The San Juan County Council voted Tuesday to change the permitting fees for the county’s owner-builder program, lowering fees for the majority of permits, raising them for the top 10 percent and levying a small graduated increase for the middle third of permit applicants.

The new ordinance, which took effect June 27, charges applicants based on the square footage of the home they’re building. For structures 1500 square feet or smaller, which comprises 56 percent of applicants, fees will decrease slightly, costing applicants 0.14 percent of its value with a $100 minimum.

According to the new ordinance, as square footage increases, fees increase as well. For homes between 2,000 and 2,500 square feet, the fee is 0.17 percent of value with a $100 minimum.

For those permits for buildings over 2,500 square feet, which comprises 10 percent of applicants, there is no cost savings on permits, as they have been adjusted to be the same as conventional construction.

Permit renewal will be $25 per year, and a temporary certificate of occupancy will cost $210.

For more information contact the San Juan County office of Community Development and Planning at 378-2354 or email the department at permits@co.san-juan.wa.us.