Woodland council says school impact fees will rise sharply starting Jan. 1
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Summary
City officials told the council that per-residence school impact fees will increase substantially in 2026; the city said the fees are collected and passed directly to the school district for capital projects.
Woodland city officials told the City Council on Oct. 20 that school-related impact fees charged on new residential construction will rise substantially effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Mayor (name not specified) said the updated schedule increases single-family residential school impact fees from $5,900 to $10,500 — a roughly $4,600 jump — and raises multifamily residential fees from $5,900 to $13,600. Accessory dwelling units would go from $2,000 to $5,200 under the change. “Those increases are dollars that we will collect and 100% passed directly over to the schools,” the mayor said.
Travis, a community development staff member, told council the school district has already adopted its capital facilities plan and related resolution (adopted by the district in August) and that the city planning commission will receive the associated code changes for review. The mayor said the school board’s earlier actions mean the city is now posting the changes and preparing for additional readings on the municipal code.
Council members asked if higher impact fees equate to higher property taxes; the mayor and staff clarified that impact fees are one-time charges on new development and are separate from property tax collections. The mayor explained these are intended to have new development pay its share of school-construction costs rather than shift those costs to existing taxpayers.
The council did not adopt a separate ordinance on the floor that night; staff indicated the school district’s capital facilities plan and resolution would be included in forthcoming planning-code amendments and that formal municipal code changes will follow the planning-commission process.
The city also noted minor adjustments to fire-related impact fees, but emphasized the discussed increases were primarily for school capital funding.
Community members and councilors asked staff to continue sharing public information about how fees are calculated and how the funds will be used for school construction projects before the formal code amendment hearings.
Ending: Staff said the planning commission will receive the draft code amendments and the council will consider first, second and final readings at future meetings once the public-notice period and required hearings are complete.