Lancaster Increases Fees for Developers

The city of Lancaster has approved its first increases in a wide range of developer fees in nearly three years, a move that officials of the budget-strapped city hope will raise an extra $1.7 million this year.

As a result of a 5-0 City Council vote Tuesday night, developers of houses and other buildings will have to pay higher fees for land-use entitlements, plan checks and a wide range of permit and processing fees. The final package was negotiated between the city and local builders.

Builders estimated the changes would add about $1,000 to the more than $17,000 in fees already paid for a typical house.

Lancaster officials said they needed the increases to fund city services.

The City Council did agree to trim some proposed increases in response to builder complaints.

For example, city officials had proposed raising the fee for processing a general plan amendment to $5,240 from $1,350.

Instead, the council approved a compromise fee of $3,770.