Ordinance 2025-09 proposes the adoption of an adjusted square foot construction cost for building valuation based upon the area of habitable space, as provided for in Chapter 14, Article III, Section 14-72(a) of the Municipal Code.
The current permit valuation factor for habitable space as provided by Code is $165.00 per square foot of building area. This ordinance proposes to increase the fee to $170.00 per square foot of building area. The Building Valuation Data as published by the International Codes Council (ICC) for August 2025 increased the construction costs per square foot for residential occupancies to $170.80. Ordinance 2021-16 requires that the fee be rounded to the nearest five dollar increment, which is $170.00. The construction cost for non-habitable space will remain unchanged at $30.00 per square foot of area. Non-habitable space applies to unfinished space such as basements, attics, attached and detached garages, etc.
A copy of the ICC Building Valuation Data for August 2025 is attached below for your review. Group "R-3", Type V-B are typically single-family homes and garages.
Ordinance 2025-09 proposes modifications to the language in Sections 14-72(a) to read as follows.
(a) New Single-family Residential Building permit fees. Building permit fees shall be based on the total construction valuation of the structure as established in Table One below. The fees will be determined using the total square footage and square footage costs in accordance with the Building Valuation Data, developed by the International Code Council (ICC). For verification purposes, the construction valuation for new single-family residential structures shall be based on $170.00 per square foot of habitable building areas. Areas that are proposed to remain unfinished such as basements, detached garages, accessory structures, etc. shall be assessed at a rate of $30.00 per square foot for all unfinished areas within new single-family residences in lieu of the finished floor space charge.
If the proposed ordinance is approved on first reading on November 10, second and final reading will be scheduled for November 24, 2025. The effective date of the revisions will be January 1, 2026, and will apply to any permit applications received after that date.
Should you have any questions or require additional information please contact the Planning and Codes Director. |