Washington has new fees for construction permits.  The new fees are mostly higher, and they are intended to better cover the cost of doing inspections of mechanical systems, electric, and plumbing.

Previously the fee for any work was 25 dollars.  That was the case whether the work was a small residential project, or a multi-million dollar commercial project.

The City Council approved the new fees on a 4 to 2 vote.  Council Members Mark Kendall and Bob Shepherd voted no.  One reason the two cited for opposition is they say that higher fees might be a disincentive for investment in the very projects that they are trying to encourage for economic development.