Across the Board Drop for Manatee Permitting Fees

MANATEE COUNTY – With building activity up and internal efficiencies on the rise, the cost of doing business with Manatee County is about to go down. Manatee County Commissioners voted unanimously last week to lower county permitting fees 6 percent. The lower fees will go into effect Oct. 1, after originally being presented in the County Administrator's proposed budget in May. The county says the reductions are the result of increased efficiencies in the Building and Development Services Department combined with a rebounding construction industry throughout Manatee.

In addition, permit fees will be lowered in the following areas:

Accessory Structure fees will be reduced to $275 for structures below 500 square feet, or 51 cents per square foot over 500 square feet;

Commercial Additions and Alterations will be reduced to $375 for structures below 680 square feet and 51 cents per square foot over 680 feet;

Residential Additions and Alterations will be reduced to $275 for structures below 635 square feet and 42 cents per square foot over 635 feet;

Windows/Door/Hurricane Shutters Replacement fees will drop from $125 to $75;

Reinstatement of expired or voided permits will drop from $200 to $50.

Permit fees may only be used to fund building review-related costs and cannot be used to fund other areas of the county budget.

“Construction activity in our county is recovering … residential building permit activity in Manatee County is as strong as in any county in the state,” County Administrator Ed Hunzeker says. “This means revenue from permit fees has rebounded considerably, while efficiencies in providing the permitting and inspection services have allowed us to keep up with the workload without adding staff.”