[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6480208,"mediaKeyId","5690334-6ffa63812b16525e039ab5dc9fcdfd3b","parentId",5690334,"title","Board of Business and Neighborhood Services approves updated permit fees; changes take effect Jan. 1, 2026","audioSeconds",668,"startMs",3008451,"endMs",3676845,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5690334-6ffa63812b16525e039ab5dc9fcdfd3b&start=3008&end=3676","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5690334-6ffa63812b16525e039ab5dc9fcdfd3b/thumbnail_3008451.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6480208/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Board-of-Business-and-Neighborhood-Services-approves-updated-permit-fees-changes-take-effect-Jan-1-2026","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480208-56ce910bbd370233942cd13e797e2a87/orig.mp4?Expires=1770889782&Signature=gdFolbGzVQMiypW2veVwosZsm7Y3p90AL6iHtQx1hCukV-gRem-xxzI0o3fg-8b7UBMbL~uNn-~~NcgVbkYWMDCUhEzQfZGzk5RQdjafvHGg-faoyj8XdJNKAb96cWhM2wUv1gSUox3h0xtoke9k58zx0AlL3fZVGc8HtIxiffRAdlIAVZTjBCtWtPT8N1v2n8Cfj95t8SOqL8lC~3~7AMb2WkOwaqwSREc85WLcS-VShDfukahIhUl5xpiDOcqWI5ukX6IXwf55cKz~pbXuBK53RgPaNet3RETXIbSGCpV1AK8pQ-H19TQoLL3ygj8GW-VXTVYuHHOLajok-NWMAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Indianapolis, IN","date","2025-08-28T00:00:00Z","article","The Board of Business Neighborhood Services adopted Resolution 2025C10023 on Aug. 28, approving changes to permit fees and penalties to help stabilize the department’s finances. The board approved the resolution as amended; the changes are set to take effect Jan. 1, 2026.

The fee updates stem from a 2024 Baker Tilly rate-and-fee analysis and department staff testimony that many fees had not been updated in decades. Director Abby Brands and budget staff said the department is collecting “2010 revenue” while paying 2025 operating costs, and the adjustments are intended to better align permit and inspection charges with staff time and expenses.

Board members voted to amend the original proposal before the final vote. The amendment removed a proposed commercial plan-review accelerated fee from the ordinance and added a revised schedule for accelerated commercial inspections. Under the amended language presented to the board, the first two hours of a commercial accelerated inspection are covered by a base charge; additional time would be billed at hourly rates listed in the amendment: $250 per hour for same-day service and $150 per hour for next-day scheduled service. The transcript records an additional after-hours/weekend rate as “$2.50 per hour”; the record did not clarify whether that figure is a transcription or typographical error.

Staff said the changes are organized in three groups: Group 1 (zoning violations) will go to city-county council; Group 2 (right-of-way, encroachment, drainage, unsafe-building administrative fees and similar items) may be regulated by the board without ordinance changes; and Group 3 contains fees that the board can set but that also must be codified in ordinance and will therefore return to council. The board-approved fee schedule will be reflected in BNS’s fee schedule beginning Jan. 1, 2026 and certain items will still require council codification.

The department’s presentation also included budget context. Budget staff said the proposed operating budget for 2026 holds expenses flat while revenues are expected to rise only as fee updates are realized. The department reported a modest net decrease in some character 1 and character 3 budget lines driven by internal chargeback changes, while noting a planned use of updated fee revenue for staffing, technology and third-party contract management if revenue exceeds budgeted levels.

During the required public hearing, a single speaker identified as Jean urged the board to reject or reduce the increases, arguing they would disproportionately affect lower-income residents and criticizing enforcement practices. Board members said a communications plan will accompany the changes to notify residents and stakeholders before the Jan. 1 effective date.

The resolution as amended was approved by voice vote; the board recorded unanimous “aye” vocal responses and did not take a roll-call tally during the meeting. Staff and board members said some items still must be taken to city-county council for final codification.

The board discussed several programmatic details that will be affected by the fee changes: a proposed reinspection fee to deter repeat inspection visits, new charges tied to drainage plan review and follow-up inspections, separate, lower-tier fees for remodels and tenant finishes to reduce burdens on small businesses, and a plan to remove certain notification-only permits from the process where staff concluded the administrative step provided little public benefit.

Board members and staff emphasized outreach and a phased timeline to implement the changes and said they will return to the board later in the year to finalize remaining details, including commercial plan-review items tied to third-party reviewer contracts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council of Indianapolis, IN - Board of Business and Neighborhood Services","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Business Neighborhood Services adopted Resolution 2025C10023 on Aug. 28, approving changes to permit fees and penalties to help stabilize the department’s finances.","taxTitle","Indianapolis City, Marion County, Indiana","taxId",3627,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480195,"Board renews engineering contract for floodplain recertification, raises compensation limit",110,435615,545660,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5690334-6ffa63812b16525e039ab5dc9fcdfd3b&start=435&end=545","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5690334-6ffa63812b16525e039ab5dc9fcdfd3b/thumbnail_435615.jpg","/articles/6480195/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Board-renews-engineering-contract-for-floodplain-recertification-raises-compensation-limit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480195-82a431c6c95da9fbad9abfbb404fd31f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770889782&Signature=bqaYezphe3FzOnqREKOQ1EJeo5zzSjbNJvfvITfpqEWflqyAucP8BxEXg4jttqAD6vUmc4J5dZh4-WYR-0WjfwWv9y~RagskQw0mkPaF2-bkYmQRu~5J9GUBc-qpCxzTL44AxSCM5jFteBMn3daLbmRvmukhPCsomoErqzzEQl80fgEBWUp8hZCPQQArVAG-Fzzlyq9enmXNI9~CTDwUJ1M0kY7ivTO9ioOlnMI7v583jCg7xrgq5JDUgYzLKGShsr3akqtlPUAMQOcDcIBq2j2TyuYLf6BZlwhyHczHdFM4DjDkpp8zlW7a95WzVResjavzfMxr-Ez84ZSiU-neOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Business Neighborhood Services on Aug. 28 voted to amend a professional services agreement with Christopher B. Burke Engineering LLC to cover community rating system recertification and flood-map engineering services. Staff presented Resolution 2025C10024, which authorizes renewing the contract for three additional years, raising the compensation limit from $150,000 to $250,000, and updating the contract fee schedule for calendar years 2027–2028.

Staff explained that the contract supports the department’s floodplain management program, including annual verifications used to maintain discounts on flood insurance through the Community Rating System, five-year cycle visits, and incidental flood mapping or letters of map change that may require engineering consulting.

Board members asked questions about the contract’s scope and purpose; staff confirmed the contract covers annual verification activities, five-year cycle visits and occasional flood-mapping or map-change engineering needs. The board approved the amendment by voice vote; members recorded “aye,” and the resolution passed without a roll-call tally in the transcript.

Staff said the contract increase and renewal are intended to ensure continuity for floodplain management services, including technical support for map changes and permit-specific flood mapping when the state or other agencies do not provide the mapping.","The Board of Business Neighborhood Services authorized an amendment to a professional services agreement with Christopher B. Burke Engineering LLC to renew floodplain mapping and Community Rating System recertification services for three years and increase the contract limit from $150,000 to $250,000.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480199,"Board authorizes liens for unpaid trash, junk and debris cleanup costs",81,352365,433555,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5690334-6ffa63812b16525e039ab5dc9fcdfd3b&start=352&end=433","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5690334-6ffa63812b16525e039ab5dc9fcdfd3b/thumbnail_352365.jpg","/articles/6480199/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Board-authorizes-liens-for-unpaid-trash-junk-and-debris-cleanup-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480199-6923b93ae31ac5411136048e9f0883f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770889782&Signature=H5huOBEfRh28vS7egbFMDXJX9UjeGYD1MGWDnIR-m~-xdqXOBquMQ5SUM76W4Yqg6L7v5INlu~9m8XVHldNKuiJo4eo2Z4tDJQriJO-NWW3IHthP~RC-ExuwdQzN26S7MZv5ZzsC-ywEgvnPItE3aWmXSonbRkY0~kU58CBwqzcsPtYtKXX-4hmvHuvT5uel-8RbMpya1UM0Gu6Ks~x~AlBOw8vqntpsHeuXfao9glwtWfyIh-vN9rRkyjTufO5AYqdJ7mYUp7hGEjuKu175SSEzD9YnNkEQelKkeyZLcphMhHwAvsOK5STxHawICT5QAkelHTQes6yhwg5hutWP4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Business Neighborhood Services on Aug. 28 approved a resolution authorizing placement of liens on properties for unpaid trash, junk and debris cleanup and abatement costs, staff said. The trash-lien certification covers 44 cases with a total amount owed of $26,178.97; staff said these represent fees more than 30 days past due as of Aug. 28, 2025.

Staff cited the department’s enforcement authority under “chapter 361 of the revised code” and described the process: when property owners fail to remedy violations, the city contracts for cleanup and then places a lien to recover unpaid costs.

The board approved the certification by voice vote; members moved, seconded and recorded “aye” during the meeting. No roll-call tally was provided in the transcript.","The Board of Business Neighborhood Services approved Resolution 2025C10022 authorizing liens for unpaid trash, junk and debris abatement costs covering 44 cases totaling $26,178.97, with amounts reported as 30 days past due as of Aug. 28, 2025.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480203,"Board approves liens on properties for unpaid high-weeds and grass abatement",107,240245,347665,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5690334-6ffa63812b16525e039ab5dc9fcdfd3b&start=240&end=347","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5690334-6ffa63812b16525e039ab5dc9fcdfd3b/thumbnail_240245.jpg","/articles/6480203/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Board-approves-liens-on-properties-for-unpaid-high-weeds-and-grass-abatement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480203-e93e4251e2c9972fd0b7d2ce87666c1c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770889782&Signature=BXebuP4BL~L6k0bpvByDKCMcMkI4THDpFNsIXvT~cAxeKsFaJ2ywMmXRXdKEHltOg-1Dzwojgst3XExGKs4GqsgBuBZbeFF5so3BJf5rcQuM09hjrZb5XZsifh1umn4Clgl9kS1X~1rMOhxUB3d85bT0MoH6d0l7Fm2bxABdqWmQyht~pyZ3wD1U0bLrJFkKDZnaaGfpoumQNXWkWo3ySn6tcMckLSUrwJluCfyYAnI~MOrTd3EBq6P0FQrbmkPSEheeHY2HjRdZLvvW1tyTxl2vWN1w5D3Y74nBgnS2FxfISA69tf7nFbfL0YJZL7u-6HV~TgWWpRj3cup4pPGG9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Business Neighborhood Services voted Aug. 28 to authorize the director to place liens on properties with unpaid abatement charges for high weeds and grass under Resolution 2025C10021. Staff said the certification covers 344 mowing cases and a total amount owed of $175,320 for fees more than 30 days past due as of August 2025.

Department staff described the process under the local revised code (staff cited “chapter 575 of the revised code”): when property owners do not correct a nuisance, the city contracts for mowing and abatement and then places a lien if abatement costs remain unpaid.

Board members asked questions and then approved the resolution by voice vote. The motion passed with recorded “aye” responses; the meeting did not include a roll-call tally in the transcript.

The board handled this item as an administrative enforcement action; staff did not report additional exemptions or amendments to the certification during the meeting.","The Board of Business Neighborhood Services authorized placement of liens on properties for unpaid mowing and abatement costs tied to high weeds and grass (Resolution 2025C10021), representing 344 cases and $175,320 in charges 30 days past due as of Aug. 2025.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board of Business and Neighborhood Services approves updated permit fees; changes take effect Jan. 1, 2026

Board renews engineering contract for floodplain recertification, raises compensation limit

Board authorizes liens for unpaid trash, junk and debris cleanup costs

Board approves liens on properties for unpaid high-weeds and grass abatement