Following a public meeting Monday night, Brockton has approved increasing it building permit fees.
Mayor Chris Peabody calls the building permit fee increases modest and necessary.
The building permit fees which have not been increased since 2011 are required to cover the daily operation of the building department.
Peabody calls the increase a catch up to inflation.
He says the fees cover the inspection of the foundation, the framing and the final inspection of the buildings which protect the homeowner.
The building permit fees also help to offset the cost of running a Building Department and ensure that staff are sufficiently trained.
Peabody notes the building permit fees are paid by the developer or home builder not the general taxpayer.
Steve Adams was the lone councilor to oppose the increase.
He notes that Brockton had a 5.5 percent tax increase this year and municipal fees are also on the rise, Adams worries the building permit increase will just add to that burden.
Compared to other municipalities however, Peabody calls Brockton's new building permit fees quite reasonable.
The permit increases vary between permits.
For example, a single family home building permit fee will increase 20 percent, which means on a 1200 sq ft home the fee will increase from $880 to 1,060 which is a $180 dollar increase.
Additions & renovations plumbing fees will increase 42% and septic inspections will jump from 20 to 50 percent depending on the type of class inspection whereas farm building and housing livestock inspections will experience a 16% increase.
The new rates will come into effect January 1st.