An Ordinance to amend the Amesbury Code of Ordinances by adding a new Chapter titled “Chapter 230. Buildings, Permitting of’ and to adopt a Schedule of Fees.

This ordinance creates Chapter 230 to govern building permitting and adopts a new permit fee schedule. It aligns Amesbury’s building, electrical, plumbing/gas, and occupancy fees with neighboring towns to fund inspections and administration, replacing the old 2011 schedule. It takes effect 15 days after adoption citywide.

approved CITYWIDE

STEP 1

Submitted

OCT 14 2025
STEP 2 · CURRENT

Approved

OCT 28 2025

AI summary · plain-language

Amesbury adopts a new Chapter 230, Buildings, Permitting, and a comprehensive Schedule of Fees to regulate building-related permits (building, electrical, plumbing/gas) and occupancy permits. The update, replacing the 2011 schedule, aims to bring fees in line with neighboring communities to ensure adequate funding for inspections, staffing, and administrative services. The ordinance follows a comparative fee analysis and a citywide fee review, and becomes effective 15 days after adoption.

Generated by an LLM. Not legal text. Read the official ordinance for binding language.

Key provisions

§1 Creates Chapter 230 Buildings, Permitting of, and adopts a Schedule of Fees.

§2 Building permit fees: $75 application fee and $14 per $1,000 valuation.

§3 Occupancy permits: Residential $50; Commercial $100; allows a 6‑month extension for a fee.

§4 Work started without a permit doubles the permit fee; minimum $400; replaces existing fee schedule; effective 15 days after adoption.

Discussed at meetings

City Council City Council MeetingOctober 28, 2025

amend2025-110

i'd like to amend bill 2025-110 to accept the red line that is in front of us

MOVED BY COUNCILOR GILDAY · SECONDED BY COUNCILOR RINALDI · VOTE: ACCEPTED RED LINE (VOTE 5-0-1), LATER AMENDMENT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND FINAL APPROVAL 6-0

0:36:29

refer2025-110

let's take a five minute recess and we'll come back 747

0:38:36

amend2025-110

a move that the City Council amend 2025-110 plumbing and gas to reflect residential and commercial residential and commercial permitting fees of plus $14 per thousand on each line

MOVED BY COUNCILOR STANGINELLI · SECONDED BY COUNCILOR GILDAY · VOTE: PASSES UNANIMOUSLY

0:44:03

approve2025-110

that the City Council accept 2025 110 as revised and presented as as revised and amended

MOVED BY COUNCILOR HOGUE · SECONDED BY COUNCILOR REDFERN · VOTE: MOTION CARRIES SIX TO ZERO

0:45:25

City Council Budget and Finance Committee MeetingOctober 21, 2025

2025-1102025-110

City Council Ordinance and Administration MeetingOctober 20, 2025

2025-1102025-110

City Council City Council MeetingOctober 14, 2025

refer2025-110

We refer 2025-110 to ordinance administration budget and finance and set a second reading for October 28

MOVED BY COUNCILLOR WHEELER · SECONDED BY COUNCILOR RINALDI · VOTE: APPROVED UNANIMOUS 8-0

1:15:29