Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br /> Staff Report <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />To: Mayor Fischer and Members of the City Council <br /> <br />From: Heidi Heller, City Clerk/HR Manager <br />Ben Harrington, AICP, Community Development Director <br />Steve Anderson, Parks & Recreation Director <br />Bill Dircks, Public Works Director <br />Sam Magureanu, Finance Director <br /> <br />Date: December 17th, 2025 <br /> <br />Re: 2026 Fee Schedule Updates <br /> <br />Action To Be Considered: <br />Motion to approve, table, or deny the following: <br />• Adopt Ordinance 926, Amending the Little Canada Fee Schedule, and approve publication <br />of a summary ordinance. <br /> <br />Building Department: <br />Building Permits <br />Reorganization – Items that were bulleted below are now merged into table format. <br /> <br />Small increase on high-value permits – We are proposing to make an approximate 5% increase for <br />permits on projects valued over $50,000. Staff have found that such projects take up a substantial <br />amount of time for the Building Department’s staff. The proposed increase ensures that large and <br />complicated projects are paying appropriately for rising operational costs. <br /> <br />Electrical Permits <br />The City’s electrical inspector has requested increases for fees for 2026. <br /> <br />Mechanical Permits <br />Simplifying Residential Charges – The City currently charges slightly different rates depending on <br />the specific fixtures and the number that are proposed to be altered/changed under the permit. To <br />simplify this process and make it easier for residents/contractors to predict their permit fees, Staff <br />are proposing to move to valuation method of 1.5% of the job or $65, whichever is greater. This is <br />in-line if not slightly below nearby communities. <br /> <br />Increase in Commercial Charges – The City currently charges $60 + 1.5% of the project value. City <br />Staff is proposing to increase it to 2% of project value to be more in-line with nearby communities <br />and acknowledge the greater complexity of inspection and review of commercial projects. <br /> <br />Plumbing Permits <br />Increase in Base Fee – City Staff are proposing to increase the base fee for plumbing permits from <br />$35 to $45. Little Canada and Falcon Heights have the same fee here, which is significantly below <br />most other communities that charge north of $65. The new base fee is in-line with Maplewood but <br />still below nearly all nearby communities.