Sec. 16. (a) A permit authority may not require an applicant to pay a fee associated with the submission, review, processing, or approval of an application for a permit unless the permit authority requires payment of the same or a similar fee for applications for permits for similar types of commercial development within the jurisdiction of the permit authority.
(b) A fee associated with the submission, review, processing, or approval of an application for a permit, including a fee imposed by a third party that provides review, technical, or consulting assistance to a permit authority, must be based on actual, direct, and reasonable costs incurred for the review, processing, and approval of the application.
(c) A fee described in this section may not include:
(1) travel expenses incurred by a third party in its review of an application; or
(2) direct payment or reimbursement of third party fees charged on a contingency basis.