Dunkirk Passes Ordinance Directing Building Permit Fees to Dedicated Fund
From the Dunkirk City Council meeting on August 10, 2026
The Dunkirk City Council unanimously passed Ordinance 2026-9, establishing a dedicated non-reverting fund for building permit and construction fees effective January 2027.
The ordinance is required by a change in state law. Under the new rules, building permit fees can no longer be deposited into the city's general fund. Instead, they must go into a separate fund, and the fees must be "reasonably related to the cost of issuing the permits."
City Attorney Wes explained that the state legislature passed the law because some Indiana communities were charging excessive permit and inspection fees and diverting the revenue to general budget purposes.
The clerk-treasurer will set up the new fund before the January deadline. The change removes a revenue stream — however small — from Dunkirk's general fund. The $3,000 annual zoning administrator salary and permit-related administrative costs will need to come from this dedicated fund rather than general revenue.
Source: Meeting transcript — City of Dunkirk - City Council Meeting - August 10 2026
Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.
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