Agenda Item Wording:
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Fire Department rates and fees - Modification to Fire Department’s inspection-related rates and fees schedule to adjust fees to a current rate and to simplify the fee structure to accommodate the City’s new business license software.
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Agenda Date: 03/16/2026
Prepared by: Corbin Reed, Fire Marshal, corbin.reed@visalia.gov, 559-713-4272 Dan Griswold, Fire Chief, dan.griswold@visalia.gov, 559-713-4220
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends the Council conduct a public hearing to adopt Resolution No. 2026-11 adopting the proposed fee schedule, including the removal of the fee cap specific to apartment complex inspections.
Summary:
The Fire Department has fees for fire and life safety inspections, reinspections, operational permits, and apartment complexes. It was identified during the implementation of the City’s new business tax license software that the current fee structure and procedure was not readily compatible with the software. Fire Administration used this opportunity to research and identify a more suitable fee structure and to evaluate and update current fee rates if appropriate.
Background discussion:
The Visalia Fire Department has conducted annual fire and life safety inspections since the early 1990s. Fire and life safety inspections are conducted by both Fire Prevention staff and by engine companies. During the August 16, 2010 City Council meeting, the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 rates and fees were amended to include a $20 Operational Business Inspection Fee for fire and life safety inspections. The fees were implemented to offset the cost of performing annual fire and life safety inspections throughout the community. Fees evolved over time to reflect operational needs and cost recovery efforts. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2013-2014, these fees have been adjusted annually in accordance with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The current Operational Business Inspection Fee is $29.93. During this fee evaluation, Fire Administration identified the original fee amount does not appear to have fully accounted for personnel costs, particularly when engine companies conduct inspections.
In addition to fire and life safety inspection fees, the City has a fee for occupancies that require an operational permit inspection. Operational permits inspections are for specific business operations identified in the California Fire Code that present an increased level of hazard. Activities requiring an operational permit inspection include, but are not limited to, welding and other hot work operations, places of assembly with 50 or more occupants, the storage and use of hazardous materials, and high-piled combustible storage. Facilities conducting these operations typically require more comprehensive inspections due to the additional safety considerations and code requirements associated with each activity. As a result, separate fees have historically been assessed to account for the extended time and resources necessary to complete these inspections. Between 1995 and 2010, operational permit fees ranged from $20 to $54 per permitted activity. As part of the Fiscal Year 2010/2011 rates and fees review process, the fee structure was revised to establish a flat rate of $62 per operational permit, with a maximum of two permits applied per inspection and this rate increased by CPI each year. As part of the Fiscal Year 2015/2016 rates and fees review process, an additional fee for “facilities with aggregate building area 100,000+ square feet” was added as an operational permit. The current fee for an operational permit is $93.80 with a maximum of three operational permit fees applied per inspection.
Lastly, apartment inspection fees were initiated with the original operational business inspection fee at the August 16, 2010, City Council meeting. The original fee was based on part-time inspector staffing, however, Health and Safety Code Section 13146.5 now requires apartment complexes to be inspected by full-time personnel. The original apartment inspection fee was $5 per unit up to 100 units. This fee has increased by CPI each year and the current fee is $7.65 per unit
Staff recommend restructuring fees by setting both the operational business safety inspection fee and the operational permit fee at $82 per inspection, with a maximum of three operational permit fees per inspection and setting the per-unit inspection fee for apartments at $12.09 with the removal of the 100 maximum billable units. Implementing a single operational business inspection fee for all inspections would streamline billing and reduce staff time. Notably, current fee calculations do not account for administrative support costs, including Prevention, Information Systems, and Finance personnel.
Proposed new fees and structure
Fire Administration is proposing following fee amendment:
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Current Fee |
Proposed Fee |
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Operational Business Inspection |
$29.93 |
$82.00 |
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Reinspection |
$29.93 |
$82.00 |
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Operational Permit |
$93.80 |
$82.00 |
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Apartment Inspection (per unit.)* |
$7.65 |
$12.09 |
*This proposal also includes removing the 100 unit max for apartment complexes as this is a disproportionate reduction in fees assessed to larger complexes.
Proposed fee analysis
Operational business inspection - The proposed $82.00 fee is the average cost of a three person engine company crew for 15 minutes, the time it takes to complete a typical engine company inspection without any operational permit inspections. This fee will also be applied for inspection completed by fire prevention personnel with the logic that the inspection will take longer due to a single staff member performing all aspects of the inspection.
Reinspection - The same $82.00 fee is proposed given the additional time required for the crew or fire inspector to follow-up and reinspect the occupancy to confirm the noted violations have been resolved.
Operational permit inspection - The same $82.00 fee is proposed given the hazardous conditions or operations requiring the inspection will add the proportional amount of time to the inspection.
Apartment inspection - The proposed $12.09 was figured by calculating the average time it takes a fire inspector to inspect a triplex apartment complex. Staff concluded it takes an average of 30 minutes to inspect a triplex. The average cost of a fire inspectors time for 30 minutes is $36.28 and when this is divided by three for per unit cost, $12.09 is the proposed cost per unit.
Additionally, Fire Administration proposes removing the current 100-unit max as this is a disproportionate reduction in fees assessed to larger complexes. Larger complexes do not require less inspection time on a per-unit basis. The removal of this cap would currently affect nine properties within the community.
The above proposed fee is calculated only on the time averaged to do an inspection and does not include travel time or any administrative staff time for prevention, information systems, or finance personnel.
Fire Administration did a fee comparison with multiple various departments, and a summary is included in the chart below. Each jurisdiction applies its own methodology for calculating inspection fees; however, the comparison ensures the proposed fees are not excessive for the area.
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Visalia |
Fresno |
Tulare |
Hanford |
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Fire Inspection |
$82.00 |
$144.00 -$625.00 |
$103.00 |
$149.00-$298.00 |
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Reinspection |
$82.00 |
$137 - $1,097 |
$103 |
$164 - $187 |
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Operational Permit |
$82.00 |
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$103 |
$108 |
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Apartments (per unit) |
$12.09 |
Flat rate $161 - $291 |
1 - 20 units $150 |
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Inspection Billing
The current fee schedule is structured in a manner that requires considerable Information Systems staff time during the billing process to accurately calculate generated invoices. At present, when an inspection is performed, the system automatically applies the “operational business safety inspection fee.” If an operational permit inspection is identified, the operation business safety inspection fee is removed and replaced with the “annual operational permit fee.” This multi-step adjustment increases the amount of staff time required to compile and reconcile billing data. With the proposed fees schedule and structure and the above example, the occupancy will be billed $82.00 for the fire and life safetyiInspection and $82.00 for the operational permit inspection.
Staff brought this proposal to the Citizen’s Advisory Committee on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. The CAC provided the below comment.
• Recommended that all fees be rounded to the nearest dollar.
o Further discussion identified that the fees would only be rounded to an even amount for the first year due to annual CPI increases.
Fiscal Impact including annual maintenance and operating costs: Revenue is expected to increase. No change to annual maintenance or operating costs except for increased efficiency in the billing inspection process.
Prior Council Action: In 2010, the City Council established a flat fee structure that included the implementation of a per-unit fee for apartment inspections and a base inspection fee of $20 per inspection. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2013-2014, the Council has approved annual fee adjustments in accordance with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Alternatives: Council can propose a different fee or provide feedback and return with an alternative proposal.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
Move to adopt Resolution No. 2026-11 adopting the proposed fee schedule, including the removal of the fee cap specific to apartment complex inspections.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 03/16/2026
Attachments: Proposed fee schedule, Resolution No. 2026-11, and power point presentation
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Check all that apply.
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☐ Economic Vitality |
☐  Organizational Excellence |
☒ Fiscal Strength |
☐  Infrastructure & Growth |
☒  Quality of Life |