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| Loveland waives remodeling fees |
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Program runs May 1 to Oct. 1
Doubling up on last fall’s successful construction industry stimulus program, the Loveland City Council on Tuesday acted to waive building permit fees for remodeling projects in owner-occupied homes during five spring and summer months.
During a late-running and nearly snowbound meeting, city councilors passed by a unanimous vote a measure that holds the promise to pump energy into the languishing building trades and save homeowners lots of money.
Beginning May 1 and ending Oct. 1, permit fees for remodeling work will be suspended.
Patterned after successful fee-waiver programs in Denver, Edgewater and Douglas County, Loveland’s program this year has twice the duration of last fall’s 10-week fee hiatus, and it covers a season when demand for home improvement work is highest.
“I would guess there would be a pretty large ripple effect in the economy,” council member Cathleen McEwen said in support of the waiver proposal.
The waiver applies to the first $50,000 of construction expense. Most home remodel costs fall below that threshold. During last fall’s program, homeowners obtained 378 building permits during the 10-week period, compared with 63 during the prior 10 weeks.
The city also gathered $105,000 in use taxes for the projects, compared with $23,000 for the same time prior. The waiver covers fees for plan reviews, building permits and
mechanical, plumbing, electrical and gas permits. It applies to interior remodeling projects and addition of new space to an existing home.
“That’s good news for our remodel guys,” said Dotti Weber, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Northern Colorado. “If the homeowner can make upgrades to their houses, that adds value, too.”
By Tom Hacker
Loveland Reporter-Herald
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