5 percent building permit fee increase approved by county

Update: A 5-percent increase in building permit fees was approved by county commissioners on Nov. 4.

Douglas County staff is proposing a 5 percent increase in building permit fees at today’s county commissioner meeting.

Commissioners are discussing two resolutions, one increasing building permit fees and one increasing community development applications fees by 5 percent.

The increases include several fees and between them would raise $170,000.

County commissioners sought an increase in fees after being told that it has been three years since fees for Community Development were raised.

In the meantime, the Consumer Price Index showed that prices increased 2.7 percent in 2019, 2.9 percent in 2020 and 1.4 percent in 2021.

“It is anticipated that the CPI-West will further increase over the next few years based on federal stimulus and existing supply chain problems,” Deputy Community Development Director Sam Booth said in his report.

County staff is also proposing flat fees for simple permits for improvements that don’t require a plan review.

Those would include things like replacing HVAC, water heaters, windows, roofs, siding and other repairs.

The county would establish EZ Applications for work on patio covers, generators, solar installations, decks, carports, spas and pools.

The fee for installing a concrete in-ground pool would be $1,004.82, according to the flat fee schedule included in the commission packet.

Increased fees are being sought by Carson City Health and Human Services for services such as health inspections, the farmers market fee and a cottage food application.

Fees for final and tentative serial parcel maps will be deleted from the new schedule since those are illegal.

Commissioners are also scheduled to discuss making changes to county code related to manufactured homes.

Commissioner Mark Gardner is asking whether the county should revise its position on manufactured homes as accessory dwellings in residential areas.

Under current code, manufactured homes may be used on agricultural and forest and range zoning districts, often as housing for ranch workers.

An accessory dwelling is defined as an independent home which can be occupied by paying or nonpaying guests, members of a family or someone employed on the property, located on the same parcel as a permitted use.