Visalia council adopts higher fire inspection fees, removes apartment cap

The City Council adopted a new fire department fee schedule that raises inspection charges and removes a unit cap for apartment inspections.

Corbin Reed, fire marshal for SLA Fire, said the existing fee structure originated in 2010 and did not fully account for personnel costs, particularly for engine crews that perform many inspections. "Last year, the fire department completed 3,528 inspections throughout our community," Reed said in presenting a simplified schedule that sets a flat $82 fee for business inspections, $82 for each operational permit (up to three), and a reinspection fee of $82.

Apartment inspection fees will increase from $7.65 per unit to $12.09 per unit and the previous cap of 100 units per inspection will be removed; staff said removal of the cap affects nine larger properties. Reed said the proposed charges remain below comparable neighboring jurisdictions but better reflect staff time and the requirement that some inspections be completed by full-time prevention staff.

Councilmember [mover] moved to adopt the resolution; the motion passed 4-0 with Councilwoman Nelson absent.

Why it matters: The changes shift more of the inspection cost to fee payers and are intended to align fees with actual staff time and service delivery. The removal of the apartment cap will increase fees for some large residential complexes.