Frederick County commissioners are plowing through some 234 rules and regulations to make it easier for developers to build.

County staff updated commissioners this week on a long list of building procedures with help from builders. Commissioners want to loosen building regulations and reduce fees to produce a more “business friendly” climate in Frederick County.

“We’re spending a lot of time fixing some things that have been broken for a long time,” Commissioner Billy Shreve (R) said. “We’re fixing it, so it’s good.”

Since commissioners took office Dec. 1, 50 changes to regulations have been completed, and 96 are under way, said Eric E. Soter, director of the county’s Community Development Division, told commissioners Tuesday.

For instance, commissioners have reduced the cost of 159 building fees and eliminated 16. Commissioners have lowered the filing fees for all building, plumbing and electrical permits and zoning review fees by an average of 25 percent.

Site plan review fees have been lowered by 15 percent and building permit fees for houses by 10 percent.

Licensing fees for plumbers and electricians have been lowered between 25 and 35 percent.

And commissioners eliminated fees for housing additions, garages, temporary tents and faxes.

In total, the fee changes result in a $350,000 decrease in annual revenue to the county.

Commissioners have also expedited the permitting process for commercial properties, and the requirement for site drawings and plans that require an engineer’s or architect’s seal will now only apply to large-scale projects.

And if a builder requests an inspection of a newly constructed building before 2 p.m., the inspection will be done the next business day.

Commissioners’ President Blaine R. Young (R) has said they have met with the building community and were told that the government rules and regulations are burdensome.

“Let it be known that we are open for business in Frederick County,” he said. “We appreciate your business and want your business.”

More changes are coming.

Soter and Gary Hessong, director of the county’s Division of Permitting and Development Review, also outlined a list of regulations now being looked at.

For instance, regulations for stormwater management, subdivision regulations, alarm fees, plumbing code, rules for industrial parks, auto repair shops, impact fees developers pay on the building of new homes and the forest management ordinance.

“We’ve been working with the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce as well as the Frederick County Builders Association, and these are issues that have been brought up by the development community,” Hessong said.

Staff said they will continue to plow through the list and provide further updates in the near future.

sgreenfield@gazette.net