Chestertown Council Hikes Building Permit Fees
The Chestertown Council unanimously hiked building permit fees by 25 percent, citing a lack of increases since 2018 and a 28 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index since then.
Mayor David Foster said not adjusting for inflation would represent a decrease in fee revenue—and recommended annual adjustments going forward.
“I’d actually like to encourage us all to update these every year as a matter of course,” Foster said at the June 16 Town Council meeting.
Town staff had prepared fee schedules with 10, 20 and 30 percent increases before the meeting; Town Manager Larry DiRe recommended 20 percent.
Under the new fee structure, renovating a 1,500 square-foot home would see the fee rise from $720 to $900. New construction for a 1,500 square-foot home would rise from $900 to $1,125.