Title
Amending Chapter 33.04 of the Legislative Code to require that 10% of the estimated plan review fee is to be paid before a review may begin.
Body
SECTION 1
WHEREAS, the City incurs substantial administrative and professional costs in reviewing building permit applications, including staff time, technical evaluations, and compliance checks; and
WHEREAS, a significant number of applicants submit incomplete, inaccurate, or substandard plans that require multiple rounds of correction and review, thereby increasing the workload on City staff and delaying processing for other applicants; and
WHEREAS, some applicants fail to complete the permitting process by not paying for or picking up their approved permits, resulting in wasted staff time and unrecovered costs; and
WHEREAS, the lack of an upfront fee structure has led to inefficiencies, misallocation of resources, and unnecessary public expense; and
WHEREAS, establishing a reasonable application fee for building permit plan reviews promotes accountability, encourages submission of complete and accurate applications, and ensures that the costs of service are more equitably distributed; and now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, the Council of the City of Saint Paul does hereby ordain;
SECTION 2
Section 33.04 is hereby amended to read as follows -
Sec. 33.04. - Establishment of permit fees.
Fees required. Before issuing any permit required by the building code, this chapter or other pertinent provisions of the Saint Paul Legislative Code, the fee as indicated in the following schedule shall must be paid.
Where work for which any such permit is required, is started or proceeded with prior to obtaining said permit, the fee specified shall must be collected and, in addition, a penalty fee shall must be collected. The penalty fee shall must be equal to the specified permit fee. The payment of such penalty fee shall must not relieve any person from fully complying with the requirements of the building codes in the execution of the work or from any other penalty prescribed herein.
Building valuation for the purpose of establishing building permit fees shall are be as set forth by the valuation data published by the Building Code Division, Department of Administration, State of Minnesota, as may be amended from time to time.
Value of work, other than that included in the valuation data published by the Building Code Division, State of Minnesota, must include the cost of installations, alterations, additions or repairs, including all labor and materials supplied by the contractor and other sources. The building code officer Building Official or their Designee may require the contractor to furnish the city with a written statement of the actual cost of the work. When such costs exceed those for which the permit was issued, an additional permit fee will be required and collected based on the fee schedule established herein.
TABLE A
BUILDING PERMIT FEES FOR
GENERAL CONSTRUCTION (Table attached as Exhibit 1)
Expand
Other inspections and fees (applicable to all sections of chapter 33) (Table continued in Exhibit 1)
Expand
(b) Plan review fees. For valuation under one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), no fee shall may be assessed. When the valuation of the proposed construction exceeds one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), a plan review fee shall must be paid to the building official at the time of submitting plans and specifications for checking review. Plan review fees shall must be sixty-five (65) percent of the total building permit fee as set forth in the table above.
1. Where a plan review fee is required, 10% of the estimated plan review fee must be paid before a review may begin. The minimum pre-application fee is eighty-five dollars ($85.00). The maximum preapplication fee is five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(c) Expiration of plan check. Applications for which no permit is issued within one hundred eighty (180) days following the date of application shall expire by limitation, and plans and other data submitted for checking may thereafter be returned to the applicant or destroyed by the building official. The building official may extend the time for action by the applicant for a period not exceeding one hundred eighty (180) days upon written request by the applicant showing that circumstances beyond the control of the applicant have prevented action from being taken. No application shall may be extended more than once. In order to renew action on an application after expiration, the applicant shall must resubmit plans and pay a new plan checking fee.
(d) Expiration of building permit.
(1) Every permit issued by the building official under the provisions of this chapter expires shall expire by limitation and become becomes null and void if the building of or work authorized by such permit is not commenced within one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of such permit or if the building or work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned at any time after the work is commenced for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days. Before such work can be recommenced, a new permit shall be first must be obtained so to do, and the fee therefor shall will be one-half the amount required for a new permit for such work, provided no changes have been made or will be made in the original plans and specifications for such work; and provided further, that such suspension or abandonment has not exceeded one (1) year.
(2) Any permittee holding an unexpired permit may apply for an extension of the time within which he they may commence work under that permit when he is they are unable to commence work within the time required by this section for good and satisfactory reasons. The building official may extend the time for action by the permittee for a period not exceeding one hundred eighty (180) days upon written request by the permittee showing that circumstances beyond the control of the permittee have prevented action from being taken. No permit shall be extended more than once. In order to renew action on a permit after expiration, the permittee shall must pay a new full permit fee.
(3) Moreover, all work commenced pursuant to the issuance of a building permit by the building official for construction, alteration, repair or remodeling of the exterior portion of a single-family dwelling or two-family dwelling, including an attached or detached garage, must be completed within one (1) year from the date of issuance of the building permit or within one (1) year from the effective date of this chapter, whichever is later. The building official may extend the time for completion upon written request of the permittee establishing that circumstances beyond the control of the permittee establishing that circumstances beyond the control of the permittee prevented completion of the work for which the building permit was authorized.
(4) All work commenced pursuant to the issuance of a building permit by the building official for construction, alteration, repair or remodeling of the exterior or the interior portions of R-I properties or commercial properties where the permit valuation is under five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00), must be completed within one (1) year from the date of issuance of the building permit or within one (1) year from the effective date of this chapter, whichever is later. The building official may extend the time for completion upon written request of the permittee establishing that circumstances beyond the control of the permittee prevented completion of the work for which the building permit was authorized.
(e) Suspension or revocation of building permit. The building official may, in writing, suspend or revoke a permit issued under provisions of this chapter whenever the permit is issued in error or on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or in violation of any ordinance or regulation or of any of the provisions of the state building code.
(f) Refund of permit fees
(1) The building official may authorize the refunding of any fee paid hereunder which was erroneously paid or collected.
(2) The building official may authorize the refunding of not more than eighty (80) percent of the permit fee paid when no work has been done under a permit issued in accordance with this Code.
(3) The building official may authorize the refunding of not more than eighty (80) percent of the plan check fee paid when an application for a permit for which a plan check fee has been paid is withdrawn or canceled before any plan checking is done. The building official shall may not authorize the refunding of any fee paid except upon written application filed by the original permittee not later than one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of fee payment.
(g) Other permit fees. Permit fees for other than general construction shall be are set as follows:
(1) Wrecking of buildings or structures. Five dollars ($5.00) per one thousand (1,000) cubic feet or fraction thereof, minimum eighty-five dollars ($85.00), with the exception of signs as specified in paragraph (10) below.
(2) Moving of buildings or structures. Buildings larger than twelve (12) feet high, fourteen (14) feet wide, twenty-five (25) feet long other than buildings used for group U, division 1, occupancies: Three hundred seven dollars ($307.00) per move. Group U, division 1, occupancy buildings larger than twelve (12) feet high, fourteen (14) wide, twenty-five (25) long: One hundred two dollars ($102.00) per move. Buildings or structures smaller than size indicated above: Eighty-five ($85.00) per move.
(3) Elevators, dumbwaiters, moving stairways, handicapped lifts and other similar devices:
a. New construction, repairs and major alterations: One and one-half (1½) percent of the total valuation of the work. Minimum charge shall be one hundred fifty-one dollars ($151.00).
b. Annual inspection fees:
1. Power driven passenger and freight elevator: .....
Up to 5 floors in height .....$161.00
6 to 10 floors in height .....$184.00
11 to 20 floors in height .....$204.00
21 or more floors in height .....$230.00
2. Dumbwaiter .....$161.00
3. Moving stairway .....$161.00
4. Docklift .....$161.00
5. Handpowered elevator .....$161.00
6. Manlift .....$161.00
7. Vertical reciprocating conveyors .....$161.00
8. Material transfer devices .....$161.00
9. Devices designed for handicapped accessibility .....$161.00
(4) Electrical work. For electrical work the permit fee charges shall be made are set at the following rates; provided, however, the minimum fee for any permit is set as follows shall be: one-family dwelling electrical work eighty-five dollars ($85.00), multifamily, commercial and industrial work, eighty-five dollars ($85.00).
a. Service: New service, change of service, temporary service, addition, alteration or repair on either primary or secondary service up to six hundred (600v) shall be is eighty-five dollars ($85.00).
b. Circuits: The fee for the installation of new circuits and/or feeder additions, alterations or repairs to existing circuits up to six hundred (600v) shall be is fifteen dollars ($15.00).
c. Transformers, capacitors, and generation for light, heat and power: Transformers, capacitors, and generation for light, heat and power shall be must be computed separately at fifty-four dollars ($54.00) per unit plus one dollar ($1.00) per KVA, KVAR or fraction thereof. In addition to the above fees, the fee for all transformers for signs and outline lighting shall be is eighty-five dollars ($85.00) per sign.
d. Alterations, repairs, or extension of electrical systems: For any alteration, repair or extension of an existing electrical system where the work is of such a nature that the fees for a permit cannot be determined from the above schedule, the permit fee charge shall must be based on one percent of the total valuation of the work. Minimum fee shall be eighty-five dollars ($85.00).
e. Low-voltage fire alarm systems, remote-control circuits, signal circuits, and low-energy or low-voltage power circuits: For remote control circuits, signal circuits, and low-energy or low-voltage power circuits (in other than single-family dwellings) the permit fee charge is shall be:
1. Fire alarms, per control .....$85.00
Plus, for each opening .....$2.00
2.Others, per control .....$85.00
Plus, for each opening .....$2.00
f. Traffic signals: For traffic signals the permit fee charge is shall be made at the rate of fifty-four dollars ($54.00) for each service location plus nine dollars ($9.00) for each standard.
g. Street lighting: For street lighting the permit fee charge is shall be made at the rate of thirty-eight dollars ($38.00) for each control unit plus nine dollars ($9.00) for each standard.
h. Electric space heating:
0 to 4000 watts .....$22.00
4001 watts and up .....$31.00
i.Transient projects: For permits on transient projects, including, but not limited to, carnivals and circuses, the inspection fees shall be are computed as follows:
Power supply units: According to items (a), (b) and (c) of the electric work fee schedule. All rides, devices and concessions shall must be inspected. The inspection fee shall be thirty-one dollars ($31.00) per unit.
j. Swimming pools: Eighty-five dollars ($85.00) plus circuit charge.
k. Renewable energy (solar, wind, etc.): The fee shall is be one hundred fifty-one dollars ($151.00) for zero (0)-twenty (20) KW systems, three hundred sixty-three dollars ($363.00) for twenty-one (21)-forty (40) KW systems, and for systems above forty (40) KW, three hundred sixty-three dollars ($363.00) plus three dollars ($3.00) for every KW above forty (40) KW (kilowatt).
(5) Gas burner, oil burner, coal burner and other fuel burners. Eighty-five dollars ($85.00) for the first one hundred thousand (100,000) BTU per hour input or fraction thereof, plus fifteen dollars ($15.00) for each additional one hundred (100,000) BTU per hour or fraction thereof. Maximum fee for each individual appliance shall be is one thousand seven dollars ($1,007.00).
(6) Plastering, stucco, re-dash, patching, veneer plaster, exterior insulation finish system and spray-on fireproofing. The fee is one (1) percent of the valuation of the work; provided, however, that the minimum fee for any permit is eighty-five dollars ($85.00).
(7) Plumbing fees:
a. Drain waste and vent, water supply and fixtures.
1. The fee for all initial permits issued by the department of safety and inspections shall be is ninety-two dollars ($92.00). In addition to this fee, the fee for each fixture, whether set, rough-in, or replaced shall be is thirty-six dollars ($36.00). Each water supply fixture shall be is six dollars ($6.00).
b. Building sewer permit fees .....$85.00
c. Each private waste treatment system .....$257.00
d. Gas burning water heaters, dryers, ranges or other device/appliances including gas piping:
1. Base fee (includes first device/appliance up to 100,000 BTUs) .....$85.00
2. Each additional device/appliance .....$34.00
3. Appliances exceeding 100,000 BTUs: .....
a. Minimum fee…$79.00 plus $15.00 for each 100,000 BTUs or portion thereof
b. Maximum fee .....$1,007.00
d. e. Radon mitigation systems .....$150.00
(8) Standpipes, sprinklers and fire pumps; new installations, repairs or alterations:
a. The minimum fee shall be is eighty-five dollars ($85.00), in addition to which the following fees shall must be paid:
1. Standpipes: Eighty-five dollars ($85.00) for each standpipe for the first five (5) floors, plus eight dollars ($8.00) for each floor above the fifth.
2. Sprinklers: Twenty-two dollars ($22.00) for each additional ten (10) sprinkler heads or fraction thereof.
3. Fire pumps: Eighty-five dollars ($85.00) for each pump.
b. Fire extinguishing systems utilizing an extinguishing agent other than water, new installations, repairs or alterations: The fee shall be is one (1) percent of the valuation of the installation, repair or alteration with a minimum fee of eighty-five dollars ($85.00).
c. Plan review fees shall must be sixty-five (65) percent of the fee as set forth in items a and b. A plan review shall be is required for all new systems, special extinguishing agents, and permits having over twenty-five (25) sprinklers.
(9) Fire alarm systems:
a. The minimum fee shall be is eighty-five dollars ($85.00), in addition to which the following fees shall must be paid:
1. Fire alarm control unit: Twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per unit.
2. Fire alarm opening: Two dollars ($2.00) per device.
b. A plan review shall be is required for all new systems and permits having over one hundred (100) fire alarm openings. The plan review fee shall be is sixty-five (65) percent of the fee set forth in item a.
(10) Smoke control systems:
a. The base fee for the review and approval of a smoke control system shall be is three hundred three dollars ($303.00), in addition to which the following fees shall must be paid:
1. Acceptance testing: Eighty-five dollars ($85.00) per hour of fire engineering inspection time.
(11) Water flow testing:
a. Water flow data, less than three (3) years old, shall must be provided to verify hydraulic calculations for automatic fire protection systems. The fee for this service shall be is eighty-five dollars ($85.00). This fee is to be applied at the time of permit issuance.
(12) Refrigeration:
a. Refrigeration permit: One (1) percent of total value of work, minimum fee of eighty-five dollars ($85.00).
b. Total value of work is defined under section 33.04 <https://library.municode.com/mn/st._paul/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIILECO_TITVIBUHO_CH33BUCOIN_S33.04ESPEFE>(a).
(13) Signs, billboards, marquees and awnings:
a. Wall signs and projecting signs: Three dollars ($3.00) for each square foot with a minimum fee of eighty-five dollars ($85.00).
b. Marquees over public property: One hundred sixty-seven dollars ($167.00) for each installation.
c. Repair permit: Twenty-five (25) percent of the fee for a new sign with a minimum fee of eighty-five dollars ($85.00).
d. Awnings projecting over public property: Two dollars ($2.00) per lineal foot, minimum eighty-five dollars ($85.00) for each installation. A separate sign permit is required for awnings with signage.
e. Roof and freestanding signs: Three dollars ($3.00) for each square foot with a minimum fee of ninety-one dollars ($91.00).
f. Demolition permit: Eighty-five dollars ($85.00).
g. Temporary and portable signs: Eighty-five dollars ($85.00).
h. Billboard extension permits: Eighty-five dollars ($85.00).
i. Additional fees:
1. Additional fee for business signs located in a special sign district when there are additional regulations that must be reviewed: thirty dollars ($30.00).
2. Fifty cent ($0.50) Minnesota state surcharge required for all signs attached to a building for permit fees up to and including one thousand dollars ($1,000.00). For permit fees over one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) the rate is 0.0005 per permit fee dollar.
j. A separate electrical permit is required for all electrical work done on signs that are lit, whether internal or external.
k. If building modifications are necessary to accommodate a sign installation, an additional building permit shall be is required.
(14) Steamfitting and hot water work:
a. Fee for new construction or alteration shall be is one (1) percent of total valuation of the work. Value of work must include the cost of installation, alteration, addition and repairs including heat transfer units, accessories to the heating system, including pipe, fittings, and all labor and materials necessary for installation. In addition, it shall must include all materials supplied by other sources when these materials are normally supplied by the contractor.
b.Minimum permit fee for commercial, industrial, institutional or business occupancies is eighty-five dollars ($85.00).
c. The fee for alterations, additions and repair to existing refrigeration, gas and oil systems shall be is based on one (1) percent of total valuation of the work with eighty-five dollars ($85.00) minimum.
(15) Warm air, heating, ventilation and sheet metal:
a. Mechanical warm air heating systems: eighty-five dollars ($85.00) for the first one hundred thousand (100,000) BTU per hour or fraction thereof, plus fifteen dollars ($15.00) for each additional one hundred thousand (100,000) BTU per hour or fraction thereof.
b. Ventilation systems, dust collection systems, pollution control systems, etc.: One (1) percent of total valuation of the work. Value of work must include the cost of installation, alteration, addition and repair, including all labor and materials necessary for installation. The minimum fee shall be is eighty-five dollars ($85.00) for commercial buildings and eighty-five dollars ($85.00) for residential ventilation work and duct modification.
c. General sheet metal: A separate permit is required for general sheet metal work. For gutters, flashing, metal chimneys, chutes or general sheet metal work, the fee shall be is one (1) percent of the total valuation of the work. The minimum fee is eighty-five dollars ($85.00).
(16) Incinerators:
a. Domestic incinerators: Eighty-five dollars ($85.00) for each installation.
b. Commercial and industrial incinerators: One (1) percent of total value of work, minimum eighty-five dollars ($85.00) for each installation.
(17) Fences permit/plan review: Forty-five dollars ($45.00) for the first two hundred (200) lineal feet or fraction thereof erected and fifteen dollars ($15.00) for each additional one hundred (100) lineal feet or fraction thereof.
(18) Other projects: For alterations, repairs or extensions for which the fee charge cannot be determined by items (1) through (14) above, the fee charge shall be must be based on one (1) percent of the total valuation of the work, with a minimum fee of eighty-five dollars ($85.00).
(19) Reserved.
(20) Solid fuel burning freestanding heaters and stoves, nonmasonry fireplaces and fire place inserts: eighty-five dollars ($85.00). Method for providing positive combustion air must be provided with permit application.
(21) Solar heating systems: Permit fees for solar heating systems shall must be one (1) percent of total valuation, with a minimum fee of eighty-five dollars ($85.00).
(22) Parking lots:
a. Permit fees for parking lots shall must be one (1) percent of total valuation, with a minimum fee of eighty-five dollars ($85.00). Such lots shall may not be used until the construction has been completed and approved by the building code officer.
b. No off-street parking lot or loading and unloading area shall may be repaved, modified, reconfigured or enlarged without first obtaining a building permit. The permit fee shall be must be one (1) percent of the total valuation, with a minimum fee of eighty-five dollars ($85.00).
(23) Tank installation and removal as outlined in section 55.10 <https://library.municode.com/mn/st._paul/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIILECO_TITVIIFICO_CH55FICO_S55.10PEHAMASTTADIDE>(i).
(24) Other piping: Includes process piping and miscellaneous piping that is not otherwise regulated under the state plumbing or mechanical code. The fee for other piping permits must be: One (1) percent of the total valuation, with a minimum fee of eighty-five dollars ($85.00).
(25) Grading: For the placement, removal or movement of:
a. Up to one thousand (1,000) cubic yards of fill, thirty-nine dollars ($39.00) for the first one hundred (100) cubic yards, plus twenty-nine dollars ($29.00) for each one hundred (100) additional cubic yards or fraction thereof.
b. Between one thousand one (1,001) and ten thousand (10,000) cubic yards of fill, two hundred eighty-eight dollars ($288.00) for the first one thousand (1,000) cubic yards, plus twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each additional one thousand (1,000) cubic yards or fraction thereof.
c. Between ten thousand one (10,001) and one hundred thousand (100,000) cubic yards of fill, four hundred ninety-five dollars ($495.00) for the first ten thousand (10,000) cubic yards, plus one hundred five dollars ($105.00) for each additional ten thousand (10,000) cubic yards or fraction thereof.
d. Greater than one hundred thousand (100,000) cubic yards of fill, one thousand four hundred forty-three dollars ($1,443.00) for the first one hundred thousand (100,000) cubic yards, plus fifty-eight dollars ($58.00) for each additional ten thousand (10,000) cubic yards or fraction thereof.
(26) Vacant building rehabilitation permit: Three hundred twenty-five dollars ($325.00).
(h) Fees, exemption for city: The city shall be is exempted from the payment of permit fees required under this chapter where work is done by city employees on city-owned property not exclusively leased or rented to a party other than the city.
It is the intent of this paragraph only that payment of fees are waived. Permits as required by other sections of the Saint Paul Legislative Code are to be applied for and issued, inspections are to be made as required and compliance with all other requirements must be made.
Section 3
This ordinance shall take effect and be in force thirty (30) days following its passage, approval and publication.