Fee Hike Worth Its Wait in Golden State

Builders faced with a permit fee hike might want to resist the urge to rush in plans before it takes effect, especially in Placer County, Calif.

On Jan. 5, the county will implement its first building permit fee increase since 1988. The fee for a 2,000-square-foot house with a 500-square-foot garage will rise $450 to $1,618, says Ed Jenkins, the county's chief building official. The fee for a 4,000-square-foot house with an 800-square-foot garage will rise $1,100 to $3,991.

That's small change in light of the $30,000 in total permit fees that a luxury home might incur.

"It's not unreasonable," says Tim Busk, president of the 400-member Placer County Contractors Association. "They didn't increase that fee over the years like they could have."

The new revenue will nearly halve turnaround time to three to five weeks.

Jenkins says the county wants pennywise builders to avoid rushing in because "accuracy and completeness help speed things a great deal."