A case involving overcharging of building permit fees was brought forth by a homeowner against the City of St. Paul last year and is working through district court. The homeowner, Patrick Bollom, argues that his case could be the basis of a class-action lawsuit. This would force the city to rewrite its fees and refund permit holders millions of dollars in overcharges.

Bollom says he was charged $1,960.78 for electrical permits, warm air permits, mechanical permits, a plumbing permit, and a building permit for a total, which he claims, “exceeds the actual cost St. Paul incurred to perform the services needed to review and approve the applications.”

The lawsuit argues that the city overcharged more than $22 million in permit fees from 2018 to 2023. The city denies the claim and unsuccessfully tried to get the lawsuit dismissed in Ramsey County District Court.

The city asked for a second 120-stay in legal proceedings in November, following an initial stay due to a cyberattack.