Staff outlines proposed building‑fee changes tied to valuation tables

Planning staff proposed changes to the county building‑permit fee schedule, recommending a valuation‑based approach tied to standard construction valuation tables instead of the prior flat per‑square‑foot approach. Staff said the proposal would align fees with construction valuations and inspection workload and noted an initial example of a 1% fee on project valuation as defensible relative to neighboring jurisdictions.

Staff described specific ideas, including per‑watt fees for solar arrays, flat fees for certain permit types and valuation categories by construction type (examples given for U‑Haul commercial construction and residential classes). The staff report noted the county's regional building department training and said the proposed schedule could reduce overall fees for some permit types while ensuring inspection costs are covered. Commissioners asked about implementation timing and enforcement for modular units and unfinished basements; staff said the change would be rolled out in a future ordinance or schedule update.