When you submit your permit application and enter your credit card information, you are pre-authorizing your credit card for the total price of the permit. Payment will not be processed unless and until the permit is approved.
There are a few instances where the pre-authorization is released and you are required to re-enter the credit card information. This process ensures you will not pay twice for the same permit.
If the municipality changes the permit fee prior to approval, the pre-authorization is released and you are required to re-enter your credit card information to authorize payment for the new amount.
Pre-authorizations are only valid for a set number of days (determined by your bank). If the municipality does not approve the permit within that timeframe, the authorization expires and you are required to re-enter your credit card information to authorize payment, even if there is not a change in the permit price.