Bel Air approves changes to numerous town fees and costs for service

Some fees associated with permitting, development and services in Bel Air will increase after the town mayor and commissioners passed legislation amending town fees last week.

The rates are outlined in the town’s “fee schedule,” which is subject to minor changes each year.

When the amendments to the town’s fee schedule were introduced earlier this month, the town administrator, Edward Hopkins, said there are more amendments than usual due to an effort to get outdated fees in line with the present cost of doing business.

The finalized changes to the fee schedule that passed unanimously include:

Permits for additions and alterations 

Building permits have two fees associated with them — one for the county and one for the town.

Additions and alteration permits from the town for decks, porches, balconies, club basements, occupant structures, accessory resident buildings and sheds will increase from $25 to $50.

County fees associated with decks, balconies, porches and sheds will cost 5 cents per square foot, or a $30 minimum. For room additions and residential accessory buildings, county fees will be 5 cents  per square foot, or a $65 minimum.

Town permits for residential and commercial retaining walls will increase from $25 to $50 and county fees associated with retaining walls will remain at $60.

County permit fees for in-ground, residential above ground, and public swimming pools will not change with in-ground fees staying at $75, above ground residential fees at $40, and public fees at $125.

Town fees for all three classifications of swimming pools, however, will double from $25 to $50.

Sign permits 

The fee for temporary signs exceeding 6 square feet is proposed to increase from $25 to $35. The fee for signs under 25 square feet is proposed to increase from $35 to $50 and the fee for all other signs is proposed to increase from $75 to $100.

Other permits

The fee for temporary use permits (Christmas tree sales, tents for special events and modular classroom facilities) is proposed to increase from $25 to $35.

Building permits and related fees 

County fees for commercial, industrial and/or institutional facility building permits will remain at cents per square foot with a minimum fee of $150.

Town fees for these permits will be 1 cent per square foot, or a minimum of $125.

County permits for utilities, such as towers, transformers and poles, have a minimum fee of $50 and a $120 fee to the town.

Commercial tenant occupancy certificate name changes and ownership changes will have a town fee of $85.

Building permits for one- and two-family dwellings will have a county fee of 6 cents per square foot, or a minimum fee of $75.

Town fees for these permits will increase from $75 to $125

County fees for building hotel buildings will cost 9 cents per square foot or a minimum of $150 with the town fee increasing from $85 to $125.

Assisted living and dormitory buildings will have the same county fees as hotels but will have a town fee of 1 cent per square foot or a minimum of $125 — an increase of $40.

County fees for multi-family apartment units and condominium rental units will cost 8 cents per square foot. For town permit fees, these facilities will cost 1 cent per square foot or a minimum of $125.

Fees for traffic impact analysis will increase from $750 to $900, and revision reviews made to these analyses are proposed to increase from $250 to $500.

Economic development market studies will cost $30.

Fines for proceeding with work without a utility permit will double from $50 to $100.

Utilization of town services 

The fee schedule adjustments refine and set parameters for utilizing town services like the Bel Air Police and the Department of Public Works for events. The requirement of advanced notice is set — ranging from a 45-day requirement to a 90-day requirement based on the event.

The amendments made to the fee schedule will go into effect at the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.

For more information regarding the amended fee schedule, view Resolution 1231-24 on the town’s website.