Court approves online credit-card payments for fire-marshal permits, with fees passed to users

The Commissioners Court approved a request from the fire marshal’s office to accept online credit-card payments for permits and inspections through a vendor (Certified Payments) that charges 2.35% per transaction or a $2 minimum. The fire marshal said accepting credit cards would reduce delays associated with mailed checks from out-of-state developers and speed the permitting process.

The court approved the setup and authorized allowing pass-through of the vendor’s transaction fees to the permit applicant. County staff and the treasurer will coordinate how the charge appears on receipts and whether fee-schedule language must be added in a subsequent meeting. Commissioners said they expected fee disclosure to be added to permit pages or receipts so applicants understand the pass-through charge.