Buncombe leaders are considering a proposal that would cut permit fees in half for residents rebuilding after Hurricane Helene.
The proposed change, introduced at Tuesday’s Buncombe County Board of Commissioners briefing, could save some residents hundreds of dollars. It would come at a cost to the county, according to the county’s director of strategy and innovation Rafael Baptista.
Baptista estimated that if the proposal passes, the county would lose between $641,000 and $843,000 in revenue over the next year for permits that include residential building, septic, planning and air quality. The loss would come on the heels of a projected $20 million shortfall for the county budget in January.
The move would also “create an additional burden on staff who are going to have to manage this work,” he said.
As part of the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024, residential permit fees were immediately waived when Hurricane Helene hit in late September through the end of 2024. Regular permit rates returned in 2025.
Commissioners will vote on the proposal on May 6.
Other tidbits
- During a Helene update, county staff shared that its right-of-way debris removal service has ended, after collecting more than 1.2 million cubic yards of debris throughout the county. Private property debris removal – along with residential and commercial demolition – runs through mid-April. Residents interested in those services must submit an application before the April 15 deadline.
- Commissioners voted unanimously to increase the assistance available through the county’s Affordable Housing Services Program, increasing maximum assistance for folks who need emergency home repairs from $25,000 to $50,000.
Every first and third Tuesday, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners meets at 200 College St., Room 326 in downtown Asheville beginning at 5 p.m. See the full recording and agenda of the April 1 meeting. The commissioners’ next meeting on April 15 has been canceled. They will meet next on May 6.
