North Hempstead votes to hike building permit fees

For the first time in more than a decade, North Hempstead has raised its fees for building permits and safety inspections.

Town council members approved the fee hike in a 6-1 vote during a meeting Tuesday. Supervisor Judi Bosworth said the town hasn’t raised the fees since 2006.

“While fee hikes aren’t welcomed, sometimes they are necessary,” Bosworth said, adding that the increase will pay for new building department employees and other services that existing building department staff need.

The new fee to build a residential unit is $100 for a one- or two-bedroom home, and $200 for a multifamily unit. The additional fee for each $1,000 of construction costs has been raised by $2, to $14. The fee to move a residential unit is now $500, up from $300. The fee to demolish a residential unit is also $500, up from $250.

The fee to build a new commercial property is $200 for structures of less than 100,000 square feet and $500 for buildings larger than 100,000 square feet. The additional $12 fee for each $1,000 of construction costs has been raised to $14. The fee to demolish a commercial property increases from $350 to $500.

Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio was the lone “no” vote on the fee hikes.