Upper Arlington residents looking to remodel their homes or developers planning new construction are about to feel the weight of new fee adjustments. The Community Development Department has revamped its fee schedule as part of the City's 2025-2026 Municipal Program of Services. After a seven-year cost plateau, the department has conducted a comprehensive review, leading to a variety of changes in the charges for permits and services.
According to a release published on the City of Upper Arlington's official website, the new fee schedule is a mixed bag. For some services, fees have been hiked for the first time since 2018, including new homes, permit applications, and major site plans. Conversely, budgetary relief is in sight for services like lot line adjustments, remodels, and fence permits, with reductions to ease the financial burden on property owners.
Additionally, Franklin County is adjusting its fees, notably increasing plumbing permit charges. This local shift is part of a broader iteration of the city's effort to achieve full cost recovery while simplifying the fee schedule for better transparency and user-friendliness. The changes are described as better reflecting the City’s costs for each service.
One silver lining for green energy advocates is that fees have been scrapped for solar panel installations and zoning worksheets altogether. These measures seem to encourage sustainable development within the community. The details of the fee changes are outlined in the Master List of Fees section of the newly adopted city budget, accessible through the City's website. For further inquiries, the Community Development Department can be reached at 614-583-5070 or via email at [email protected].
