,
DIRECT staff to file a Notice of Exemption from CEQA with the County Clerk.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There will be no impact to the General Fund. The proposed fee adjustments will assist the Department of
Conservation and Development to generate revenue necessary to offset the Department’s operating costs.
BACKGROUND:
Most fees for Building Inspection services have not been adjusted since 1994. Since that time, the
County’s cost of providing such services has increased substantially. Additionally, construction costs
which provide the valuation upon which fees are calculated have risen 84% since 1994. Some building
inspection fees are no longer adequate to recover the County's cost. The proposed fee adjustments are
targeted to address those fees that least adequate to recover the cost of providing services.
In considering our existing fees, we also reviewed the fee schedules of six other cities within Contra
Costa County. Those cities were Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Antioch, Concord, Pittsburg and Richmond.
The fees being proposed are within the range of the fees in these other jurisdictions. For example, the
minimum permit fee for the cities ranged from $30 to $108 as compared to our proposed minimum fee of
$75. The following proposed fee adjustments will assist the Department of Conservation and
Development to recover actual costs of providing services.
1. Increase Minimum Fees for Building Permits
Fees for building permits are typically calculated based on the construction value of the work to be
performed under the permit. Minimum fees apply only when the fee calculated based on construction
value would be less than the minimum amount. In order to recover more closely the actual costs of
providing plan check, structural engineering reviews, inspections and code enforcement, DCD is
proposing an increase of 20% on most of the fees. While construction costs have risen 84% (as provided
by Saylor Publications Inc. for the construction industry) since our fees were last increased, we do not
believe given the current economic climate, that making such an large adjustment is appropriate.
However, we do believe our proposed increase is a reasonable approach.
Minimum building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permit fees will be increased as follows:
Current Proposed
Addition or Alteration to a dwelling:$62.25 $75.00
New Commercial Building:$62.25 $75.00
Shell Building $62.25 $75.00
Commercial Alterations and Tenant Improvements:$62.25 $75.00
The following minimum fees will also be increased:
Current Proposed
Investigation of Work without Permits: $100.00 $200.00
Grading Plan Check and Inspection:$100.00 $125.00
2. Increase Fees for Reinspection of Work
Reinspection fees occur when the actions of the permit holder result in the need for building inspectors
to perform additional inspections. The following reinspection fees will be increased:
Current Proposed
Residential Building Permits and Building Permits with Total Valuation Not Exceeding
$5,000:$25.00 $50.00
Non-residential Building Permits and Building Permits with Total Valuation Exceeding
$5,000:$60.00 $100.00
Abatement of Building and Zoning Code Violations:$50.00 $100.00
3. Increase the Hourly Rate Charged for Inspection Services
Fees for certain Building Inspection services are charged based on a hourly rate for staff time. The hourly
rates for the following inspection services will be increased:
Current Proposed
Owner-requested inspection of an existing building: $60.00/hr $90.00/hr
Inspection for Change of Occupancy:$60.00/hr $90.00/hr
4. Increase the Fee for a Building Demolition Permit
Current Proposed
Fee for a Building Demolition Permit $60.00 $100.00
5. Code Compliance Investigations and Reports
Current Proposed
Fee for Code Compliance Investigations and Reports $200.00 $250.00
6. Residential Rental Inspection Program Fees
Program participation fees for the Residential Rental Inspection Program will be reduced to one-fifth of
their current level and will be collected annually. This is a change for current fee collection procedures
whereby fees are collected once every five years. The net effect is that fees will remain unchanged over a
five year cycle.
Current Proposed
collected every 5 years collected annually
Program Participation Fee for the First Rental on Each Property $180.00 $36.00
Program Participation Fee for Each Additional Rental on Each Property $30.00 $6.00
The fee for interior inspections of rental units under the Residential Rental Inspection Program shall be
established as $250.00 for inspection of the first rental unit on the property and $100.00 for each
additional rental unit on the property.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the proposed adjustment to the Building Inspection fees is not approved, DCD will recover insufficient
funding to continue carrying out the services which assure the safety of homes and commercial and
industrial structures throughout the unincorporated county and those cities for which we also perform
Building Inspection services.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution No. 2010/450
DCD Fee Schedule
New and Revised Fees for Building Inspection Services