Nottoway supervisors approve higher building-permit fees amid contractor licensing change

The Nottoway County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 on July 17 to raise building-permit fees and change the county's permitting approach from a universal permit to permits issued by individual discipline, county staff said.

County planning and building staff presented the proposal at a public hearing, saying the fee increase would fund transfer of a permit technician position to the Building Department and help the office track unlicensed work. "We were trying to cover the expenses and that the end user would be the person who would pay for the service, not the tax," Mr. Boles, speaking for county staff, told the board during the hearing.

The county's proposal would require separate permits for electrical, plumbing and HVAC work rather than relying on a single universal permit issued to a general contractor. Staff said the change was intended to reduce undercutting by unlicensed contractors and improve enforcement; the proposed fee schedule also includes a $250 administrative fee for work begun without a permit.

Some supervisors and public speakers questioned whether higher fees would actually deter unlicensed work or simply raise costs for homeowners. "I don't understand how raising the fee would actually solve the problem," said one resident during the public hearing. Board members pressed staff about projected revenue and whether the increases would reduce taxes. Nick, the staff presenter, said a firm revenue projection depends on future construction activity, but estimated the fee increases would generate roughly $36,000 to cover the permit technician's salary.

After the hearing the board voted. Supervisor Tuckett voted no; the motion carried 3-2. The board recorded that the increase is intended to move the permit technician's cost off the general fund and onto permit revenue, and to give inspectors more resources to pursue unpermitted and unlicensed work.

The board approved the changes after a roll-call vote; the ordinance and the revised fee schedule are available for public inspection at the county administration office.

Votes at a glance: Building permit fee increase: motion to adopt fee increases and move from universal permit to discipline-based permits; outcome: approved 3-2. Projected budgetary effect: county staff said the change could generate about $36,000, roughly the amount cited to cover the permit technician position.