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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The cost of snowmobile licences, arena rentals and fire response fees are among those set to increase if city council approves a fee amendment bylaw.

Increases in labour, maintenance and utility costs all contributed to a three per cent hike at city-owned facilities.

A typical rental for adults and youth during prime hours now costs $101.25 per hour, up from $98, according to a new fee structure released at a council committee meeting Monday.

"Those start to add up," said Kevin McCormick, president of the Yellowknife Minor Hockey Association. "We would have to certainly look at that and see whether it has an impact on our own fee structure or not."

He said the association could typically absorb such costs, but the increases are set to continue annually until 2012/13. Minor hockey fees range from $250 to $525 a season, depending on ice time and referee usage.

Development fees will also increase, but the president of the Yellowknife Real Estate Board said he doesn't anticipate any problems.

"In the great scheme of things, a $200 development permit on a $400,000 to $500,000 house is pretty insignificant," said Rod Stirling. "It probably wouldn't have too much of an effect on people's ability to proceed with development."

The city is increasing development fees to account for the time and resources spent processing applications. It can cost more than twice as much as the development fee to process a typical application, city documents state.

A permit for a single-family dwelling will now cost $175, up from $125.