TROY, MI – A 15-year legal battle over how cities charge building permit fees has ended with a major ruling against the City of Troy.
The Home Builders Association of Michigan (HBAM) announced the outcome this week, saying the court’s final decision orders Troy to pay approximately $575,000 in attorney and expert witness fees and permanently bars the city from continuing the disputed fee practices.
“This is a massive win for housing affordability and transparency in what local governments charge for housing-related permit fees,” said Bob Filka in a statement, CEO of HBAM. “Permit fees are intended to cover the cost of administering and enforcing the Michigan Residential Code, not to serve as a hidden profit center for local governments.”…