City building fees on the rise

 Wednesday, 09 November 2011 02:00 J.P. SQUIRE Kelowna Daily Courier

The city fees for building, plumbing and natural gas permits are finally going up, far more than the inflation rate but designed to reflect the actual cost of city inspections.  Doug Patan, manager of the building and permitting branch, noted building permit fees have not increased since 1993, plumbing permit fees since 1987 and natural gas permit fees since 1988.  During busy construction periods, fees covered more than the cost of service, he explained, and the city built a reserve fund. However, as construction slowed due to the recession, the reserve fund has emptied and increases are needed. The cost of one inspection was estimated at $55.16. Three natural gas inspections are required and five for plumbing, he noted. Based on $200,000 in construction, the building permit fee of $1,586 will increase to $1,643. Of 15 other municipalities surveyed, Kelowna was at the bottom and will rise to fourth place. West Kelowna had the highest fee at $3,280.  The plumbing permit fee will more than double from $140 (for 14 fixtures) to $290. Kelowna will rise from seventh to sixth position among seven municipalities surveyed. Vancouver has the highest fee at $699. The natural gas permit fee will rise from $91 to $135. Kelowna is seventh and will rise to sixth. Vancouver charges $212. Kelowna not only employs licensed journeymen plumbers, for example, but has two of the 13 level two inspectors in B.C., so it is second to none in the province, said Patan. Other Okanagan municipalities use building inspectors to check plumbing.  When Patan checked with professional associations, they had no objection to the fee increases, he said, and expected higher fees than that. Some neighbouring municipalities are increasing fees while at the same time decreasing service.
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Reports from Nov. 14 Kelowna Council Meeting:
Item 8.1 - BL10483, Amemdment No. 1 to City of Kelowna Gas Bylaw No. 9316.pdf (30kb) (2011-11-09)  
Item 8.2 - BL10631, Amemdment No. 7 to City of Kelowna Plumbing Regulation Bylaw No. 5968-87.pdf (28kb) (2011-11-09)  
Item 8.3 - BL10632, Amendment No. 11 to City of Kelowna Building Bylaw No. 7245.pdf (55kb) (2011-11-09)