Update to Fees and Charges By-law means lower costs in appeal fees for some residents

Fees for appeals by residents will drop from $300 to $150

Huntsville General Committee agreed to update the fees and charges by-law, in the January 28, 2026, meeting.

Residents and business owners who need to appeal a municipal decision or request an exemption from a by-law will soon see clearer — and in some cases lower — fees.

Town staff recommended updates to the Fees and Charges By-law related to the Appeals Committee, a council committee that hears matters such as denied licences or requests for exemptions to by-laws like noise, fireworks, dogs, signs, or outdoor lighting. The proposal will be brought forward to council for consideration.

According to the staff report, currently, applications to the Appeals Committee are charged a flat $300 fee, regardless of whether the request comes from a private resident or a business.

Staff say this one-size-fits-all approach does not reflect the different types of appeals being made and has created confusion for applicants.

Under the proposed changes, appeal fees would be divided into two categories.

The personal or property-related requests fee would be reduced to $150. This includes exemptions related to property standards, noise, dog control, fireworks, outdoor lighting, and signage. These matters are typically not connected to income or commercial activity.

The $300 fee would remain in place for appeals involving business or revenue-generating activities, including business licensing, short-term rental accommodations, vehicles for hire, and requests to reinstate revoked licences.

Council has previously indicated that fees associated with commercial operations should continue to reflect the administrative and meeting costs involved.

Staff noted that these fees help offset the minimum cost of holding an Appeals Committee meeting. The committee is considered an ad hoc body, where it only meets when an appeal is received and must do so within 30 days. Council members receive a $50 per-meeting payment, and staff time is required to prepare reports and attend the meetings. These costs are built into the proposed fees.

The report also recommends removing outdated or duplicate references to the Appeals Committee within the Fees and Charges By-law to better align the document with current practices.

While council discussed the possibility of waiving appeal fees entirely, staff cautioned that doing so could result in unpredictable budget impacts, as there is no data showing how many exemption requests may be submitted in a year.

Staff indicated that the updated by-law would provide clearer guidance for applicants and better reflect the different types of appeals being brought before council.