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Okotoks permit fees restored

Development permit fees were reinstated effective Sept. 21 after being waived in April in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Okotoks MDP 0004
The Town of Okotoks is reinstating permit fees for development applications effective Sept. 21 after waiving them during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Brent Calver/Western Wheel)

As Okotoks continues to reopen its facilities and return to service levels, previously waived permit fees are being reinstated.

Effective Sept. 21, fees for development permits for creating home-based businesses, signs, business start-ups or relocations, construction or renovation to create secondary suites and garages, were brought back into effect.

The fees had been put on hold in April as council reconsidered its budget in light of the pandemic.

“At that time, council chose to waive a number of planning application fees to assist residents and small businesses during these difficult times,” said Jamie Dugdale, corporate strategist for the Town of Okotoks. “Since that time, public health-care measures have allowed the health-care system to effectively deal with the pandemic and create a new normal, and many businesses have opened – albeit it in a limited fashion.”

In addition, he said planning activity levels are at the highest level seen in Okotoks in several years, with the number of development permit applications so far in 2020 already exceeding the total number submitted in 2019.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately $50,000 was lost in revenues due to the waived permit fees and if the level of activity continued, the Town could have lost closer to $100,000 by the end of the year without collecting fees, he said.

“It’s important some revenue be recovered for the remainder of the year to minimize the overall financial impacts to the Town,” said Dugdale.

Coun. Ed Sands noted the number of improvements made during 2020 could have a positive impact on the Town’s tax assessment role in the future.

“A lot of things were filed that would have improved homes, would have improved businesses, would have improved accessory suites,” said Sands. “Though it does take a little bit of time for that to shake out, higher value in a home, higher value in a business, results in higher levels of assessment, which results in higher levels of tax revenues.”

While it’s difficult to analyze exactly what the effect could be, he said any improvement within town is a good thing where the bottom line is concerned.

For more information on rates and fees visit www.okotoks.ca.

Krista Conrad, OkotoksToday.ca

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