HUNTINGTON BEACH : Inspection, Permit Fees Raised Again

The City Council decided this week to increase an array of building permit and inspection fees, raising the processing costs for large new developments and for minor home renovations.

The new fee package is the second time these charges have increased in the past six months. The increases were initiated by City Administrator Michael T. Uberuaga, who since assuming his post a year ago has strongly urged the council to raise building and planning fees.

For years, the city has spent more for processing such material than it has been charging, Uberuaga said.

The increases will bring the city’s building fees in line with the average amount charged by other county cities, officials said.

For example, county cities charge an average of $754 for a building permit for a 2,500-square-foot house valued at $135,670, whereas Huntington Beach had charged $647. The new increase will raise that fee to $764.

The fee schedule includes inspection and permit cost increases for heating and air-conditioning systems, plumbing facilities, electrical repairs, solar-energy units and swimming pool installations.

Council members, some of whom originally opposed the boosts, unanimously supported the increases in their Monday vote. They had postponed action on the fee package to allow the Chamber of Commerce to review it.

“As much as I’m opposed to raising fees,” Councilman Don MacAllister said, “I will support this on a cost-recovery basis.”