2010 Building Permit Fee Schedule Changes

On October 1, 2010 the City of Aurora implemented a new permit fee structure. Aurora's last fee change resolution passed in 2001. For most permits, our previous fee schedule was below average of a 40 community regional sample. The fees generated from the previous fee schedule did not cover our costs to deliver service and thus the average taxpayer was subsidizing development and permit activity in Aurora for more than three years now.

Please feel free to inquire at our front counter about an estimated fee calculation with the following information in hand:

• New construction - Square footage and Construction Type (i.e. type 5b "wood framed")
• Remodeling - Construction Valuation

One new component of our fee structure, to help us reduce operational losses due to project abandonment (10-15% last several years), is a non-refundable fee due at the time of application. Our regional sampling of communities indicates that this is a common practice in the area.

These fee indexing adjustments will help us continue to deliver the (96% on a scale where 100% was "excellent") service you have become accustomed to from the Building and Permits Division.

Comments

Recent customer comments include:

• "A pleasure to deal with extremely competent persons who care about serving the public."
• "Continue providing [the] excellent service that you do. We are lucky ... to have such a responsive staff at the Aurora permits and building department."
• "Just wanted to say I have worked all over the U.S. and this was the most pleasant experience I have ever had from the office to the field inspectors. All were pleasant, friendly, and over the top helpful."