Politics & Government
City Permit Fee Holiday Designed to Encourage Home Projects
Payments for various projects waived until December to encourage residents to pursue more renovations.
The economic climate may be difficult but Darien residents looking to renovate their properties can catch a break through the city’s permit fee holiday.
The holiday waives the building permit fee for a variety of projects. Small ones, like fencing and air conditioner replacement, typically cost $25, while larger projects, including demolition and parking lot construction usually set property owners back up to $100.
Since March, 208 residents and property owners have taken advantage of the holiday to cut their costs for building and improving their properties, said Administrative Secretary Mary Wintermute. The greatest number of home improvement projects took place in June.
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“It’s helpful,” she said. “If you can decrease costs in any way, that’s not a bad thing.”
Although Darien City Council officiallly approved the resolution May 16, permit fees were refunded back to March. The holiday will last through the end of December.
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Inspection fees and any fees paid to outside vendors are not covered by the holiday, and permits are still required, but residents are encouraged by the lack of fees to pursue home projects.
The holiday was last enacted in 2001 but wasn’t implemented again for a decade because there was no need to do so, said Municipal Services Director Dan Gombac.
The city pursued the holiday again because residents could use the financial motivation to reach their building goals, Gombac said. Similar to the Coach Light Program, the permit fee holiday helps residents pay for or do work on specific projects on their properties.
“We just felt that as part of the economic downturn, we should help out residents any way we can,” Gombac said.
Wintermute added that residents have responded positively toward the holiday, planning home projects and fixing up their properties.
“Residents think it’s great because whatever little help you can get is a good thing,” she said.
For more information on the permit fee holiday and revised fees, visit the city of Darien website.
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