Staff Report: First, Second and Third Reading of Amendments to Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958

FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD READING OF AMENDMENTS TO FEES AND CHARGES BYLAW NO. 958. 2016

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report dated August 30, 2023 from the Director of Development Services titled “First, Second and Third Reading of Amendments to Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958, 2016” be received.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to introduce Council to Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958, 2016, Amendment Bylaw No. 1119, 2023.

TIME CRITICAL:

Introductory readings to the fees and charges amendment bylaw must occur concurrently with Building Bylaw No. 1111 as the new building bylaw affects and cross-references Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958, 2016 and therefore, updates are required.

BACKGROUND:

At the Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting on March 14, 2023, staff presented the proposed updates to the Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958, 2016 in conjunction with a new building bylaw. Following staff’s presentation, the Committee passed the following motion:

“THAT the report dated March 7, 2023 from the Auxiliary Building Official titled “Building Bylaw Update” be received for information.”

DISCUSSION:

Staff are proposing to adjust some current fees, and charge per hour rather than a flat rate for some services as cost recovery for staff time to process building and plumbing permit applications, and undertake reviews and inspections. There are some new fees for reviews of alternate solutions, revisions, and a generic service hourly rate. In addition, staff are introducing security deposits to ensure municipal assets are replaced should they be damaged during construction, and a new demolition interim landscaping deposit to ensure the site is properly landscaped and maintained if the site remains vacant for a duration longer than 6 months. As noted in the COW report (attached), many of the proposed fee changes are more aligned with other municipalities in the region.

Table 1 below provides a comparison of the current building fees, charges, deposits, and penalties and the proposed adjustments, which are being introduced in the Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958, 2016, Amendment Bylaw No. 1119, 2023.

Table 1. Comparison of current and proposed building fees, charges, deposits, and penalties

Fee Item	Current	Proposed
Building permit, and other permits (cost of construction)	$0 - $5,000 - $50	$0 - $10,000 – minimum $100
	$5,001 - $100,000 - $50 plus 1.25% of amount	$10,001.00 - $100,000 - $100 plus 1.25% of amount
	$100,001.00 - $500,000 - $1,237.00 plus 1% of amount	$100,001.00 - $500,000 - $1288.00 plus 1% of amount
	Over $500,000 - $5,237.00 plus 0.75% of amount	Over $500,000 - $5,288.00 plus 0.75% of amount
Non-refundable application fee	$50	$100
Demolition Permit	For structure 92.9m² (1000ft²) or less in area - $50	$100 (flat rate)
	For structure for more than 92.9m² (1000ft²) less in area - $100
Wood burning appliance permit	No fee	$100
Minimum plumbing permit fee	$50	$100
Re-inspection	$100 flat fee	$100/hr
Permit transfer or assignment	10% of the original fee, or $30, whichever is greater	$100 per transfer or assignment
Permit extension	20% of the original permit fee to a maximum of $500. Minimum $50	20% of the original permit fee to a maximum of $500. Minimum $100
Revisions (after permit issuance)	No fee	$100/hr
Alternative Solutions	No fee	$200
Swimming Pool	No fee	As per construction value
Excavation deposits	$50,000 max	2x backfill estimate (min $50,000)
Demolition interim landscaping deposit	No deposit	120% of cost estimate provided by a qualified professional
Security deposit for damage	No deposit for damage to boulevard	Boulevard only - $750
Work without permit penalty	2x permit fee	2 times permit fee up to a maximum of $25,000. Minimum $1000
Stop work notice	No penalty	$1000

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

There are no financial implications that would impact the Town.

ALTERNATIVE:

The alternative option is that Council does not proceed with first, second and third reading of Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958, 2016. Should Council wish to proceed with this option, then Council must rescind first, second and third reading of Building Bylaw No. 1111, Amendment Bylaw No. 1119, 2023 as changes would be required to this bylaw in response to this alternative option.

CONCLUSION:

The last substantive changes to the building fees and charges occurred approximately 12 years ago and an update is due. The proposed amendments to the Fees and Charges Bylaw will ensure there is adequate cost recovery of building services operations. Staff recommend that Council give first, second, and third reading to Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 958, 2016, Amendment Bylaw No. 1119, 2023, and that the bylaw amendments come into effect on November 1, 2023, along with the new building bylaw.

CONCURRENCE:	Initials	Comments
Chief Administrative Officer	KA	Recommend Approval

REVIEWED BY:	Initials
Director of Corporate Administration	n/a
Director of Finance	n/a
Director of Development Services	LT
Director of Engineering and Parks	n/a
Director of Protective Services	n/a

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment A: Committee of the Whole Report dated March 7, 2023.