County proposes higher fines for permit scofflaws

SANDPOINT — Bonner County is proposing increased penalties against building location permit scofflaws.

County commissioners are slated to rule on the proposed fee increases during a public hearing at 2 p.m. on Wednesday. The hearing will be held at the Panhandle Health District conference room at 322 South Marion Ave.

Planning department records indicated that by this spring, building violations nearly equaled the number of incoming building location permit applications. Over the past several years, one in four building location permits started with a building violation.

The county is proposing several actions to address the violations, including public outreach programs, increased fines and working with the assessor to seek back taxes from landowners who escaped property tax assessments by failing to obtain permits.

The county currently collects an initial investigative fee of $80 from landowners who fail to obtain permits prior to construction. If compliance remains elusive, the county assesses a $160 fee plus mileage costs for each subsequent site visit.

The county seeks to charge double the cost of a permit if construction starts without a permit.

All but construction of minor additions would be assessed the double fine if the new fee is approved.

Violations would be subject to additional penalties and fines as authorized by Idaho Code and Bonner County Revised Code.