Pennsylvania Defines "Professional Consultants"

On Nov. 30, 2004, Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell signed SB 892 into law to define and clarify regulations and actions relating to professional consultants. The new language was felt necessary to reign in what developers perceive as excessive professional fees that municipalities are charging them during permitting.

SB 892 defines professional consultants to mean "persons who provide expert professional advice as consultants, including but not limited to, architects, attorneys, certified public accountants, engineers, geologists, land surveyors, landscape architects, or planners."

The new law provides that a land development ordinances may include professional consulting fees.

The law states: "Review fees may include reasonable and necessary charges by the municipality's professional consultants ??_ for review and report thereon to the municipality ??_ Such review fees shall be based upon a schedule established by ordinance or resolution."

The bill takes effect in 60 days.