Development Services Fee Analysis

Status

Complete

The County worked with a consultant to review the current structure for development-related fees to ensure cost recovery in the Departments of Community Planning, Housing and Development (CPHD) and Environmental Services (DES). Cost recovery is the calculation of how much it costs to provide a service in relation to the fees charged to provide that service.

Permit Office fee schedules provide the range of fees charged for building and land development. Fees include permitting, plan review, enforcement, inspection, service delivery and performance agreements, and conditions.

What is cost recovery?

Cost recovery is defined as the calculation of the percentage of a given service cost in relation to the fees charged to provide that service. For example, issuance of a permit would achieve 100% cost recovery if the fees charged for issuance of that permit exactly matched the cost of staff time and other costs associated with the review requirements of that permit. Those costs might be more than just direct services provided and could include an overhead charge, technology fee, or other indirect charges.

The study identified for each fee charged:

1. The current cost recovery; and 

2. Target levels of cost recovery with recommendations for changes to fees to achieve targets. 

While each individual fee in the enterprise Development Fund and General Fund may not achieve 100% cost recovery, recommendations given for all phases of the study took into account that the enterprise Development Fund as a whole much achieve 100% cost recovery. Barriers to 100% cost recovery for each individual fee may include code restrictions and competitiveness considerations. 

Project Scope

The Development Services Fee Analysis reviewed the following fees:

Inspection Services Fees	Zoning Division Fees	Department of Environmental Services Fees
Building Permit Fees Code Modifications and Appeals Fees Electrical Permit Fees Electrical Temporary Permit Fees Elevator Permit Fees Fire Alarm Permit Fees Fire Sprinklers Gas Permit Fees Mechanical Permit Fees Non-Permit Fees Inspection Services Division (ISD) Overtime Fees Plumbing Permit Fees	Administrative Permit Fees Zoning Verifications and Requests Telecommunications Permits Building Permit Zoning Fees Certificate of Occupancy Fees Columbia Pike Form-based Code Fees County Board Use Permit Fees Rezoning Request Fees Additional Rezoning Fees Site Plan Application Fees Site Plan Amendment Fees Subdivision Plat Review Fees (Zoning) Variance and BZA Use Permit Fees Zoning Fee Refunds	Transportation Right-of-way Fees Public Right-of-way Fees Land Disturbing Activities Fees Civil Engineering Plan Fees Subdivision Plat Review and Bond Administration Fees

 

Timeline

Updated rates were adopted in the County's FY25 budget process and went into effect July 1, 2024. 

Public Engagement 

Customers were able to provide feedback on the proposed recommendations through the County's FY25 budget process.