Des Plaines allows residential building permit refunds

The Des Plaines city council this week authorized a new ordinance that allows residents to apply for a refund of building permit fees for projects that have stalled due to the economy.

The change came about after several residents requested refunds claiming economic hardships.

Per the new ordinance, refunds will be granted only if they meet the following criteria:

• if a recommendation is made by a city building official and approved by the city manager or authorized designee

• the petitioner must demonstrate a hardship condition

• the policy applies to single-family residential projects only

• the city will retain 25 percent of the permit fee to cover plan review costs when a refund is granted

• projects whose fees total $100 or less can get an exemption to the retainage requirement.

Fifth Ward Alderman James Brookman suggested the city allow for an appeals process should a resident's request for refund be denied and also wanted to eliminate the hardship clause.

"To me a hardship is we are holding someone else's money," Brookman said.

Sixth Ward Alderman Mark Walsten suggested the city provide more latitude to homeowners on the 25 percent retainage fee so that each project is evaluated individually and charged accordingly for time spent by city staff on its review.

Neither of those amendments made it into the final ordinance, which was approved by a 5-3 vote.

As part of the change, the city's Residential Building Code, which contains a provision for revoking permits for projects that have not started, was modified to allow a building official the authority to void a permit as long as the owner requests it in writing and no work has started. The official also may refund any fees associated with the voided permit for single-family residential projects.