In 2020, the Colorado legislature amended the Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (OWTS) Act to remove the longstanding cap limiting the total amount that local public health agencies could charge for OWTS permit fees. This is the second fee increase Boulder County Public Health has implemented since the revision of this Act.
Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) was allocated a general budget to offset the cost of OWTS permits for many years but have recently received direction from the Board of County Commissioners and Board of Health to amend permit fees to accurately cover program costs. These fee changes were calculated to cover staff time spent per application type. BCPH staff will continue to track time and review the fees based on annual data. If changes are needed, staff will advise the Board of Health and request approval for changes as applicable.
Major Repair Permit Changes
In mid-2024, a new category for Major Repair Permits will become effective.
We are separating major repair permits into two categories: one category for replacing aging or failing OWTS, and the second category for systems associated with simultaneous property improvements. The first category was developed in effort to lower permit costs for failing or aging systems. The second category will have a higher fee reflective of the increased need for redesigns and additional consultation time with BCPH staff. This new major repair permit will allow for up to one hour of BCPH consultation time and up to two design revisions.
New OWTS Construction Permit Fee
The increased fee to this permit type will allow for up to one hour of BCPH consultation time and up to two design revisions.
Property Transfer Fee Increase
We recognize the fee for property transfer certificates is a significant increase. This program requires significant staff time to answer questions for real estate professionals, potential buyers, and sellers. Previous fees have not covered the cost of this program. We will continue to monitor and track staff time associated with this program to ensure the fee is accurate.