Niles mulls increase in permit fees

By JORDAN COHEN

news@vindy.com

NILES

City Building Inspector Tony Vigorito says the city is spending more money than it is receiving for some building permits, and he plans to suggest a new fee structure in several months.

“Our fees were established in 1970, and some permits now cost us more than we collect,” Vigorito said. “We certainly don’t want to hurt residents and businesses with cumbersome fees, but we can’t keep going in the hole.”

As an example, Vigorito said the city charges $55 for an electrical permit, but with supplies and inspections, it has spent $63.

“Our fees are actually much lower than our sister cities’,” Vigorito said. He plans to propose a new fee scale and hopes council will enact it before the end of this year.

The highest priced permit fee in Niles is $305 for any project with an evaluation exceeding $100,000 plus another $2.50 for each $1,000 above that figure. The lowest is $5 for any work valued at $300 or less.

The comments followed a special Thursday meeting in which city council unanimously passed an ordinance that allows the inspector to impose penalties on contractors or residents who fail to purchase permits for home or business projects that require them. The penalties can be as high as double the cost of the permit, but leaves the amount to the discretion of the inspector.

Vigorito said the previous ordinance also included penalties, but was vague on the amount he could assess.

The building inspector revealed that he has caught 12 violators this month and that the majority were residents along with a few contractors. Asked about his discretion in imposing the penalties, Vigorito said he would allow some latitude.

“If I feel a person didn’t understand and it was an honest mistake, I may not issue a fine, but if it’s a contractor who should know better, than I might go double.

“We have to make it hurt the first time so there won’t be a second,” Vigorito said.