DECATUR, Ind. — Decatur officials have proposed a significant overhaul of the city’s building permit and tree fee structure, marking the first major update to the system in more than six years. The changes were introduced during the April 21, 2026 City Council meeting.
Building and Zoning Director Curt W. told council members that Decatur’s current fees no longer cover the cost of inspections or staff time, leaving taxpayers to subsidize construction activity. “Permit fees pay for the people doing the work… it shouldn’t be other people subsidizing these permit fees,” he said.
To determine a fair structure, the department reviewed permit schedules from 10 other Indiana communities. The proposed update shifts Decatur to a square‑footage‑based model commonly used across the state.
Under the proposal, new homes up to 1,900 square feet would pay a $350 base fee, with an additional $0.11 per square foot for larger homes. Manufactured home permits would also increase, and room additions would be separated into their own category to better reflect inspection time. Tree fees would rise as well to match higher replacement costs.
Council members said the increases were reasonable and overdue. Several noted that the city should revisit the fee schedule more frequently. “Nine years is too long… we have to re‑look at it every two or three years,” one member said.
Officials also emphasized the importance of thorough inspections, noting that the building department routinely identifies issues that protect homeowners. “Homeowners should be very happy… he finds stuff in almost every house he goes into,” a council member said.
The changes are included in Ordinance 2026‑6, which will receive a public hearing on May 5 before the council considers final adoption.