The Role of ePermitting with Agency Fees/Fee Updates and Going to Notice

We had a record-breaking number of agency fee updates this past July, approximately 63% of our 80+ agencies had a major fee update.  Given the sheer volume, we ran into several agencies that thought that only sending their fee update for BCD Notice would also come to ePermitting for update – this is not the case.  This misunderstanding caused significant delays and rework for many agencies.  

As a result of these challenges, we wanted to share the ePermitting fee update process and BCD Notice requirement with all participating agencies.

Fee Update process with ePermitting – we ask that you send us your final fee update draft as soon as it’s available, it does not have to be adopted and we highly recommend that you send any fee updates to us PRIOR to submitting for BCD Notice.  

We will perform a fee analysis – reviewing for methodology requirements as per Division 50, fees required by program authority, Policy interpretations, and any ePermitting system requirements (including standardization of Residential/Commercial Plumbing fixture list and Residential Mechanical appliance list).  Upon analysis, we will send back any suggested corrections and/or updates that might be necessary - again PRIOR to adoption or going to BCD Notice – this is key!  Agencies that miss this step or are unaware, often end up delayed in implementing their updated fees, doing rework, and in some cases having to repeat the BCD Notice process – we don’t want this for any of our agencies.  The ePermitting system, records and applications, are designed to incorporate the required fees and methods.

Once the fee update draft is finalized – then it is ready for local adoption and BCD Notice.  The local adoption and Notice processes can happen concurrently.

BCD Notice for Building fees – any new fees, increases to existing fees, or changes in methodology that result in an increase must be sent through the required BCD Notice process.  Teri Watson (teri.a.watson@dcbs.oregon.gov) is the Policy contact that manages this process.  The BCD Notice period is 45 days – so updates should be sent/done in enough advance of the effective date of your fee update.  Please note, that it has recently been determined that Tech fee and any other ‘surcharge’ type fees assessed on building fees, must also go through the BCD Notice process.

If you have any questions about this process, submit a helpdesk ticket to epermitshelp.BCD@dcbs.oregon.gov.