By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
RH City Council approves new, revised fees
Placeholder Image

Changes to city regulations will change the cost of building in Richmond Hill, after the City Council approved changes Tuesday to its revenue ordinance that establish new fees and revise others.
Among the new requirements are a tap-in fee for industrial users of water and sewer, a reduced charge for industries that use reclaimed water and permit fees for signs based on size.
Richmond Hill Mayor Harold Fowler said the revisions are “a way to recoup what it’s costing us to provide these services, whether it’s for people to apply for a sign or for us to do for an inspection.”
He said it won’t make it more costly for people to do business in the city and the revisions are geared toward the pending annexation of some 1,200 acres of TerraPointe property around the Belfast Commerce Park and the planned interchange at I-95 and Belfast Siding Road.
Among revisions approved by the council include a change to its building inspection fee, which is now based on the estimated cost of the structure. Previously, the city used a formula to charge by square footage with residential structures costing less to inspect than commercial.
Under the revised ordinance, the inspection fee for new buildings valued between $1,000 and $50,000 will cost $50 for the first $1,000 and $5 for each additional $1,000 up to $50,000. By contrast, the inspection for a new building valued between $100,000 and $500,000 will cost $500 for the first $100,000 and increase $3 for each additional $1,000 up to $500,000.
In addition, Richmond Hill will now charge to review plans for new residential, commercial and industrial building construction ranging from $100 to residential to $300 for industrial.
The fee will be applied to the cost of the building permit, the ordinance says.
Other changes to the ordinance deal with the city’s new sign regulations and include a permit fee of $2 per square foot of the sign face for permanent signs with a minimum of $50 and a $25 fee for temporary signs.

Read more in the June 22 edition of the News.

Sign up for our E-Newsletters