WILLIAMS, CA (MPG) – Business license and building permit fees are increasing in Williams following an Oct. 21 City Council decision that also establishes automatic annual adjustments based on inflation.
The council unanimously approved the revised fee schedule, which took effect immediately. Beginning July 1, 2027, the city will adjust the charges annually using the Consumer Price Index for the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward region, officials said.
The changes follow a comprehensive fee study completed in 2025. Although the council adopted new rates at that time, the resolution did not include a provision allowing future adjustments without additional council action.
City Planner Katheryn Ramsaur said the omission was discovered while reviewing the fees and preparing the updated schedule for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The revised charges include an increase in the business license application fee from $88.29 to $89.61. The fee for a new business requiring inspection rises from $250.80 to $254.56, while building permit processing increases from $108.85 to $110.48.
Other adjustments affect permit revisions, reinspections, temporary occupancy certificates and additional building services.
The council also authorized the city to recover costs for specialized professional reviews that require outside engineering, planning, legal or environmental services.
For larger projects, applicants may be required to provide deposits toward anticipated expenses, with unused funds refunded after the work is completed.
Ramsaur said the changes are intended to keep the city’s charges aligned with the cost of providing services without requiring another comprehensive fee study each year.
The revised schedule comes as Williams is seeing interest in new businesses and commercial development.
“We received a new business application for the old Fastenal Building,” Ramsaur said.
The proposed business, identified as Sites Fitness, would offer fitness training and classes. Ramsaur said a city planning commissioner and several associates are involved in the venture.
Another potentially significant development involves North Valley Indian Health, which has purchased six lots in Williams for proposed health care facilities.
Ramsaur said discussions have included behavioral health, medical and dental services, although a formal development application had not yet been submitted.
Both developments could be subject to applicable licensing, building and inspection fees as they move through the city’s approval process. The specific charges would depend on each project’s requirements and any applicable exemptions.