A. General: Fees shall be assessed in accordance with the provisions of this section or shall be as set forth in the fee schedule adopted by this jurisdiction.
B. Permit Fees: For each and every permit issued pursuant to title 24, California building standards there shall be paid to the city a permit fee in such amount as established by resolution of the city council. The permit fees shall be established by state or local agencies or by resolution of the city council.
The determination of value or valuation under any of the provisions of these codes shall be made by the building official. The value to be used in computing the permit and plan review fees shall be the total value of all construction work for which the permit is issued as well as all finish work, painting, roofing, electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, elevators, fire extinguishing systems and other permanent equipment.
In addition to the permit fees, if buildings or structures are required to meet energy, sound insulation and/or seismic zone standards as mandated by the state, then the building official shall collect a fee in the amount established by state or local agencies or by resolution of the city council.
C. Plan Review Fees: When a plan review is required, a plan review fee shall be paid at the time of submitting plans and specifications for review. The plan review fee shall be those fees established by resolution of the city council. Additional review fees may be assessed for changes and revisions to the plans beyond those required to address the plan review corrections and for those changes made after issuance of the permit. Applications for extension of the plan review expiration date, which are submitted in accordance with this code, shall be accompanied by payment of fees.
In addition to the plan review fee, if buildings or structures are required to meet energy, sound insulation and/or seismic zone standards as mandated by the state, then the building official shall collect a fee in the amount established by state or local agencies or by resolution of the city council.
When the building official determines that the construction or work poses a hazard or that the nature of the construction or work requires a degree of specialized knowledge, skill or experience beyond that possessed by any regular employee of the city, or when there are differences of opinions between the department staff and the project's consultants, the building official may employ a consultant or consultants. The owner, or his agents, shall pay to the city all direct and indirect costs of such consultants and shall maintain a cash deposit with the city at all times in a sufficient amount for the purpose of paying such costs.
D. Investigation Fees; Work Without A Permit:
1. Investigation: Whenever work for which a permit is required by this code has been commenced without first obtaining a permit, a special investigation shall be made before a permit may be issued for such work.
2. Fee: An investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, shall be collected whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall be equal to the amount of the permit fee required by this code. The payment of such investigation fee shall not exempt an applicant from compliance with all other provisions of either this code or the technical codes nor from the penalty prescribed by law.
E. Fee Refunds: The building official may authorize refunding of a fee paid hereunder which was erroneously paid or collected.
The building official may authorize refunding of not more than eighty percent (80%) of the permit fee paid when no work has been done under a permit issued in accordance with this code. The building official may authorize refunding of not more than eighty percent (80%) of the plan review fee paid when an application for a permit for which a plan review fee has been paid is withdrawn or canceled within ten (10) days of submittal and before any examination time has been expended.
The building official shall not authorize the refunding of any fee paid except upon written application filed by the original permittee not later than one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of fee payment. (Ord. 16-O-2719, eff. 1-20-2017; amd. Ord. 19-O-2793, 11-19-2019)