Delta is raising many of its development fees.
Delta council recently agreed with a staff recommendation to bump up charges for building permits, plumbing permits, engineering development applications and others fees, including sign permits.
Since 2013, permit and application fees have increased according to the Consumer Price Index with the most recent increase in 2018 where fees were increased by one-half per cent.
Staff suggested a two per cent hike this year.
Some fees, however, have been eliminated, including the $820 development permit for form and character for new houses in North Delta now that form and character requirements have been shelved.
Others will rise higher than two per cent, including the building permit plan processing fee, from $185 to $300, in recognition of staff time required to review and process permits for single-detached dwellings.
Council was told Delta has been in the mid-to-lower end of the pack compared to other cities when it comes to development fees.
Council was also told the new mayor’s task force on building permits and development applications, aimed at streamlining the development application process, will be coming back with various recommendations to council.
City manager Sean McGill noted secondary suites is one of the issues being examined.
Coun. Dylan Kruger was the lone vote against increasing fees, noting housing starts are expected to drop over the next three years.
