Chilmark’s building inspection fee has increased by $25 to a total of $100.  

According to building inspector Adam Petkus, the increase is to support building inspectors and to make the job more enticing in a shrinking field. The select board approved the increase earlier this month after a public hearing was held. The increase is aimed to cover some of the rising costs of the building inspector job while also raising the salary for inspectors.

“What caught my ear the last time you had this conversation with us was your interest in being able to sort of attract good inspectors, which made some sense to me,” select board member Matt Poole said. 

Previously, the fee was $75.  

According to Mr. Petkus, Chilmark adjusted its building fee permit schedule in December 2023, spurring him to ask for the permit increases.  

“The last increase to inspection fees was pre-Covid and as we are all aware the cost of living has increased,” Mr. Petkus wrote to the select board. 

Mr. Petkus first wrote to the board about this request in June. The original ask also included raising permit fees, which was declined by the board. The board instead asked Mr. Petkus to continue monitoring the revenue from permit fees until the end of the fiscal year to see if increasing the fee would help cover growing costs.