Permit fees waived for tornado victims

By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

While commissioners were hesitant in December 2006 to make a decision about waiving building permitting fees for those affected by the tornado, there was no hesitation last Tuesday.

The board voted unanimously to eliminate all charges for permits for the owners of homes being replaced or re-built and refund permitting fees to those who had already paid for them.

Head Building Inspector Ray Reeves said the waiver only applies to fees so applicants will be following the same guidelines and application process as before.

“We go by state guidelines,” Reeves said.

Only individual homeowners or licensed contractors may apply for the permits. The fees are waived, not the actual permits, he said.

“We are out to help everybody and be fair,” Reeves said. “Money is not everything and we’re here to help the citizens where we can.”

The fee waiver would be handled cautiously, he added, pointing out the department had a list and map of homes destroyed.

The waiver applies to all permit fees, not just building permits, and could save a homeowner building a 1,600 square-foot home with a porch and garage close to $1,050 in building, plumbing, electrical and other permit fees.

In December, commissioners had not reached a consensus on who should be granted fee waivers. Some questioned if it should apply to builders, rental property owners, or only residents rebuilding their homes on their own.

The total cost of waived fees was originally estimated to cost the county $5,000 to $6,000. Some homeowners, however, are upgrading to larger homes or replacing mobile homes with stick built homes.

Reeves said anyone with questions is welcome to call the building inspections department or come by the office.