Manatee County slashes building permit fees

BRADENTON — More than 50 Manatee County building permit and inspection fees have been cut by 10%.

The move, according to a county press release, is in addition to a fee decrease of 6% that began last year. Manatee County commissioners approved the cuts in a late September vote. Officials say the drop in fees stems from a strong economic rebound, and now expenses within the Building and Development Services Department are fully covered by building permits.

“This set of lowered permit fees is the latest in a long line of customer improvements we've made at the Manatee County Building and Development Services Department over the past few years,” says John Barnott, director of the department, in the statement. “The new fees will lower the cost of doing business here while adequately covering staff expenses in the department.”

Building and permit fees can only be used to fund the Building Division, not to supplement other parts of the county budget, the release states. A state-mandated 3% Florida Building Code surcharge fee will still apply to all county permit fees. For more information on the new fees click here.