DSD - Development User Fees Presentation 4_21_26.pptx

Development User Fee 
Update
City Council Meeting: April 21, 2026
Brian Craig, Director
Development Services Department
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Agenda
Existing Fee Schedule
User Fee Update Process
West Valley Comparisons
Significant Changes
Updates Since 60-day Notice
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Current Fee Schedule: Effective 
July 18, 2018
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Section 0: 
General 
Requirements
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Section 1: 
Planning
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Section 2: Civil 
Engineering 
Review
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Section 3: Civil, 
Utilities, ROW, 
Horizontal 
Construction
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Section 4: 
Building Safety, 
Vertical 
Construction
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Section 5: Fire 
Safety
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Section 6: 
Business License
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Section 7: 
Incentive 
District
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Guiding Philosophies
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Council Strategic 
Plan: Develop a User 
Fee/Cost Recovery 
Philosophy
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Incorporate 
continuous 
improvement process 
gains in fee amount  
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Move fees toward 100% cost 
recovery
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Building Valuations
Building Valuation Data (BVD) is a table average of construction costs per 
square foot for various construction types and occupancy groups 
Published by International Code Council (ICC) twice a year (February & 
August)
Used by jurisdictions to set permit and plan review fees
Represents about 90% of development revenue in Buckeye
Currently on 2017 BVD in Buckeye
Recommendation is to update to the February edition annually (as with most 
nearby jurisdictions)
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Development User Fee Steps
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Establish Fee Categories (Existing, Proposed, 
Removed)
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Allocate Task Time to Fee Types
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Municipal Comparisons
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Allocating Task 
Time and 
Setting Fees
Position
Hours
Deputy Director of 
Planning
2.00
Development Services 
Project Coordinator
6.25
Planner I/II
7.00
Project Engineer
3.00
Principal/Senior Planner
7.00
City Engineer 
(Engineering Support)
0.50
Fire Marshal / Fire Plan 
Reviewer
1.00
Police
1.00
Water
1.00
Public Works
1.00
IT / GIS Analyst
1.00
Planning Manager
2.00
Assistant City Attorney
3.00
Major Site Plan
Fee = Total 
Hours × Sta
ff Rate
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Activity
Buckeye 
Propose
d Fee
West 
Valley 
Average
Buckeye 
Current 
Fee
Avondal
e
Goodyea
r
Peoria
Surpris
e
Site Plan
$3,514
$4,842
$3,785
$5,600
$5,825
$6,000
$3,000
Certificate of 
Occupancy
$140
$365
$100
$100
$500
$150
$75
Plan Review
$344
$322
$430
$375
$145
$360
$300
Traffic Control 
Plans
$50
$334
New
$150
$264
$173
$750
Comparisons
Avondale, Goodyear, Peoria, and 
Surprise
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Significant Changes
Description
Curren
t
Propose
d
Differen
ce
MIDS/SLIDS
$3,900
$1,395
64%
Planning 
Unit Plan 
Amendments
$5,280
$4,165
21%
Description
Current Proposed
Differen
ce
Grading Permit
$1,000
$3,312
231%
Concept Site 
Plan Review
$970
$2,940
203%
Variance Fee
$915
$2,190
140%
No Fee Exceeds a 100% Recovery in the Proposed Fee 
Update
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Case Study - Business 
Licenses
Existing Fees
Proposed New 
Fees
Proposed Fee Type
Application Fee
Annual Fee
All General Category Application Fees
$25
$50
Specialty Fee Type 
Application Fee
Annual Fee
Marijuana Dispensary
$1,000
$100
Sexually Oriented Business
$1,000
$100
17 fees ranging from $0 to 
$1,000
*Liquor License Fees remain the same*
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Additional Study: Municipal Airport
Based on 
market rates 
not staff 
labor
Findings are 
54% lower 
than peers
Proposed Service
Current Fee
Proposed Fee
Notes
Airport Hourly Rate $50
$80
2-hour minimum
Overtime Hourly 
Rate
$100
$160
2-hour minimum
Banner Towing
$10
$50
Fee increase
Commercial 
Photography
$200
$50
Fee reduction
Helicopter Tie-Down 
(Monthly)
Varies
$36
Flat rate per 
helicopter
Helicopter Tie-Down 
(Daily)
Varies
$9
Flat rate per 
helicopter

Additional Study: Municipal Airport
Proposed New Fees
Service
Fee
Notes
Non-Airworthy 
Aircraft Hangar 
Fee
2x hangar fee
Based on 
applicable hangar 
rate
Gate Access Device
$25
Per device
Gate Access Device 
Replacement
$40
As needed
Temporary Permit 
Fee
$5
As needed

Additional Study: Public Works
*Public Works Fees include a 4.0% annual escalator for 5 years.
This will match the 
current solid waste rates enacted by Council and matches solid waste financial 
indices
Service Description
Fee
Status
Residential Household 
Hazardous Waste (HHW) 
Drop-off (Non-
Homeowner)
$40.00
New Service
Freon-Containing White 
Goods Disposal (Drop-
off)
$25.00
New Service
Key Replacement
$40.00
Existing/Other
Proposed New Fees

Unsupervised Facility Access | Basic Education 
Classes
Human Services | Nature Programs
| Library | 
Events
Aquatic Center | Joe Foss | Transit 
Senior Meal Program | Summer Recreation 
Program 
Introductory & Skill Based 
Activities 
Youth Sports | Swim Lessons 
| Swim Team
Private Swim Lessons
Adult Sports | Sports 
Camps
Licensed Care Programs
Certification Courses
Rentals
Permits
Sales
Field Trips
100% +
70 – 100%
30 – 70%
10 – 30%
0 – 10%
Additional Study: 
CSD

Cost Recovery by Program 
Category
Program Category
Example Programs
Cost Recovery 
Percentage
MGT Study 
(FY24)
Open Access
Parks, trails, playgrounds, etc.
0%
NA
Human Services
Memory Café, Senior Center Meal Programs
0-10%
NA
Events
Air Fair, 4th of July, Spring Celebration, Halloween 
Carnival, Buckeye Marathon, Movies and Concerts in the 
Park, etc.
0-10%
13%
Enrichment, Education & Culture 
Activities
Storytime, local history programs, summer reading 
program, Teen Training, technology classes, nature 
programs,  etc.
10-30%
35%
Drop-In Access
Library, Aquatic Center, Joe Foss, Museum, Summer 
Rec, Transit, etc.
10-30%
29%
Introductory Level - Skill Based 
Activities
Youth sports, dance classes, martial arts, swim lessons, 
CPR, etc.
30-70%
44%
Advanced Level - Skill Based 
Activities
Intermediate and advanced classes, sports camps, 
Lifeguard Classes, Adult Sports
70-100%
26%
Sepcialized Business Services
After School Programs, full-day summer programs, 
preschool, private swim lessons, etc.
70-100%
64%
Rentals & Permits
Field, facility, ramada and campsite rentals
100%+
44%
Sales
Concessions, merchandise, targets, clays, etc.
100%+
105%
Additional Study: 
CSD

Timeline
Council 
Workshop 
December 
2025
60-Day 
Notice and 
Comment 
Period 
January -
March 2026
Comment 
Review
March 2026
Council 
Final 
Considerat
ion  
April 2026
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Updates Post 60-Day Notice
• Corrected (lowered) Building Safety per hour to 
$130 (from $246)
• Third review and beyond
• Revised plans post approval
• Clarified per hour costs with proper labels to 
distinguish from flat fee charges
• Reduced after hours inspection to 3 hour minimum 
(from 4 hour)
• Clarified expiration period of TCOs per code (60 
days)
• Changed Water Damage Repair permits from 
“calculated” to “stated” value-based fees
• Removed the Curbside HHW Collection Fee
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Questions
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