To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Public Hearing
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
SUBJECT:title
Ordinance Amending and Updating the Humboldt County Schedule of Fees and Charges for Permits and Services of the Various Humboldt County Departments (4/5 Vote Required)end
RECOMMENDATION(S):Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Open the public hearing; and
2. Introduce the attached ordinance amending and updating the Humboldt County Schedule of Fees and Charges for permits and services of the various Humboldt County departments and waive the first reading thereof; and
3. Receive the staff report and public comments; and
4. Approve, and/or modify the new, increased, decreased, deleted or changed fees, as shown in the 2026 Humboldt County Schedule of Fees and Charges; and
5. Adopt the attached ordinance amending and updating the Humboldt County Schedule of Fees and Charges for permits and services of the various Humboldt County departments (4/5 Vote Required); and
6. Direct the Clerk of the Board, within fifteen (15) days after adoption of the attached ordinance, to publish a post-adoption summary of the ordinance (Attachment 4) with the names of the Supervisors voting for and against the Ordinance, and to post in the office of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors a certified copy of the full text of the adopted ordinance and amendments along with the names of those Supervisors voting for and against the Ordinance [Government Code Section 25124 (b)(1)]; and
7. Close the public hearing.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommended actions support the following areas of the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Plan:
Area of Focus: Core Services/Other
Strategic Plan Category: 9999 - Core Services/Other
DISCUSSION:
Annually, County of Humboldt departments review fees and charges to determine whether such fees and charges are sufficient to recoup costs associated with providing services to the public. Attachment 1a provides a comparison of the existing fees and charges to those to be effective Jan. 19, 2026. For new fees or those that are proposed to change, calculations supporting the new charge are contained in Attachment 2. Primarily, the changes reflect fees that are being updated and/or clarified after review by the appropriate department to ensure cost recovery of services to the maximum extent possible.
California Government Code Sections 54986 and 66018 require that prior to adopting a resolution or ordinance approving a new fee or changing an existing fee, the Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing at which time oral or written presentations can be made.
If your Board adopts the attached ordinance amending and updating the Humboldt County Schedule of Fees and Charges for permits and services of the various Humboldt County departments, it will be effective Jan. 19, 2026, and the new fees will be in effect as of that date, with the exception of the Building and Planning fees, which will go into effect on Feb. 17, 2026.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
All County of Humboldt Funds
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The revised fees reflect updated fees to current costs, the collection of which results in a net zero budget impact.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Adoption of the attached ordinance amending and updating the Humboldt County Schedule of Fees and Charges for permits and services of the various Humboldt County departments will allow departments to collect sufficient fee revenue to cover staffing costs and maintain fee-funded staff.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
All entities, agencies or businesses impacted by specific fees.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may modify specific recommended fee changes or decline to adopt a new fee schedule and leave the current fees in place. However, these alternatives are not recommended, as the proposed fees have been prepared by departments to maximize cost recovery.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 2026 Proposed Fee Schedules
1a - 2026 Humboldt County Schedule of Fees & Charges
1b - 261 Agricultural Commission
1c - 262 Building Inspection
1d - 321 Road Fund- Engineering
1e - 411 Hazardous Materials Program
1f - 416 Public Health - Field Nursing
1g - 422 Public Health - Clinic Services
2. Supporting Documentation for New and Changed Fees
3. Ordinance Amending and Updating the Humboldt County Schedule of Fees and Charges for Permits and Services of the Various Humboldt County Departments
4. Post Adoption Summary
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: 11/18/25; 2/25/25; 12/17/24
File No.: 25-1284; 25-269; 25-37