By Sahar Chmais
DRIPPING SPRINGS – The damage done by the storm is being uncovered in its aftermath; Dripping Springs Mayor Bill Foulds, Jr. issued an emergency order to authorize a reduction or waiver of building permit fees related to disaster repair and construction.
Requests will be reviewed based on the following criteria:
- The entity is applying for a building permit for work on property damaged by a natural disaster or an emergency as determined by the Governor, City Council, or the Mayor.
- The entity is applying solely to repair or construct based on damages caused by the natural disaster or emergency.
- The entity applied for a fee reduction or waiver at the time of building permit application or at the time of the Gubernatorial, Mayoral, or Council declaration of disaster or emergency.
- The building permit application is filed within ninety (90) days of the declaration of the natural disaster or emergency by the Governor or Mayor, or through a resolution of the City Council.
In certain cases, repairs and relief cannot wait. If repairs are done right away, the city asks that repairs be left uncovered and accessible for a building inspector to field verify compliance through the inspection process, after the permit has been applied for.
The building permit fee reduction for residential construction will be up to the full amount of the building permit fee, if approved.
For commercial construction, the building permit fee will be in the amount of 20% of the building permit fee.
“This will make the rebuilding process a little less stressful for our neighbors who were affected by the winter storm,” Foulds, Jr. said.
For more information about the emergency order and how to apply for a reduction or waiver, visit the Building Department page on the City’s website: www.cityofdrippingsprings.com/page/building.home, or call 512-858-4725.
