The Kingston Common Council’s Laws and Rules Committee has approved a measure that would extend the duration of building permits for larger projects and give permit holders of all projects the option to seek a six-month extension.

Currently, those seeking a building permit must submit plans, proof of insurance and other documents and pay a fee of $100 plus 50 cents per square foot for residential construction or 70 cents for commercial buildings. Once the permit is approved, the holder has 12 months to begin conduction. If the timeline is not met, the permit holder must go through the process, and pay the fee, again.

The proposal from city Director of Housing Initiatives Bartek Starodaj would increase the duration of the permit to 18 months for projects larger than 10,000 square feet. Smaller projects would still be subject to the same 12-month deadline. But all permit holders would have the option to seek a six-month extension for a flat fee of $75. The resolution also loosens the definition of “commencement of construction.”

Currently, work is not considered underway until construction is happening on a daily basis until completion. The new rules would allow excavation of foundations, installation of structural supports and other work integral to the building plan to count as commencement of construction for the purposes of a building permit. Installation of fencing, site investigations, staging of equipment and lot clearance and other prep work does not count.

“As it is, the process is unnecessarily restrictive and places a burden on staff and permit holders,” Starodaj told the committee. “This better reflects the realities of the building process which is that it doesn’t always happen in 12 months, especially for larger projects.”

Following the unanimous committee vote, the full council will vote on the rule change when it convenes on Feb. 2.