The Peru Gazette

By John T Ryan

Peru – Peru’s residential and commercial building permit applicants will be subject to a new fee schedule as of August 1, 2016. The Town Board unanimously approved the new schedule at its Monday, July 11, 2016 meeting. The Board asked Code Enforcement Officer Bob Guynup to recommend a fee schedule that better reflects the work the code enforcement office expends on a permit.

Permit fees for new residential and commercial buildings, additions and garages will be increasing, while permit fees classified as “miscellaneous” such as oil tanks, wood stoves, fences, signs, etc., will not increase.

CEO Guynup explained, “I tried to be fair. The fees are priced by square foot.” Some projects require as many as ten or more inspections/re-inspections over the construction phases, i.e. footings, framing, electrical, plumbing, insulation, etc. Guynup canvased the fee structure in other towns prior to making his recommendations only to discover that schedules vary from town to town.

As an example of the changes, Peru’s current permit fee for a new 2,000 sq. feet residence with a basement and attached garage would be $235 (base fee of $185, plus $25 for the basement and $25 for a 576 sq. ft. attached garage). The new permit fee will be $615 based on $.25 per square foot for the residence and $.20 per square foot for the garage.

The current fee for a 2,000 square foot commercial building is $175 ($150 up to 1,500 sq. ft., plus $2 for every 50 sq. ft. over 1,500). The new fee will be $700 based on $.35 per square foot.

Peru’s Code Enforcement Office is busy at this time of year issuing 37 permits in June. 106 permits were issued from January 1 – June 30.

Click here for Fee Schedule – Effective 8/01/16

Fees in effect through 7/31/16