Kisatchie-Delta, the building code compliance office that serves Vernon Parish, may lower its rates from 55 cents per square foot to 48 cents per square foot beginning July 1.
The non-profit organization is the only code compliance office in the region that can ensure that new residences comply with the Act 12 building codes. Kisatchie-Delta works via the Vernon Parish Police Jury to ensure that all new structures acquire the proper permits before occupancy. The seven cent savings would be felt immediately by residential builders, said Matt Johns, director of operations with Kisatchie-Delta.
"Several times in the past few weeks, I have spoken to Kisatchie-Delta, informing them that the jurors were wanting the prices reduced," said Rhonda Plummer, secretary/treasurer for the Vernon Parish Police Jury. "They have been reviewing the prices to lower them for the whole region."
Many Vernon Parish residents have complained about the cost of acquiring a building permit, which, at the current price of 55 cents per square foot, would be $1,375 for a 2,500 square foot house. A cut of seven cents per square foot on a 2,500 square foot house would save a home builder about $175.
Kisatchie-Delta presented the cost cut to the Rapides Area Planning Commission, the local body that governs Kisatchie-Delta, in a 3 p.m. meeting Thursday, said Johns.
The inclusion of LaSalle, Allen and Catahoula parishes, as well as several municipalities, into Kisatchie-Delta's jurisdiction within the last six months is part of the reason the price cut is feasible, Johns said.
In addition, satellite offices in LaSalle and Allen parishes have allowed for better efficiency, said John Miller, Jr., according to the <I>Alexandria Town Talk<P>. Miller is the executive director of Kisatchie-Delta.
In an effort to appease angry residents over the cost of acquiring permits, the Vernon Parish Police Jury passed an ordinance in May to reduce some of the restrictions on remodeling a home and some inspection requirements.
"We want safer homes for our consumers to buy, but at the same time we don’t want to put more restrictions on them than we have to," said Jim Tuck, police jury president.
The jury also removed the requirement that mobile homes be inspected by a certified building officer, reducing the cost of getting a permit for a mobile home from $100 to $25. The new ordinance also did away with the requirement to have electricity meter poles, except for new hookups, inspected by a certified building officer, reducing that cost by $75 as well.