Lincoln County officials are taking steps to ease the burden on residents recovering from recent wildfires.
During Monday’s meeting, the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners approved a measure allowing planning staff to waive land-use permit fees for structures destroyed in the Cottonwood Fire.
Planning and Zoning Administrator Judy Clark said the goal is to help streamline the rebuilding process for those impacted.
“At the instance, I was just trying to make it a little bit easier… help this process move a little bit more quickly,” Clark said.
Clark noted that while permit fees are not typically large, removing them can still make a difference for families facing significant rebuilding costs.
“Not that the fee that we charge is substantial, but it is still a fee,” she said.
County officials estimate the fire damaged around 50 structures overall, though only a small number of homes were destroyed.
Commissioners emphasized the move is intended as a gesture of support during recovery.
“I agree that every little thing we can do to help relieve their situation, we should do,” Commissioner Micaela Wuehler said.
The waiver applies to residential and commercial structures impacted by the fire, including homes and certain outbuildings requiring permits.
Clark said the county will still review all permits to ensure rebuilding meets safety and zoning requirements, but the fee itself can be waived.
“We just really have to look at all that,” she said, noting factors like location, infrastructure and floodplain considerations still need to be reviewed.
The measure passed unanimously.
Commissioners said the action is one way the county can provide immediate, practical relief as residents begin the long process of recovery.