It'll soon cost more to construct commercial buildings in Covington. The City Council on Tuesday adopted a new fee schedule that will apply escalating fees to commercial construction permits based on the cost of the building, as well administrative and plan review fees. The cost for residential building permits - whether for new construction, additions or renovations - will...
It'll soon cost more to construct commercial buildings in Covington.
The City Council on Tuesday adopted a new fee schedule that will apply escalating fees to commercial construction permits based on the cost of the building, as well administrative and plan review fees. The cost for residential building permits - whether for new construction, additions or renovations - will remain 25 cents per square foot of building area.
Covington Mayor Candace Watkins said the new fees will help the city cover the costs it incurs during the permitting process.
Commercial permit costs used to be 25 cents per square foot of building area. Under the new schedule, the minimum commercial permit fee would be $50 for construction costing $1,000 or less, and would climb based on costs. For instance, for construction costing more than $500,000, the fee would be $2,500 for the first $500,001 of construction cost and $2 for each additional thousand dollars or "fraction thereof,'' of costs, according to the ordinance. The ordinance also calls for a fee for city engineers to review the plans, as well as an administration fee of 4 percent of the permit costs.
Building inspection fees will remain $25 for residential and $60 for commercial, but the new ordinance calls for a reinspection fee, if needed, of $100 for residential and commercial buildings. Moving and demolition fees remain unchanged, at $100 and $50 respectively.
The ordinance containing the new fee schedule was adopted unanimously. No one from the audience addressed the council during the public hearing.
During a work session prior to the meeting, city building official Al Courouleau said the increased commercial fees are in line with neighboring jurisdictions.
"It's the commercial fees that need to come up to par,'' he told council members, adding that often a single commercial construction project can prompt numerous time-consuming and expensive meetings with engineers.
"And we don't recoup anything for that,'' Courouleau said.
The ordinance will take effect in a few weeks after it is signed by Council President Matt Faust and Watkins and then published in the city's legal journal.
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Bob Warren can be reached at bwarren@timespicayune.com or 985.898.4832.