“The commissioners have said they want our fees to be comparable to surrounding counties,” said Jerry Spurling, chief building official for Warren County. “We performed a survey of surrounding counties and found that while most of our fees were in the middle of costs with surrounding counties, our shell-building permit fees were significantly higher.”
Spurling said his office did not make a distinction between shell buildings and other structures, even though the latter meant considerably more work for inspectors.
“Our goal with fees is not to make a profit, but to cover the cost of inspection,” said Commissioner Dave Young. “Our fee structures need to be commensurate with that.”
The new fee structure calls for shell buildings to cost $12 per square foot if up to 50,000 feet; $6 per square foot if between 50,000 and 100,000 square feet; and $3 per square foot if more than 100,000 square feet.
“It’s fair and it’s right,” Commissioner Tom Ariss said. “We want to be considered a business-friendly county, and having permit fees that are not outrageous is a crucial way in proving our commitment to that.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4544 or jmcclelland@coxohio.com.
About the Author