Portland builders and developers, get ready to fork out more cash. The city's Bureau of Development Services has put forth a proposal for a fee hike. Claiming to grapple with escalated labor and material costs, the bureau is eyeing an uptick in charges for permits and land use reviews starting July 1, 2024.
These changes won't be subtle. With most fees proposed to swell by eight percent, industry professionals are bound to feel the pinch. For particulars, the services facing even steeper increases are the Field Issuance Remodel and Accessory Short-term Rentals programs. Announced as a means to reel in ballooning inflationary costs and preserve service quality, these proposed adjustments stem from the bureau's reliance on fee revenue, which comprises a whopping ninety-seven percent of its budget.
Not a done deal yet, the proposal is parked at the Portland City Council's doorstep, awaiting review and approval. But Portland isn't the only place bracing for change. Similar shifts in fee structures are under the microscope for certain unincorporated sections of Multnomah County, where the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners will have their say.
Details of these proposed fee changes, subtle as a sledgehammer for those it impacts, are spelled out on the bureau's website. You can find the full rundown of the impending expense adjustments here.
