Tahoe Regional Planning Agency: New Permit Fees

       Just when you thought it was safe to enter the placid blue waters of Lake Tahoe, the TRPA has issued new permit fees. If you think these are an improvement, read on. The TRPA is a regional oversight entity that manages all development in the Tahoe Basin(and some outside,too). This bi-state org was put in place so that the states of Nevada and California would not develop or implement separate rules for in-basin projects. It has worked, for the most part, over the last 50 years +/-.

        After the Highway 50 fire that almost wiped out Stateline, development ran into headwinds immediately as property owners ran into severe permitting issues as they tried to rebuild(normal). But, as any homeowner will tell you, the process is not for the faint-of-heart. The 'crats in El Dorado, Placer, and Nevada only follow the rules, meaning get ready to wait; get ready to spend, and get ready to fight with your insurance company at the onset. 

      So, TRPA has developed a whole new set of fees to replace those of the immediate past. The list is long; the list is confusing; the list is for every project, large and small. Small projects-repairs, replacements(small), ADU's, conversions,etc. appear to have been streamlined(debatable). Depends on the peculiar project. Each and every detail will be scrutinized down to the last nail-again-normal. All owners will be subject to incessant questions and clarifications-again, normal. Will there be a savings now? Will there be a much needed speed up in approval? Time will tell; but as residents of California know: it's never easy, and is the primary reason residents flee the former "golden" state for Texas, Florida, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona- it's cheaper and easier than California. 

       Gov. Gruesom  thinks a super majority in the legislature is wonderful: he can get things passed, such as Proposition 19 that has gutted old Prop. 13. But, folks are on to this dodge, and signatures are being gathered to put a ballot measure before the voters, again, in November.

     But, I digress. Back to TRPA: fees. Check out the Tahoe Environmental web site/Jeff Cowen, and view the new fee schedules for yourself.