Community Corner

Peekskill Building Permit Rates Increase

Rate were changed for the first time in seven years.

Make sure you bring some extra cash when heading to the Peekskill city building the department next year.

The Peekskill Common Council increased the rates for several permits and inspections during Monday’s committee of the whole meeting. The changes will go into effect in 2013.

Some of the increases include permits for finished basements, swimming pools, commercial kitchens, residential fences and underground storage tanks, which will increase an additional $50 per square foot. Permits for demolitions, alterations, remodeling, conversions will increase by $25,

Sprinkler systems, which were a minimum of $100 and an additional $25 per square foot, have changed to a minimum of $100 for residences and $300 for businesses. A copy of the changes are available in the PDF attached to this story.

Victor Pizzella, the city building inspector, said building fees were last changed in 2005.

Pizzella said he checked more than a dozen communities to compare their building fees with Peekskill’s rates. Pizzella said some communities might appear to have lower building permit fees, but they have additional fees that the city doesn't have.

“When you look at them on the surface, it’s hard to compare the apples to the apples and the oranges to the oranges,” Pizzella said.

Pizzella also said the city’s certificate of occupancy fees were lower than other communities that may have lower building permit fees. But Pizzella said the new fees are about average, or slightly above average compared to other communities.


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