Permit Fees Gone Wild....

[jflynn]

We were awarded a job worth 50k,I just filled out the permit application and then when on-line to get the permit fees.
Unfortunatley the towns web site does not have the fee;s posted.So I called
the wiring inspector,-and asked What the permit fee would be for the job.I knew Iwas in trouble when he asked me if i was sitting down,he then proceded to tell me the electrical permit fee was based on,- $4- per every thousand of the BUILDING VALUE.
Come to find out the overall value of the building contract is around $800k+;-,therefore we had to cut a check for $3232 on a 50k job.we typically carry anywhere from 2-3% of the electrical cost for permit fees,while i do feel we should have did more research on the permit fee of this particular town,there would have been no way of knowing what the building value would have been until the job was awarded.Makes me wonder how much the drywall cont.paid for there permit-oh wait...they dont have to pull permits....

 

[Dennis Alwon]

Why would they charge you based on the entire project. That sounds wrong.

Are they charging the plumbers, HVAC and GC also based on this number?

I would definitely double check-- something smells fishy there.

 

[celtic]

That does smell fishy.

 

[masterinbama]

We have one

We have one

Municipality near here that the GC permits the entire job. But we also have one that was growing so fast that they raised their permit fees to stem growth and pay for infrastructure.We have approximately 25,000 military jobs coming here in the next 4 years and construction has gone crazy. Of course a lot of you know when you have this kind of short term boom the "station wagon electrics" come out of the wood work. I have an old beat up Mazda truck that I normally leave on bigger job sites. I took it down to get the oil changed and my partner called and needed a 3" myers hub. While standing in Graybar this guy comes up and offers me a job at a new by the week hotel up the road. I said I wasn't interested. He replied he was paying top $$$. He could go as high as $10.00 an hour for a journeyman. Me and the counter guy just about laughed the guy out the door.

 

[360Youth]

I think they are wrong, also. I cannot think of any permitting around here that is based on project value (althought, they do usually ask the value), but if so, it should be based on electrical, not whole project.

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

Must be using the finest inspectors money can buy. I would do some research on this.Your only using him for a few hours tops.Someones getting ripped off.

 

[480sparky]

....Your only using him for a few hours tops........

That sure sounds like a customer, doesn't it? :smile:

 

[jflynn]

Must be using the finest inspectors money can buy. I would do some research on this.Your only using him for a few hours tops.Someones getting ripped off.

Funny you should mention this,the inspector is only available to set up inspections for an hour every morning,if you call his office 1-minute after his 1-HR window you cant get him nor set up an inspection...

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I would call the attorney generals office and the local news station

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

That sure sounds like a customer, doesn't it? :smile:

$3,000 for his service ? Wish my company could charge my time at $500 per hour.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

$3,000 for his service ? Wish my company could charge my time at $500 per hour.

$3,000 and that's just for the electrical. I am wondering if this is suppose to be an all inclusive fee for the entire job.

 

[Jim W in Tampa]

$3,000 and that's just for the electrical. I am wondering if this is suppose to be an all inclusive fee for the entire job.

Now that would be in reason.

 

[brantmacga]

that's pretty far out of line compared to permit fees I pay. I did a $30k light commercial remodel job earlier this year and the permit was $35.00

 

[Rockyd]

I'm with Dennis on this one, call the press, and the attorney general. Word of caution priot to doing this. Tell the inspector your going to, and have it documented - If you do this by phone, record it. Also, you may want to speak to his boss with same warnings. Once you throw it down, it'll be there forever, kind of like asking for a divorce today, and then tomorrow saying you've had reconsidered..... Be ready for a war you must win!

Course I can understand why they think they can get away with it - Congress wants to rip us off for 700 billion!

 

[B4T]

Towns gone wild

Towns gone wild

Some towns around here now require a building permit to do electrical work besides electrical inspection. One town wants you to register your truck for annual fee 0f $75.00. My truck is already registered with the county that issues my license. If I sell a generator with an underground Propane tank, I have to give a site survey for the job.. that is $1500.00. Everybody has a hand in your pocket. The Electrical Inspection is the only thing I used to need.. those were the good old days.

 

[ptonsparky]

A permit or license fee is a lot easier to raise than a tax that must be legistated and voted on.

 

[Hendrix]

How about those "impact fees" for building permits?

 

[DanZ]

Wow, I've seen per square foot and per project (electrical, plumbing, etc. all separated) cost, but not per building cost! Did you have to make the check out to "Cash"?:wink:

 

[cowboyjwc]

We require the GC to pull the permit. The permit fee is based on the valuation of the job, either theirs or ours, and the plan check fee is 50% of the permit fee.

that's pretty far out of line compared to permit fees I pay. I did a $30k light commercial remodel job earlier this year and the permit was $35.00

Our minimum fee is $85.00

 

[DanZ]

We require the GC to pull the permit. The permit fee is based on the valuation of the job, either theirs or ours, and the plan check fee is 50% of the permit fee.

Plus corrections! In Columbus, when you pull a whole building permit, they allot you so many inspections, and don't show up until you pay for extra inspections. If you fail one, you pretty much need to buy another.