City of Coos Bay
Home MenuFee Schedule Changes
A gradual, predictable approach to brining fees in line with the cost of providing service.
Why Are Fees Increasing?
The City reviewed what it costs to process business licenses and land use application and found that most fees cover less than half of the actual cost of service. The gap in cost recovery is currently subsidized by General Fund dollars. The General Fund is the backbone of the City's operations, supporting core services such as police, fire, planning, engineering, and administration. Property tax limitations under Measures 5 and 50 impact the City's ability to keep pace with the increasing cost of providing services. When the City subsidizes permitting and licensing fees with General Fund dollars, there are fewer resources available to fund emergency response services.
What's Changing?
Most business license and planning fees will increase by a set amount each year for a period of five years. This phases in the increasing costs over time, rather than implementing a large fee increase all at once.
What You Can Expect
- Over the next five years, business license and planning fees will increase annually by a set amount.
- The full five-year fee phase-in schedule will be posted on the City's website.
- No retroactive increase: an application submitted before an annual increase takes effect keeps that year's lower fee.
- Effective immediately, the City's fee schedule will be adjusted annually based on a standard Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Who May Be Affected?
Business license holders • Homeowners • Developers • Contractors • Consultants
Plan Ahead
Check the Community Development Department's full five-year fee phase-in schedule.
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