Sequim council adopts $160 flat right‑of‑way permit fee; ordinance amends SMC 3.68

The Sequim City Council voted unanimously April 14 to adopt an ordinance amending Sequim Municipal Code (SMC) 3.68 to set a flat $160 fee for routine right‑of‑way permits, following a staff presentation and public hearing.

The change standardizes a fee staff said reflects typical review and field time for common, short‑duration permits such as driveway connections or small encroachments. “To provide some consistency across the board, we looked at our review times and our field times specifically for those smaller right of way permits and came up with a cost of $160 per permit across the board,” City engineering staff member Nick Dossi told council during the hearing.

Staff said the $160 figure covers typical variable costs associated with review and inspection and that larger or more complex right‑of‑way permits would still be subject to additional time‑based charges. The fee was presented as consistent with the city’s goal to recover permitting costs while remaining lower than many peer jurisdictions’ right‑of‑way charges, staff said.

No members of the public spoke during the hearing. Following the presentation, a council member moved to waive further reading and adopt the ordinance amending SMC 3.68; the motion was seconded and carried in a roll‑call vote, 7–0.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance amending SMC 3.68 (rates and fees – right‑of‑way permit fee) — motion adopted by roll call, 7 yes, 0 no.

Council roll call recorded yes votes from Councilor Kelly Berger, Councilor Dan Butler, Councilor Vicki Lowe, Deputy Mayor Rachel Anderson, Mayor Brandon Janice, Councilor Harmony Redder and Councilor Nicole Hartman. The ordinance text and amended fee schedule are part of the council packet.