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The commissioners approved the fee increases, and they will go into effect September 2022.
The Missoula County commissioners approved the increase to building permit fees on June 9, 2022, and they will go into effect September 2022.
The Missoula County Building Division is proposing an increase to building permit fees to accommodate unprecedented growth in staff workloads resulting from a growing number of new, more complex building projects and required implementation of new codes.
The Building Division is funded entirely with fees and does not rely on property taxes. Increased revenue, along with updated procedures, will help the division hire and keep quality inspectors and permit intake staff who can keep pace, as wellContinue reading
The Missoula County commissioners approved the increase to building permit fees on June 9, 2022, and they will go into effect September 2022.
The Missoula County Building Division is proposing an increase to building permit fees to accommodate unprecedented growth in staff workloads resulting from a growing number of new, more complex building projects and required implementation of new codes.
The Building Division is funded entirely with fees and does not rely on property taxes. Increased revenue, along with updated procedures, will help the division hire and keep quality inspectors and permit intake staff who can keep pace, as well as make up fiscal shortfalls that have occurred in past years.
The Building Division is considering the following changes in permitting fees and processes:
A 25% increase to all permit fees and implementation of a new valuation system that will use current valuation data rather than existing valuation data from 2009.
The labor rate for special tasks will increase from $50/hour to $75/hour.
Homes will be classified as “simple” or “complex,” to help keep simple, modest dwellings at a lower valuation than the more complex homes.
The division will establish re-review fees to encourage complete and clean first-time applications. The division will charge $75/hour and a $35 administrative fee to re-review revised documents.
The division will revise commercial trade fees to reflect the complex and time-consuming inspections for these jobs.
Plan review fees will match the state rate of 35% rather than the current 25%.
The division will implement partial inspection fees for certain permits for the convenience of the contractor.
New definitions will be published for:
Simple vs. complex homes
Finished vs. unfinished basement
Agricultural exemptions will be eliminated at the end of 2022, and the division will charge a fee of $75 until Dec. 31, 2022.
Footing and foundation waivers will be eliminated at the end of 2022, and the division will charge a fee of $75 until Dec. 31, 2022.
Cannabis/liquor license inspections are charged at $150, with $50 re-inspection fee.
Inspectors will be required to have 12 certifications instead of eight, and permit techs must pass ICC certification, meaning they are qualified through the International Code Council to inspect buildings or construction).
Members of the community have requested faster permit turnaround times. The County is committed to reducing the time required to complete the permitting process and will focus on improved coordination between the different permitting departments to improve efficiencies.
The County will also focus on education and outreach to provide opportunities for homeowners, contractors, developers, real estate agents and others to share and learn more about the permitting process. The goal is to improve communication with the permitting customers while also allowing for feedback that can help improve permitting efficiencies.
Give us your thoughts on specific aspects of the proposed fee increases for building permits or the new procedures.
Public Works will present this item at the commissioners' public meeting at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 9, in the Sophie Moiese Room of the Missoula County Courthouse Annex. Members of the public can join in person online via Microsoft Teams. Find the meeting agenda and Teams link at http://missoula.co/bccmeetings.
The commissioners approved the fee increases, and they will go into effect September 2022.
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I support the proposed increases and changes. I understand that the County has few sources of revenue, and this adjustment in fees will ensure that new buildings pay their way. In the scheme of most building projects, these increases will have a minor impact on builders and buyers. The funds are needed to accommodate the demand and to ensure that competent staff can be hired and retained. I do think it is worth revisiting whether agricultural exemptions should be eliminated so that we can support our local farmers and ranchers. Thank you for your consideration.
Neva Hassanein
over 2 years ago
If Missoula County is experiencing unprecedented growth, then the additional property tax revenue produced by that growth should be used to offset the additional staff workloads.
Increasing building permit fees will just increase the cost of housing and commercial construction which will then be passed on to the end user. For housing that means less affordable housing. For commercial construction, that means the additional costs will be passed on to the consumer. Since new codes are part of the reason for the additional workload, then rework the codes to make them less cumbersome.
It is time that Missoula County live within its means. No more fee increases and no more property tax increases. All of the new construction in Missoula County should be producing more than enough revenue without pricing us out of our homes.
Keith
over 2 years ago
I think your new building inspector is not the guy for us. Not the Montana way, we don’t need NJ policies in our home.
I support the proposed increases and changes. I understand that the County has few sources of revenue, and this adjustment in fees will ensure that new buildings pay their way. In the scheme of most building projects, these increases will have a minor impact on builders and buyers. The funds are needed to accommodate the demand and to ensure that competent staff can be hired and retained. I do think it is worth revisiting whether agricultural exemptions should be eliminated so that we can support our local farmers and ranchers. Thank you for your consideration.
If Missoula County is experiencing unprecedented growth, then the additional property tax revenue produced by that growth should be used to offset the additional staff workloads.
Increasing building permit fees will just increase the cost of housing and commercial construction which will then be passed on to the end user. For housing that means less affordable housing. For commercial construction, that means the additional costs will be passed on to the consumer.
Since new codes are part of the reason for the additional workload, then rework the codes to make them less cumbersome.
It is time that Missoula County live within its means. No more fee increases and no more property tax increases. All of the new construction in Missoula County should be producing more than enough revenue without pricing us out of our homes.
I think your new building inspector is not the guy for us.
Not the Montana way, we don’t need NJ policies in our home.