On Monday, the By-law and Planning committee passed a staff recommendation that “for construction renovations and alterations not clearly identified in the [building permit fee] schedule, building permit fees will be calculated as the value of construction factored at a rate of 1.1 per cent.”
The recommendation is expected to come to the next regular council meeting, Monday, June 9.
Chief Building Official William McCaffery explained the new fee covers a gap in the current fee structure.
Citing examples, McCaffery noted that in the absence of a fee based on construction value for large renovation projects or multi-residential, the current fees charged are far below fees charged by other municipalities.
Committee chair, Councillor Norman Mann noted that the fees could help to “essentially self-fund the department.”
And Mann thanked McCaffery for bringing the recommendation, noting, “It’s been something that this council has been looking for, for a long time.”
The next regular meeting of council is scheduled for Monday, June 9 at 7 p.m. in council chambers at city hall. The gallery is open to the public.
Regular council meetings are broadcast on Eastlink cable 10 and livestreamed from the city’s website.
For livestream: Watch for the WEBCAST link to appear at the meeting start time beside the meeting, when listed in the calendar here.
