19.04.235 Permit Fees – Refunds.
It shall be the policy of the Department of Building Safety, as authorized by City Council, to authorize refunds of permit fees in accordance with the requirements listed in this section. Where not specifically provided for, requests for refunds shall be considered on a case-by-case basis.
A. Refunds – Plan Review.
1. The applicant shall file a written request for a refund that demonstrates justifiable cause within five (5) working days of the date the application plan review fees were paid. The Building/Fire Official shall investigate the request, and where the plan review process has not begun, the Building/Fire Official is authorized to refund up to eighty (80) percent of the plan review fee paid.
2. Where the plan review process has begun, the amount of the refund may be prorated; provided, that if the review has been completed, no refund shall be authorized.
3. In the event that the plan review fee exceeds the amount paid at the time of submittal, and before any written request for refund is received, the applicant shall pay the additional fees and no refund shall be authorized.
4. Where the plan review is completed and the plan review period expires by limitation, no refund shall be authorized.
5. In all cases, the amount of the refund shall be determined by the Building/Fire Official. The time period to process refund payments is dependent upon the City Treasurer processing time. Once a refund is given, the entire permit application shall be considered null and void.
B. Refunds – Valid Permits.
1. Where a permit has been approved for issuance, and all required fees paid, the applicant shall file a written request for a refund that demonstrates justifiable cause within five (5) working days of the date the fees were paid. The Building/Fire Official shall investigate the request, and where no work has commenced and no City inspections have been requested or conducted, the Building/Fire Official is authorized to refund up to eighty (80) percent of the building permit fees paid at the time of issuance, excluding applicable plan review fees.
2. Where inspections have been requested and conducted by the City, the amount of the refund may be prorated except where work authorized under the permit has been completed and a final inspection conducted.
3. Where the permit has expired by limitation and is considered null and void, no refund shall be authorized.
4. In all cases, the amount of the refund shall be determined by the Building/Fire Official. The time period to process refund payments is dependent upon the City Treasurer processing times. Once a refund is given, the entire permit application shall be considered null and void.
C. Refunds – Fee(s) Erroneously Paid or Collected. Where erroneous fees have been paid or collected, after investigating the basis for which the fees were paid or collected, the Building/Fire Official is authorized to refund one hundred (100) percent of the erroneous fee paid or collected. (Ord. 2414, 2021)