City waives building permit fees for flood victims

Dripping Springs City Council unanimously passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Todd Purcell to reduce or waive building permit fees related to disaster repair and construction, at its regular May 16 meeting.

Under this resolution, the Mayor will review reduction or waiver requests for applicants who meet the following criteria:

• The applicant is applying for a building permit for work on property damaged by a natural disaster or an emergency as determined by the City Council or the Mayor. 

• The applicant is applying solely to repair or construct based on damages caused by the natural disaster or emergency. 

• The applicant applied for a fee reduction or waiver at the time of building permit application or at the time of the Mayoral or Council declaration of disaster or emergency. 

• The building permit application is filed within ninety (90) days of the declaration of the natural disaster or emergency by the Mayor or through a resolution of City Council

If approved by the mayor’s review, the building permit fee reduction for residential construction will be up to the full amount of the building permit fee. The building permit fee reduction for commercial construction will be in the amount of twenty percent of the building permit fee.

The resolution was made in response to the May 4 flooding event, which caused extensive damage to property. “This will make the rebuilding process a little less stressful for our neighbors who were affected by the flood,” Purcell said. 

The resolution gives the Mayor authority to provide the aforementioned assistance with any future disaster or emergency determined by the Dripping Springs City Council. 

For more information about the resolution and how to apply for a reduction or waiver, please visit www.cityofdrippingsprings.com.