Walton County board votes to stop charging citizens for pre-application and informational planning meetings

Walton County commissioners voted to stop charging citizens for certain planning meetings after a commissioner described a $27.50 scheduling fee as "ridiculous." The motion, offered during a regular meeting, passed by voice vote with no public opposition.

The change was prompted by a complaint that citizens who call to set appointments or walk in for guidance on how to build a house were being charged to meet with planning staff. "I think it's ridiculous that we're charging somebody for the privilege of talking to us," said Speaker 5, who moved to end the fees "period, effective immediately." The board called for a second and approved the motion.

County staff clarified the distinction the board adopted: formal pre-application meetings that require staff to perform research, look up property and zoning records in advance remain subject to an application fee; informational meetings scheduled in response to citizen calls or walk-ins are not charged. "If you call and schedule a meeting to sit down with staff... we do not charge for that," said Speaker 6, explaining the fee covers preparatory work for pre-applications.

The board did not record a roll-call tally in the meeting transcript; minutes should show the formal record of the vote and any policy language to implement the change. The action applies to Walton County planning office meeting fees and will be effective immediately as stated during the meeting.