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City of Harrington, DE
Kent County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the City of Harrington as last amended 10-15-2007 by Ord. No. 07-14. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Impact fees — See Ch. 175.
Fees for subdivision inspections — See Ch. 188.
The fees charges by the City of Harrington for the various municipal services provided by the City of Harrington shall be as stated in the tables attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.
A. 
Various municipal fees.
[Amended 7-16-2007 by Ord. No. 07-09; 10-15-2007 by Ord. No. 07-14; 12-15-2008 by Ord. No. 08-07; 5-18-2009 by Ord. No. 09-01; 6-21-2010 by Ord. No. 10-02; 6-20-2011 by Ord. No. 11-02; 9-20-2011 by Ord. No. 11-06; 3-5-2012 by Ord. No. 12-03; 4-16-2012 by Ord. No. 12-09; 6-4-2012 by Ord. No. 12-11; 8-6-2012 by Ord. No. 12-19; 10-21-2013 by Ord. No. 13-05; 6-16-2014 by Ord. No. 14-04; 8-18-2014 by Ord. No. 14-13; 9-16-2014 by Ord. No. 14-14; 1-5-2015 by Ord. No. 14-17; 6-15-2015 by Ord. No. 15-05; 8-17-2015 by Ord. No. 15-08; 10-19-2015 by Ord. No. 15-12; 3-21-2016 by Ord. No. 16-02; 5-2-2016 by Ord. No. 16-05; 7-5-2016 by Ord. No. 16-10; 6-19-2017 by Ord. No. 17-07; 10-16-2017 by Ord. No. 17-14; 2-20-2018 by Ord. No. 18-01; 5-17-2021 by Ord. No. 21-03; 5-16-2022 by Ord. No. 22-02; 4-17-2023 by Ord. No. 23-03]
City of Harrington Fee Categories
Base Fee
Escrow Account Amount
Total Owed
Subject to Professional Fees
General Fees, Fines
Administrative fee, per certified mail letter/notice
$25
$0
$25
No
Animals Chapter violations
$100
$0
$100
No
Commercial property tax rate
$1.26/100 on 100%
$0
$1.26/100 on 100%
No
Copies, per page
$0.30
$0
$0.30
No
FOIA request
Standard size copies/printout, black and white, per page
$0.30
$0
$0.30
No
Standard size copies/printout, color, per page
$1
$0
$1
No
Labor, materials, and other costs charged at cost
At cost
$0
At cost
No
Notary services, per stamp, out of town
$5
$0
$5
No
Open burning violations
$50
$0
$50
No
Residential property tax rate
$1.06/$100 on 100%
$0
$1.06/$100 on 100%
No
Returned checks
$30
$0
$30
No
Tax relief for senior citizens
5%
$0
5%
No
Transfer tax
1.5%
$0
1.5%
No
Vacant buildings
Vacant building inspection (yearly after first year)
$75
$0
$75
No
Vacant building registration
$75
$0
$75
No
Failure-to-register fine (monthly)
$50
$0
$50
No
City of Harrington Fee Categories
Base Fee
Escrow Account Amount
Total Owed
Subject to Professional Fees
Zoning & Building Fees**, Fines
Annexation application plus professional fees
$500 + $50/acre
$0
$500 + $50/acre
Yes
Board of Adjustment variances - commercial
$500 + $50 per variance
$0
$500+ $50 per variance
No
Board of Adjustment variances - residential
$400
$0
$400
Yes
Board of Adjustment appeals
$500
$0
$500
Yes
Category A, Conceptual site plan review
$400
$0
$400
Yes
Category A, Preliminary site plan review
$500 + $50/1,000 sq. ft. new gross floor area
$0
$500 + $50/1,000 sq. ft. new gross floor area
Yes
Category A, Final site plan review
$750 + $50/1,000 sq. ft. new gross floor area
$0
$750 + $50/1,000 sq. ft. new gross floor area
Yes
Category B, Administrative plan review, R-1 and R-2 residential properties except in approved residential subdivisions
$350
$0
$350
Yes
Category B, Administrative plan review, all others
$500
$0
$500
Yes
Category B, Administrative plan review in approved subdivisions
$200
$0
$200
Yes
Certificate of occupancy
$25
$0
$25
No
Conditional use plus professional fees
$500
$0
$500
Yes
Demolition permit
Accessory structure
$40
$0
$40
No
Residential
$85
$0
$85
No
Commercial/institutional
$150
$0
$150
No
Impact fees*
Community impact fee - library
$200
$0
$200
No
Community impact fee - parks and recreation
$200
$0
$200
No
Community impact fee - fire
$300
$0
$300
No
Community impact fee - police
$300
$0
$300
No
Water impact fee, per EDU
$1,170* per chart
$0
$1,170* per chart
No
Major subdivision, conceptual and lot line adjustment - commercial
$400
$0
$400
Yes
Major subdivision, conceptual and lot line adjustment - residential
$200
$0
$200
Yes
Major subdivision, preliminary
$600 + $10/lot or dwelling unit + professional fees
$0
$500 + $10/lot or dwelling unit + professional fees
Yes
Major subdivision, final plat approval
$500 + $10/lot or dwelling unit + professional fees
$0
$500 + $10/lot or dwelling unit + professional fees
Yes
Minor subdivision (up to 6 lots with existing infrastructure)
$400 + $10 per lot
$0
$400 + $10 per lot
Yes
Municipal project reimbursement fee (reimbursement based on linear footage to site)
Construction cost + 2%
$0
Construction cost + 2%
Yes
Professional fees
Cost + 10%
$0
Cost + 10%
Yes
Portable storage unit permit
Initial permit
$25
$0
$25
No
Permit renewal
$50
$0
$50
No
Violation, first offense
$25
$0
$25
No
Violation, second offense
$50
$0
$50
No
Violation, third offense
$100
$0
$100
No
Public open space contribution
$325/dwelling unit
$0
$325/dwelling unit
No
Rezoning
$500 + $25/acre
$0
$500 + $25/acre
Yes
Site inspection, per visit
$35
$0
$35
No
Street opening permit
10% of project cost
$0
10% of project cost
No
Temporary sign permit
$15
$0
$15
No
Utility review
$150
$0
$150
Yes
Zoning compliance certificate for lot line adjustment
$100
$0
$100
Yes
Zoning compliance certificate, residential
Project cost $5,000 and below
$25
$0
$25
Yes
Project cost $5,001 and above
0.5% of total project cost
$0
0.5% of total project cost
Yes
Zoning violations fines
First offense
Not less than $100
$0
Not less than $100
No
Second offense
$250
$0
$250
No
Third offense
$500
$0
$500
No
Fourth and subsequent offenses
$1,000
$0
$1,000
No
* See § 180-1E for the sewer impact fee step increase schedule. Applicants will also be billed for the current Kent County sewer impact fee.
** (See Subsections B and C for more permit and inspection fees)
City of Harrington Fee Categories
Base Fee
Escrow Account Amount
Total Owed
Subject to Professional Fees
Utility & Public Works Fees, Fines
Farmington capping fee
$400
$0
$400
No
Farmington sewer connection fee
4-inch
$1,700
$0
$1,700
No
6-inch
$3,000
$0
$3,000
No
Fire service connection
4-inch
$3,000 + actual cost to install
$0
$3,000 + actual cost to install
Yes
6-inch
$3,500 + actual cost to install
$0
$3,500 + actual cost to install
Yes
8-inch
$4,000 + actual cost to install
$0
$4,000 + actual cost to install
Yes
10-inch
$6,000 + actual cost to install
$0
$6,000 + actual cost to install
Yes
Food service facility FOG interceptor or trap
Inspection, per trap
$100
$0
$100
No
Reinspection, per trap
$200
$0
$200
No
Prohibited discharges violation fine, least serious offenses
$500 or more
$0
$500 or more
No
Prohibited discharges violation fine, moderately serious offenses
$3,000-$5,000
$0
$3,000-$5,000
No
Prohibited discharges violation fine, most serious offenses
$5,000-$10,000
$0
$5,000-$10,000
No
Food service facility FOG interceptor or trap, criminal penalties
§ 330-13B(1) per violation, per day
Up to $5,000
$0
Up to $5,000
No
§ 330-13B(2)
At least $5,000
$0
At least $5,000
No
§ 330-13B(3) per violation, per day
Up to $5,000
$0
Up to $5,000
No
§ 330-13B(4) per violation, per day
Up to $10,000
$0
Up to $10,000
No
Infrastructure inspection fee
4% of project cost
$0
4% of project cost
Yes
Public works service fee
Normal business hours (8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.), per hour
$50
$0
$50
No
After hours and weekends, per hour
$150
$0
$150
No
Service fee for disconnection/reconnection for nonpayment, normal business hours
$50
$0
$50
No
Service fee for disconnection/reconnection for nonpayment, after hours and weekends
$150
$0
$150
No
Tampering with meter, fine
$100
$0
$100
No
Backhoe, per hour
$100
$0
$100
No
Dump truck, per hour
$100
$0
$100
No
Vac truck, per hour
$150
$0
$150
No
Public Works rate, per hour
$50
$0
$50
No
Sewer connection fee
4-inch service
$1,700
$0
$1,700
Yes
6-inch service
$2,600
$0
$2,600
Yes
Road restoration/additional pipe, beyond 20 feet
Cost + 15%
$0
Cost + 15%
Yes
Water connection fee
1-inch service
$1,250
$0
$1,250
Yes
2-inch service
$3,600
$0
$3,600
Yes
Road restoration/additional pipe, beyond 20 feet
Cost + 15%
$0
Cost + 15%
Yes
Water meter
5/8 inch
Cost + 15%
$0
Cost + 15%
No
1 inch or larger
Cost + 15%
$0
Cost + 15%
Yes
Water meter pit and lid
Cost + 15%
$0
Cost + 15%
No
Irrigation water meter permit
$200 + cost
$0
$200 + cost
No
Water meter antenna replacement
$125 + cost
$0
$125 + cost
No
Water meter calibration
$75
$0
$75
No
Data logger (after first request)
$75
$0
$75
No
Utility final read (after first request)
$35
$0
$35
No
Utility rate, in-City users, quarterly
Sewer base fee, per EDU
$80
$0
$80
No
Sewer usage fee, per 1,000 gallons*
$5.76
$0
$5.76
No
Trash
Per contract
$0
Per contract
No
Water base fee, per EDU
$35
$0
$35
No
Water usage fee, per 1,000 gallons
$3.25
$0
$3.25
No
Sprinklers (as fire suppression), 2-inch
$125
$0
$125
No
Sprinklers (as fire suppression), 4-inch
$200
$0
$200
No
Sprinklers (as fire suppression), 6-inch
$250
$0
$250
No
Sprinklers (as fire suppression), 8-inch
$300
$0
$300
No
Utility rate, out-of-City users, quarterly
Sewer base fee, per EDU
$106.40
$0
$106.40
No
Sewer usage fee, per 1,000 gallons*
$7.66
$0
$7.66
No
Water base fee, per EDU
$46.55
$0
$46.55
No
Water usage fee, per 1,000 gallons
$4.32
$0
$4.32
No
Utility late payment fee, per month
2%
$0
2%
No
* In addition to the sewer usage fee, users will be billed for a Kent County treatment fee per published Kent County rate.
City of Harrington Fee Categories
Base Fee
Escrow Account Amount
Total Owed
Subject to Professional Fees
Licensing Fees, Fines
Business license
All other trades, businesses or occupations, 1-9 employees
$100
$0
$100
No
All other trades, businesses or occupations, 10 or more employees
$150
$0
$150
No
Distributors and manufacturers, 1-49 employees
$250
$0
$350
No
Distributors and manufacturers, 50 or more employees
$500
$0
$500
No
Gas, light, power, cable, TV, telephone, satellite companies
$825
$0
$825
No
Hotels and motels, bed-and-breakfasts, rooming houses, treatment centers, per room
$15
$0
$15
No
Hotels and motels, bed-and-breakfasts, rooming houses, treatment centers, per suite
$20
$0
$20
No
Mobile home park, per space
$25
$0
$25
No
Railroads
$825
$0
$825
No
Contractor license
$100
$0
$100
No
Failure to obtain license fine
Per month
$200
$0
$200
No
Failure to obtain a rental inspection fine
Per month
$100
$0
$100
No
Manufactured home annual license
$225
$0
$225
No
Manufactured home license, fine for failure to renew, per month
10%
$0
10%
No
Manufactured home park operator fines
Allowing placement of manufactured home without registration sticker, doubled if not paid within 10 days
$100
$0
$100
No
Allowing manufactured home to remain in park without license, doubled if not paid within 10 days
$100
$0
$100
No
Removal of manufactured home without notifying the City
$100
$0
$100
No
Peddler/solicitor license
$50
$0
$50
No
Rental license
$125
$0
$125
No
Rental license reinspection fee
$25
$0
$25
No
City of Harrington Fee Categories
Base Fee
Escrow Account Amount
Total Owed
Subject to Professional Fees
Property Maintenance Fees, Fines
Administrative fee, prohibited weed growth violations
$100
$0
$100
No
Alley closing
$300 per property owner + professional fees
$0
$300 per property owner + professional fees
Yes
Property maintenance violations
First offense
$25
$0
$25
No
Second offense
$50
$0
$50
No
Third offense
$100
$0
$100
No
Abatement of property maintenance violations
Contractor service fee + 10% ($25 total minimum)
$0
Contractor service fee + 10% ($25 total minimum)
Yes
Property maintenance ticket
Property maintenance ticket
$50
$0
$50
No
Formal appeal to City Manager
$200
$0
$200
No
Formal appeal to City Council
$500
$0
$500
No
Show-cause hearing
$100
$0
$100
No
Street and sidewalk violations
First offense
$25
$0
$25
No
Second offense
$50
$0
$50
No
Third offense
$100
$0
$100
No
Abatement of street and sidewalk violations
Contractor service fee + 10% ($25 total minimum)
$0
Contractor service fee + 10% ($25 total minimum)
Yes
B. 
Building inspection permit fees.
[Added 12-7-2009 by Ord. No. 09-09; amended 6-21-2010 by Ord. No. 10-02; 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. 10-04;[1]]
(1) 
Residential new construction.
[Amended 3-21-2016 by Ord. No. 16-02; 5-17-2021 by Ord. No. 21-03]
(a) 
ICC Building Valuation Table and § 180-1B(1)(b).
(b) 
Residential building inspection permit fees for new construction are calculated as follows:
[1] 
For a valuation ranging from $0 to $1,000, the applicant shall pay a fee of $50.
[2] 
For a valuation not exceeding $1,000,000, the applicant shall pay a fee of $10 for each $1,000 valuation or fraction thereof.
[3] 
For all costs exceeding $1,000,000, the applicant shall pay a fee of $3 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof.
(2) 
Residential alterations/additions, accessory structures and fences.
[Amended 8-6-2012 by Ord. No. 12-19; 3-21-2016 by Ord. No. 16-02; 5-17-2021 by Ord. No. 21-03]
(a) 
Residential building inspection permit fees for alterations, additions, fences and swimming pools are calculated as follows:
[1] 
For a valuation ranging from $0 to $1,000, the applicant shall pay a fee of $50.
[2] 
For a valuation not exceeding $1,000,000, the applicant shall pay a fee of $10 for each $1,000 valuation or fraction thereof.
[3] 
For all costs exceeding $1,000,000, the applicant shall pay a fee of $3 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof.
(3) 
Commercial/institutional/multifamily new construction.
[Amended 3-21-2016 by Ord. No. 16-02; 5-17-2021 by Ord. No. 21-03]
(a) 
Commercial/institutional/multifamily primary structures: Standard fees for all commercial, institutional, and multifamily buildings, including but not limited to retail, warehouse, pole buildings, restaurant, office, medical clinics, hotels/lodges, fit-outs and all other commercial, institutional and multifamily buildings shall be determined per square foot (s.f.) using the ICC Building Valuation Table and § 180-1B(3)(b) fees.
(b) 
Commercial/institutional/multifamily storage sheds or pole structures shall be determined per square foot (s.f.) using the ICC Building Valuation Chart.
(c) 
Commercial/institutional/multifamily signage shall be determined by the actual cost of all sign materials used to include the base and/or any support materials.
(d) 
Commercial/institutional/multifamily new construction, fences, storage shed or pole structure building inspection permit fees are calculated as follows:
[1] 
For a valuation ranging from $0 to $1,000, the applicant shall pay a fee of $50.
[2] 
For a valuation not exceeding $1,000,000, the applicant shall pay a fee of $10 for each $1,000 valuation or fraction thereof.
[3] 
For all costs exceeding $1,000,000, the applicant shall pay a fee of $3 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof.
(4) 
Reinspection fees and fines (residential and commercial).
(a) 
Reinspection fees:
[Amended 3-21-2016 by Ord. No. 16-02]
[1] 
First reinspection: $125
[2] 
Second reinspection: $150
[3] 
Third reinspection: $175
(b) 
Fines for zoning violations shall include the following:
[1] 
Number of offenses.
[a] 
First offense: not less than $100.
[b] 
Second offense: $250.
[c] 
Third offense: $500.
[d] 
Fourth and subsequent offense: $1,000.
[2] 
Repeat offenders shall not receive warnings. Each day that any violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. $100 minimum fine is mandatory and not subject to suspension.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided an effective date of 7-1-2010.
C. 
Building plan review fees.
[Added 6-21-2010 by Ord. No. 10-02; amended 2-22-2011 by Ord. No. 10-04; 3-21-2016 by Ord. No. 16-02]
(1) 
Residential new construction plan review fee shall be a flat fee of $150 for each plan review.
(2) 
Residential alteration and addition plan review fee shall be a flat fee of $75 for each plan review.
(3) 
Commercial/institutional/multifamily new construction, storage shed, pole building, alterations and additions shall be calculated at a rate of $0.003 for each dollar value, with a minimum of $200 for each plan review.
D. 
Credit card fees.
[Added 6-20-2011 by Ord. No. 11-02]
(1) 
Tax-related (virtual terminal, over the counter/standard web deployment).
(a) 
2.65% for all credit card transactions.
(b) 
2.65% for all MasterCard-branded debit card transactions.
(c) 
$3.95 for all Visa-branded debit card transactions.
(d) 
$1.49 for all e-check/ACH transactions.
(2) 
Miscellaneous payments (virtual terminal, over the phone and basic bill presentment): $2.65 for all credit card and branded debit card transactions).
(3) 
Residential utility payments.
(a) 
Virtual terminal-over the phone: $6.99 for all credit card and branded debit card transactions.
(b) 
Standard web deployment: $6.99 for all credit card and branded debit card transactions.
(c) 
Basic bill presentation: $7.25 for all credit card, branded debit card and ACH transactions.
(4) 
Commercial utility payments.
(a) 
Virtual terminal, over the counter: $1.49 for ACH transactions.
(b) 
Standard web deployment: $1.49 for ACH transactions.
(c) 
Basic bill presentment: $1.49 for ACH transactions.
E. 
Sewer impact fee step increases shall be as follows:
[Added 7-5-2016 by Ord. No. 16-10; amended 4-17-2023 by Ord. No. 23-03]
Sewer Impact Fee Step Increase Schedule
Fiscal Year
Sewer Impact Fee per EDU
2023
$2,595
2024
$3,059
2025
$3,166
2026
$3,277
2027
$3,392
2028
$3,511
2029
$3,634
2030
$3,761
2031
$3,893
2032
$4,029
2033
$4,170
Water Impact Fee Step Increase Schedule
Fiscal Year
Water Impact Fee per EDU
2024
$1,500
2025
$1,800
2026
$2,100
2027
$2,400
2028
$2,700
2029
$3,000
2030
$3,300
2031
$3,600
2032
$3,900
2033
$4,200
F. 
Plumbing inspection fees.
[Added 5-21-2018 by Ord. No. 18-08]
(1) 
Residential.
(a) 
Additions, alterations, and single-family dwellings: $75.
(b) 
Multifamily structures of three dwelling units or more fall under commercial work as regulated by the International Building Code. [See § 180-1B(3).]
(2) 
Commercial.
(a) 
For a plumbing valuation ranging from $0 to $10,000, the applicant shall pay a fee of $100.
(b) 
For all plumbing valuation exceeding $10,000, the applicant shall pay $100 plus $5 for each additional $1,000 of plumbing valuation or part thereof in excess of $10,000.
(3) 
Reinspection fees (residential and commercial).
(a) 
First reinspection: $125.
(b) 
Second reinspection: $150.
(c) 
Third reinspection: $175.
G. 
Electrical inspection fees.
[Added 5-21-2018 by Ord. No. 18-08]
(1) 
Residential new construction.
Type of Dwelling
Fee
Single-family, maximum 200 amp service*
$110
Single-family, over 200 amp service*
$125
Modular dwelling, service and final only
$100
Modular dwelling, with additions
$120
Manufactured (mobile homes), service only
$85
*
Includes rough-in with service equipment and final inspection (one trip each, two trips total).
(2) 
Residential alterations/additions, swimming pools/hot tubs, and other.
Type of Service
Fee
Alterations/additions, maximum of 30 devices
$85
Alterations/additions, more than 30 devices
$100
Services/feeder equipment, up to 400 amp
$75
Temporary construction service
$75
Swimming pools/hot tubs, 1 trip
$75
Swimming pools/hot tubs, 2 trips
$120
Alternate power sources, maximum 25 KVA
$120
Generators, maximum 30 KVA
$75
Reintroduction of power/survey
$100
(3) 
Commercial.
Type of Equipment
Fee
Rough wiring
1 to 50 devices/outlets
$55
Each additional 25 devices/outlets
$15
Finals
1 to 50 devices/outlets
$55
Each additional 25 devices/outlets
$15
Equipment
First outlet of maximum 30 KW
$55
Each additional outlet
$15
Heat pumps
$55
Service equipment
Maximum 400 amp
$75
Over 400 amp to 1,000 amp
$100
Over 1,000 amp
Quote
(4) 
Calculation for commercial electrical inspection fees if not listed in § 180-1G(3). Commercial electrical inspection fees may be quoted using the most recently published ICC Building Valuation Data Tables per the following formula:
BVD value based on Occupancy Classification and Construction Type
X    Square footage of occupancy/structure
X    Locality multiplier (standard 0.001)
Inspection fee
(5) 
Reinspection fees (residential and commercial).
(a) 
First reinspection: $125.
(b) 
Second reinspection: $150.
(c) 
Third reinspection: $175.