Nick Bjork//May 12, 2011//
The city of Portland Bureau of Development Services has announced plans to increase the majority of its fees by 8 percent starting July 1.
BDS will increase building, mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits by 8 percent and site development permits by 5 percent. Fees around the BDS’s facilities permits, signs, noise control and field issued remodel programs will also increase by 8 percent, while fees associated with the environmental soils program will increase by 70 percent.
Moreover, land use service and neighborhood inspection fees will also increase by 8 percent.
According to a release from BDS, not increasing the fees would have significant impacts on service levels, the BDS’s cash reserves and its efforts to achieve cost recovery on its services. In addition to funding day-to-day operations, the extra money from fee increases will help pay back a $1.5 million loan from the city that was used to ensure continued operations during the recession, the release said.
This will also affect Multnomah County fees considering the county has contracts with the city for inspections and plan review services in the county’s unincorporated areas.
The Portland City Council will hear public testimony of the fee increases at its May 18 council meeting at 2 p.m. The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners will also review the proposed fee increases at its June 2 board meeting.