The Novato City Council will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 6pm at Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Avenue, to review and consider an update to the Master Fee Schedule. This update includes administrative and maintenance revision to fees within the Building, Planning, Public Works, Sustainability and Finance divisions. These amendments align fees with current 2024 staff hourly rates and simplify fee structures for greater clarity and accessibility for residents, businesses, and developers. New administrative fees are also being introduced based on staff feedback gathered since the last comprehensive update in 2022.

Revised Master Fee Schedule - Clean Compiled

Revised Master Fee Schedule - Red-lined revisions

Before and After Illustrations

Comments on the Revised Master Fee Schedule can be submitted to the City Council prior to the public hearing:

• Email at novatocouncil@novato.org
• eComment at novato.org/eComment
  Note: The eComment period opens when the agenda is posted online, at least 72 hours prior to the meeting, and closes at 3pm on the day of the meeting. 

As always, public comments will also be heard during the live meeting. 

As part of a general cost recovery strategy, local governments adopt user fees to fund services provided or required due to the request or action of and individual or entity.  A fee for service ensures that an individual or entity bears most, if not all, of the cost incurred by the City to provide that service. User and regulatory fees are set according to the estimated reasonable cost of service.

When a fee does not fully cover the cost for service another City revenue source subsidizes the cost — in most cases, the General Fund. Updating user fees helps reduce the need for General Fund subsidy which would increase the revenues that can be used for services and activities available to all Novato community members, such as public safety and improvements to city streets which are paid for with tax dollars.

Staff Report: Fee Schedule Update (May 24, 2022)

Presentation: User and Regulatory Fee Update (May 24, 2022)

City Council Meeting Recording (May 24, 2022)