Peru Town Meeting Approves Expanded Permit Fee Schedule With 16 New Categories

Town Meeting · Meeting of July 27, 2026

Peru Town Meeting approved a revised building permit fee schedule that adds 16 new permit categories and adjusts fees on eight of 75 total line items. The hearing, held July 27, centered on changes recommended by the planning and zoning department following a state audit that revealed numerous permit types had been filed under incorrect categories, complicating state reporting. Town building official Dwayne told members that only eight of the 75 permits saw price increases, and one actually decreased, with most changes reflecting a shift from flat rates to square-footage-based fees — meaning a 1,250-square-foot home addition now carries a higher permit cost than a 200-square-foot addition.

New dedicated categories include mini-split HVAC units, which had previously been routed under electrical or plumbing permits with no consistent rule, and EV charger installations, which remain under the electrical inspection category at roughly $150. The prior schedule dated to a partial update in April 2023.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 1,371 words

Source: the Town Meeting meeting of July 27, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.