MANSFIELD — The Richland County Building Department’s fee schedules have not been updated for more than six years.
But Steve Risser, the department’s director, told the Richland County Board of Commissioners in August that personnel changes and the loss of some of the other counties and territories the department serves have decreased workload, along with income and revenue.
“There were some minor (fee) adjustments in 2019, some larger adjustments in 2017 — but (we’re) trying to bridge that gap between revenue and expense,” Risser said last month.
Under the Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Administrative Code, commissioners have the authority to set the fee schedule for the department. The first public hearing, intended for discussion and public comment regarding the proposed fee changes, took place Sept. 23.
A second public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Board Room, located at 50 Park Ave. E. Following the hearing, commissioners will vote on the adoption of the proposed fee schedule.
“The fee schedule that we’ve got proposed mostly aligns with that of the State of Ohio on the commercial side,” Risser said. “Looking at the other departments, we felt that was a good number to align with.”
What does the building department do?
The Richland County Building Department enforces code requirements and regulates the construction of buildings and structures within the department’s jurisdiction. It reviews and approves all plans and issues all approvals (permits) required by the applicable, current codes for the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, and location to all commercial and residential buildings and structures.
Comparing current fee schedule with proposed
Risser said the department effectively has three different fee schedules: residential approvals, commercial projects and a separate commercial schedule for the jurisdictions the department contracts with in Crawford County, as well as the Village of Carey in Wyandot County.
Based on last year’s commercial numbers, the director said an $88,000 increase in revenue is projected with the proposed fee schedule. On the residential side, he said revenue is projected to increase by about $80,000.
Should commissioners adopt the proposed fee schedule, Commissioner Tony Vero said he would recommend having the new fees become effective as of Jan. 1.
Risser said any applications received by the department before that date would be priced according to the current fee schedule, rather than the updated (if approved) — which would be applied to new applications received on or after Jan. 1.
Below is a breakdown of the proposed building permit fees:
Below are the current prices for comparison:
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