City Council

6. HOME REPAIR PROGRAM – REQUEST TO WAIVE BUILDING PERMIT FEES The City of Tustin has launched a Home Repair Program in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, as a new resource to the Tustin community. The program is eligible to low and moderate-income Tustin homeowners who are seniors (62+), disabled, or veterans. It provides grants of up to $15,000 for essential home repairs, with a focus on improving the health and safety of the home. The program’s goal is to serve eight (8) Tustin homeowners during the first year of the program. In order to maximize the grant funding homeowners receive, it is recommended the City Council waive the building permit fees for approved repairs. Waiving these fees allows the entire grant amount to be expended on labor and material costs, rather than City permitting fees. Waiving permit fees also increases the possibility of additional repairs, and that more homeowners are served by the Program funding. Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 24-57, authorizing the waiver of the building permit fees incurred by eligible participants in the City of Tustin’s Home Repair Program.Fiscal Impact: A request to waive building permit fees for the Home Repair Program would have a minimal impact on the General Fund. The exact amount cannot be determined at this time due to the range of permit types that may be issued to program participants. Common repairs typically include water heater replacement, window replacement, plumbing, roof repairs/replacement, and electrical work, with permit costs ranging from approximately $70 for simple repairs, to $1,000 for more complex projects. The total amount of waived fees will be tracked and documented in the program’s annual report. RESOLUTION NO. 24-57 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, ENACTING A WAIVER OF THE CITY’S BUILDING PERMIT FEES FOR THE CITY OF TUSTIN HOME REPAIR PROGRAM