New Peachtree City Building Permit Fees Go Into Effect April 4

New fee structure bases many fees on project valuation

On February 17, 2011, the Peachtree City Mayor and Council adopted a new fee structure for Peachtree City’s building and inspection permits. Those fees will go into effect for all permits purchased on April 4, 2011, or later.

Peachtree City requires a building permit to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure. Individual permits are also required when changing any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system. Finally, permits are required for replacing siding or roofs, or building a fence or swimming pool.

Cities are permitted to recoup costs associated with services, administration and overhead within the Building Department by assessing permit fees. Peachtree City staff worked with SAFEbuilt, the agency with which Peachtree City contracts for building inspections, to review the City’s building permit fee structure last year. Under the city’s existing fee structure, permit fees are based on a square footage calculation of residential projects and a project valuation method for commercial projects. Furthermore, commercial fees are set at a flat rate per $1,000 in valuation. The purpose of reviewing the fees was to provide a standard method of calculation for both permit types as well as recognize that economies of scale for larger projects should result in a lower fee per $1,000 as projects grow in value.

In February, staff proposed changing the City’s residential fee calculation to the valuation method used for commercial projects. Construction values are based on the contract to perform work or by the Building Valuation Table published by the International Code Council twice per year. In addition, staff’s proposal replaced the flat rate fee schedule for a graduated fee schedule based on the 2006 International Building Code (IBC).

Community Development Director David Rast said, “The new fee structure for building permits is a complete revision of how the fee is calculated. Previously, the rate was based on project square footage, and now it is based on total project valuation.” The resulting structure means that, while some fees are higher, some are also lower.

A key component of the newly approved structure is a set fee for any work done without obtaining the proper permit. Permits obtained after work has begun were set at double the standard fee amount to encourage people to obtain permits at the correct time.

Residents and contractors can view the new permit fee schedule on Peachtree City’s web site at www.peachtree-city.org/index.aspx?NID=918.