31.39 Fees for permits, approvals and hearings.

(1) Fees required. The department shall charge a permit or approval fee for carrying out its duties and responsibilities under ss. 31.02 to 31.185 and 31.33 to 31.38. The permit or approval fee shall accompany the permit application or request for approval.

(2) Amount of fees.

(a) For fees charged for permits and approvals under ss. 31.02 to 31.185 and 31.33 to 31.38, the department shall classify the types of permits and approvals based on the estimated time spent by the department in reviewing, investigating and making determinations whether to grant the permits or approvals. The department shall then set the fees as follows:

1. For a permit or approval with an estimated time of less than 3 hours, the fee shall be $30.

2. For a permit or approval with an estimated time of more than 3 hours but less than 9 hours, the fee shall be $100.

3. For a permit or approval with an estimated time of more than 9 hours, the fee shall be $300.

(b) For conducting a hearing on an application for which notice is provided under s. 31.06 (1), the person requesting the hearing for the permit or approval shall pay a fee of $25.

(2m) Adjustments in fees.

(a) The department shall refund a permit or approval fee if the applicant requests a refund before the department determines that the application for the permit or approval is complete. The department may not refund a permit or approval fee after the department determines that the application is complete.

(b) If the applicant applies for a permit or requests an approval after the project is begun or after it is completed, the department shall charge an amount equal to twice the amount of the fee that it would have charged under this section.

(d) The department, by rule, may increase any fee specified in sub. (2).

(2r) Fee for expedited service.

(a) The department, by rule, may charge a supplemental fee for a permit or approval that is in addition to the fee charged under this section if all of the following apply:

1. The applicant requests in writing that the permit or approval be issued within a time period that is shorter than the time limit promulgated under par. (b) for that type of permit or approval.

2. The department verifies that it will be able to comply with the request.

(b) If the department promulgates a rule under par. (a), the rule shall contain a time limit for each type of permit or approval classified under sub. (2) (a) for determining whether the department will grant the permit or approval.

(3) Exemptions. This section does not apply to any federal agency or state agency.

History: 1977 c. 29; 1979 c. 221; 1981 c. 346; 1989 a. 31, 324; 1995 a. 27, 227; 1997 a. 27; 2011 a. 118.