Building department holds second public hearing on revised fee schedule; board to delay formal adoption until December

The Richland County Board of Commissioners recessed the second public hearing on proposed building-department fee changes after staff presented a revised, clarified comparison of existing and proposed fees.

Steve, the building department representative, told the board he provided a side-by-side “cliff notes” version of the proposed fee schedule that combined duplicate line items (for example, merging solar fees with electrical) and added explanatory notes. He said the department has not seen substantial pushback from contractors but noted the county has not substantially adjusted fees since 2017 and only made minor changes in 2019.

Board members and staff reviewed the notice and timeline in the Ohio Revised Code for fee changes. County counsel and staff advised that adopted fee changes must take effect no sooner than 30 days after adoption, so commissioners instructed Steve to return in December with a formal request for adoption to allow an effective date aligned with the new year.

Why it matters: the building-department fee schedule funds part of a regulatory program and helps the county cover the cost of inspections, plan reviews and permit processing; updating fees affects contractors, developers and residents seeking permits.

Action and next steps: commissioners did not adopt the fee schedule at the hearing. Instead, they recessed the public hearing and directed the building department to return to the board in December with a formal adoption request and supporting documentation so any new fees can comply with the 30-day statutory notice and a Jan. 1 effective target.

Details from the hearing: staff said the department absorbed attrition in recent years and has managed service levels without refilling some positions. The revised schedule includes merged fee entries and clarifying notes at the bottom of the schedule. Steve indicated that the department will seek to apply new fees in a way that balances revenue needs with customer service.

Board members confirmed the department will schedule the next step for Dec. 2 (a Tuesday) and will finalize the title block and effective-date language before formal adoption.