Politics
Mill Park Updates Permit Fee Schedule Under Regional Uniformity Ordinance
Mill Park residents applying for residential construction permits will pay fees calculated the same way as applicants in five neighboring cities starting next quarter.
How we reported this
The Mill Park City Council passed Ordinance 2026-14 on July 7, which revises how building permit fees are calculated for single-family homes and small commercial projects. The change affects every property owner who files an application with the city's planning department after September 1.
Why the update takes effect now
The ordinance responds to a 2025 state directive requiring all municipalities with populations above 50,000 to standardize fee formulas by the end of 2026. Mill Park's previous schedule used a flat square-footage rate, while the new formula adds a fixed administrative charge of $275 plus 0.8 percent of project value. City budget documents list the adjustment as necessary to close a $1.2 million shortfall in the development services fund.
Local residents will notice the shift most directly when they seek permits for additions or renovations. A homeowner planning a $40,000 garage conversion would have paid $920 under the old flat rate; the new calculation sets the fee at $595. The planning department projects 1,800 residential permits in the coming fiscal year.
How Mill Park stands against other cities
Under the same state directive, four adjacent cities already use the percentage-plus-fixed-charge model. Mill Park's administrative charge of $275 sits $25 below the regional average of $300. City records show the average permit approval time in Mill Park last year was 42 days, compared with 38 days in the next-largest city using the model. The legislation states that fee revenue must be spent only on permit processing and inspection staff.
The city clerk's office will begin publishing quarterly reports on fee collections and processing times beginning in January 2027. Residents can review those reports on the municipal website or request paper copies at city hall. The government projects the revised schedule will generate $2.8 million in the first full year of operation.
Applications already in the queue before September 1 will be processed under the prior fee schedule. City staff will mail notices to those applicants by July 31 explaining the transition rules.