City of Austin waives permit fees for storm repairs, late fees for utility bills

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city council of Austin passed an ordinance Thursday to waive permit and development fees for work to repair damage from last week’s winter storm.

“The City has a health and safety interest in protecting its residents from the dangers posed by tree and structural damage. There is an immediate need to prevent these structures from becoming further damaged,” the ordinance reads.

The ordinance covers work to remove damaged trees and tree limbs, and work to repair or reconstruct existing multi-family and single-family structures. Some associated fees that will be waived include fees for permitting, plan review, inspection, demolition and variance fees.

Permits are still required by the city. The Developmental Services Department offers emergency permits, which can be submitted up to five days after work begins. The department says that “applicants should note ‘2023 Winter Weather Event’ on the application.”

“Our priority is to ensure our community can recover safely and quickly from this winter storm,” said Development Services Interim Director José Roig in a press release. “We want the community to know we’re here to help through the recovery and thank the City Manager and the City Council for taking quick action to support Austinites in need.”   

In addition to permit and development fees, the ordinance also waives any late fees for unpaid city utility bills that were due between Jan. 31 and Feb. 17.

However, re-inspection fees are not waived by the ordinance, nor any fees assessed on or before January 31.

Read the ordinance below:

Another newly passed ordinance covers “small scale” electrical work. It drops some permit requirements, extends the deadlines for some other permit applications, and waives a registration requirement for licensed Texas electricians.

“While the ordinance authorizes the City’s Building Official to waive the permit requirement, work must still follow all federal, state, and local requirements,” the press release reads.

Read the ordinance below:

Both ordinance expire on March 31.

 

Tree damage in northwest Austin on Feb. 2, 2023. (Courtesy Scott Ramsay Images)
Tree damage in northwest Austin on Feb. 2, 2023. (Courtesy Scott Ramsay Images)

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city council of Austin passed an ordinance Thursday to waive permit and development fees for work to repair damage from last week’s winter storm.

“The City has a health and safety interest in protecting its residents from the dangers posed by tree and structural damage. There is an immediate need to prevent these structures from becoming further damaged,” the ordinance reads.

The ordinance covers work to remove damaged trees and tree limbs, and work to repair or reconstruct existing multi-family and single-family structures. Some associated fees that will be waived include fees for permitting, plan review, inspection, demolition and variance fees.

Permits are still required by the city. The Developmental Services Department offers emergency permits, which can be submitted up to five days after work begins. The department says that “applicants should note ‘2023 Winter Weather Event’ on the application.”

“Our priority is to ensure our community can recover safely and quickly from this winter storm,” said Development Services Interim Director José Roig in a press release. “We want the community to know we’re here to help through the recovery and thank the City Manager and the City Council for taking quick action to support Austinites in need.”   

In addition to permit and development fees, the ordinance also waives any late fees for unpaid city utility bills that were due between Jan. 31 and Feb. 17.

However, re-inspection fees are not waived by the ordinance, nor any fees assessed on or before January 31.

Read the ordinance below:

Another newly passed ordinance covers “small scale” electrical work. It drops some permit requirements, extends the deadlines for some other permit applications, and waives a registration requirement for licensed Texas electricians.

“While the ordinance authorizes the City’s Building Official to waive the permit requirement, work must still follow all federal, state, and local requirements,” the press release reads.

Read the ordinance below:

Both ordinance expire on March 31.

Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Single on Valentine’s Day? Here are 13 gifts to buy …

/ 3 hours ago

Check out these fabulous gifts to give yourself this Valentine’s Day if you want to enjoy the holiday a little more.


These 13 Valentine’s Day gifts are great for a new …

/ 3 hours ago

For people in new relationships, the stakes often feel very high, because the pressure to impress is increased.


20 Valentine’s Day gifts for the woman who has everything

/ 2 hours ago

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, which means it’s time to start thinking about how to treat the special woman in your life.


View All BestReviews


Top Stories


Suspect wanted after robbing 2 banks, APD says


Austin to part ways with City Manager Spencer Cronk


Cool, dry weekend ahead of next rain maker


TX judge may make decision banning abortion pills …


APD: No threat from reported ‘suspicious package’


Top Stories


More Stories


What Texas’ SEC schedule may look like


Suspect wanted after robbing 2 banks, APD says


Austin to part ways with City Manager Spencer Cronk


Cool, dry weekend ahead of next rain maker


TX judge may make decision banning abortion pills …


APD: No threat from reported ‘suspicious package’


City waives some repair, utility fees after ice storm


Moontower Just For Laughs lineup expands


More Stories

Austin-Travis County


Suspect wanted after robbing 2 banks, APD says

/ 1 hour ago


Austin to part ways with City Manager Spencer Cronk

/ 2 hours ago


Cool, dry weekend ahead of next rain maker

/ 3 mins ago


APD: No threat from reported ‘suspicious package’

/ 2 hours ago


City waives some repair, utility fees after ice storm

/ 4 hours ago


Moontower Just For Laughs lineup expands

/ 4 hours ago


Mother of man shot by police makes plea to City Council

/ 2 hours ago


ATCEMS program helps patients during outages

/ 4 hours ago


ATX has $29M to improve roads – here’s the plan

/ 3 hours ago


Texas gives interim coach Rodney Terry raise to $1.2M

/ 7 hours ago


Mental health screening service opens on ACC campus

/ 8 hours ago


AFD: Cat dead in fire

/ 9 hours ago


Duran Duran coming to ATX

/ 9 hours ago


You need 5 min. wage jobs to afford an Austin apartment

/ 9 hours ago


Thousands briefly lose power again in south Austin

/ 9 hours ago


Weather radios down following ice storm

/ 9 hours ago


APH to open cold weather shelters Friday night

/ 2 hours ago


Motorcycle hits building on 6th Street

/ 7 hours ago


1 arrested after driving onto Texas Capitol grounds

/ 4 hours ago


Austin zoo expects months of cleanup after ice storm

/ 22 hours ago

KXAN Austin Video

<article class="article-list__article article-list__article–is-stacked article-list__article–has-thumb article-list__article–is-media-type" data-article-id="8380700" data-index="0" data-collection="article-list5" data-anvato-params=""ns":"id":"8380700","title":"Mother of man shot, killed by police pleads for City Council to address police violence","link":"https://www.kxan.com/video/mother-of-man-shot-killed-by-police-pleads-for-city-council-to-address-police-violence/8380700/","thumbnail":"src":"https://m104216-ucdn.mp.lura.live/iupl_lin/6AC/543/6AC54380702BFEA8034D94B4891C1F6E_160x90.jpg?Expires=2082758400&KeyName=mcpkey1&Signature=AdGP2vYQOS0evJZgNdwwzu_t3IQ","orientation":"landscape","proportional_sources":"16:9":"srcset":"https://m104216-ucdn.mp.lura.live/iupl_lin/6AC/543/6AC54380702BFEA8034D94B4891C1F6E_160x90.jpg?Expires=2082758400&KeyName=mcpkey1&Signature=AdGP2vYQOS0evJZgNdwwzu_t3IQ 160w, https://m104216-ucdn.mp.lura.live/iupl_lin/6AC/543/6AC54380702BFEA8034D94B4891C1F6E_160x90.jpg?Expires=2082758400&KeyName=mcpkey1&Signature=AdGP2vYQOS0evJZgNdwwzu_t3IQ 256w, https://m104216-ucdn.mp.lura.live/iupl_lin/6AC/543/6AC54380702BFEA8034D94B4891C1F6E_160x90.jpg?Expires=2082758400&KeyName=mcpkey1&Signature=AdGP2vYQOS0evJZgNdwwzu_t3IQ 320w, https://m104216-ucdn.mp.lura.live/iupl_lin/6AC/543/6AC54380702BFEA8034D94B4891C1F6E_160x90.jpg?Expires=2082758400&KeyName=mcpkey1&Signature=AdGP2vYQOS0evJZgNdwwzu_t3IQ 640w, https://m104216-ucdn.mp.lura.live/iupl_lin/6AC/543/6AC54380702BFEA8034D94B4891C1F6E_160x90.jpg?Expires=2082758400&KeyName=mcpkey1&Signature=AdGP2vYQOS0evJZgNdwwzu_t3IQ 960w, https://m104216-ucdn.mp.lura.live/iupl_lin/6AC/543/6AC54380702BFEA8034D94B4891C1F6E_160x90.jpg?Expires=2082758400&KeyName=mcpkey1&Signature=AdGP2vYQOS0evJZgNdwwzu_t3IQ 1280w, https://m104216-ucdn.mp.lura.live/iupl_lin/6AC/543/6AC54380702BFEA8034D94B4891C1F6E_160x90.jpg?Expires=2082758400&KeyName=mcpkey1&Signature=AdGP2vYQOS0evJZgNdwwzu_t3IQ 1920w, https://m104216-ucdn.mp.lura.live/iupl_lin/6AC/543/6AC54380702BFEA8034D94B4891C1F6E_160x90.jpg?Expires=2082758400&KeyName=mcpkey1&Signature=AdGP2vYQOS0evJZgNdwwzu_t3IQ 2560w","sizes":"(max-width: 899px) 100%, 300px","date":"time":"3 hours ago","datetime":"2023-02-10T13:55:00-06:00","lead_media":true,"media_type_icon":"name":"video","label":"Video","vilynx_id":"LIN_8380700","mcp":"LIN","width":"100%","height":"100%","video":"8380700","autoplay":false,"expect_preroll":true,"pInstance":"p48","plugins":"comscore":"clientId":"6036439","c3":"kxan.com","version":"5.2.0","useDerivedMetadata":true,"mapping":"c3":"kxan.com","ns_st_st":"kxan","ns_st_pu":"Nexstar","ns_st_ge":"News,Local,Austin,Video,Local News,Video","cs_ucfr":"","dfp":"adTagUrl":"https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=1×1000&iu=/5678/lin.kxan/news/local/austin&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vmap&unviewed_position_start=1&ad_rule=1&description_url=https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/city-of-austin-waives-permit-fees-for-storm-repairs-late-fees-for-utility-bills/&cust_params=vid%3D8380700%26cmsid%3D1647014%26pid%3D1647014%26pers_cid%3Dnxs-40-article-1647014%26vidcat%3D/news/local/austin%26bob_ck%3D[bob_ck_val]%26d_code%3D1%26pagetype%3Dstory%26hlmeta%3Dcity%20of%20austin%20waives%20permit%20fees%20for%20storm%20repairs%20late%20fees%20for%20utility%20bills%26aa%3Df","nielsen":"apid":"P74D95DB2-9ACC-40E2-B3B5-7B9C65C50126","sfcode":"dcr","type":"dcr","apn":"Anvato","environment":"production","useDerivedMetadata":true,"mapping":"adloadtype":2,"adModel":2,"segmentCustom":"script":"https://segment.psg.nexstardigital.net/anvato.js","writeKey":"8Jlo8JuUyENFG8nvLkq1NuyT2CHRyOp7","pluginsLoadingTimeout":12,"expectPrerollTimeout":8,"accessKey":"gq261XAmw8b5xi69ku8hYmO1kyPmMBzn","token":"eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ2aWQiOiI4MzgwNzAwIiwiaXNzIjoiZ3EyNjFYQW13OGI1eGk2OWt1OGhZbU8xa3lQbU1Cem4iLCJleHAiOjE2NzYwNzE2Mjl9.xbz8U6J-I7FfZQnOOLNPUVlneZuq8Yk9r5kT3Ap3p_c","nxs":"mp4Url":"https://tkx.mp.lura.live/rest/v2/mcp/video/8380700?anvack=bvJ0dQpmRLZx7cMPeiW9U27gVRARwpPL&token=%7E5iuxcZQHbUS%2BNSlVZ1erWbloGseZvo70MQ%3D%3D","enableFloatingPlayer":true,"disableMutedAutoplay":false,"recommendations":false,"expectPreroll":false,"titleVisible":false,"pauseOnClick":true,"trackTimePeriod":60,"isPermutiveEnabled":true
// –>


Tracking the Coronavirus


COVID-19 tracker: Cases in the KXAN viewing area

/ 2 days ago


Data tracker: COVID cases, vaccine rates across Texas

/ 2 days ago


Coronavirus Cases Tracker

Austin Weather

Current

54°

Sunny

Tonight

34°

Mostly Clear

Precip: 0&percnt;

Tomorrow

58°

Sunny

Precip: 0&percnt;

Trending Stories


Austin to part ways with City Manager Spencer Cronk


APD: No threat from reported ‘suspicious package’


Replacement SNAP benefits available after winter …


You need 5 min. wage jobs to afford an Austin apartment


Paxton settles with former aides who reported him …

Don’t Miss


RESULTS: This is the best KXAN viewer pic of January


Can I burn my tree stumps, fallen branches post-storm?


TxDMV rejects vegan license plate for ‘vulgar’ phrase


Cities offer free tree, brush disposals post-storm


KXAN launches new news podcasts



Latest weather conditions from the KXAN First Warning Weather team