Plainfield to See Permit Fee Increase

Photo: Plainfield Village Board, file photo

PLAINFIELD, IL — Residents will see a rise in permit fees after the Plainfield Village Board adopted new building codes at its Monday night meeting.

Interim Building Official Ken Goska said the permit fees were the same from before 2000 and due for a raise.

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Officials did some research with neighboring communities and decided to raise the fees to be in line with other communities, but will still be in the lower end of the permit range fee.

“I believe this will be in the best interest of the community,” Goska said.

In some cases, rates will double. For example, a permit fee for installing a new fence will increase from $20 to $40. A shed will also increase from $20 to $40.

Gideon Blustein, of the Three Rivers Association of Realtors, addressed concerns that proposed permit fees regarding business development plans would place Plainfield lot costs out of the market.

Village Administrator Brian Murphy reassured Blustein that the building permit fees for new construction will remain competitive.

“The fees that we adjusted are for smaller projects - your fence permit, your miscellaneous permit fees, if you will. What we found is that it cost us more to issue a permit than what we were collecting on the permit.”

Murphy said the rate increase is not a money-making venture “by any stretch of the imagination.”

“We really do want to encourage our residents to come in and get those permits because ultimately you do benefit by having them,” Murphy said. “It’s a good thing for you to have.”

Blustein also addressed concerns over possible mandated sprinkler systems for residential homes.

However, Murphy said the village will not be requiring them for residences, but will still have them for commercial properties.

“As far as residential permits, no,” Murphy said.