The Wilton Select Board unanimously approved updating the town’s building permit fees Monday, with the new fees taking effect July 1. The board also unanimously approved grandfathering in any projects submitted before that date.
The goal is to make up for money the town has lost because of its outdated fee structure.
Bob Garside, Wilton’s primary building inspector and code enforcement officer, first raised the issue. The town realized it was charging less than neighboring towns for building permits. Nick Germain, Wilton’s town administrator, said Garside’s experience allowed him to notice what previous building inspectors had missed.
New Hampshire does not set a standard for building permit fees, meaning each town determines its own structure. Before this update, Wilton calculated the charge by square foot depending on the project, with a minimum fee of $100.
The fee equation has been updated to reflect International Code Council calculations. The added revenue will allow the town to pay for the building inspector role and the costs of inspecting larger renovations and projects, Germain said.
The change better reflects the reality that a project can require multiple building inspections, Garside said.
Germain said Garside selected the fee structure based on Wilton’s building codes and adjusted it for the size of the town. Garside recommended trying the structure for a year and then revisiting it.
No one commented on the fee changes during the public hearing or public comment.
Both the Select Board and Planning Board had previously approved the update. The new equation for permit fees is available on the updated Schedule of Building Permit & Fire Department Fees for the Town of Wilton.