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Planning department proposes phased fee updates to reach 100% cost recovery; committee forwards plan to Board
Summary
Planning and Development presented a two‑phase comprehensive fee study to reach full cost recovery for services; the committee approved forwarding the plan to the Board with an initial phase effective Aug. 4, 2025, and a second phase July 1, 2026.
The Department of Planning and Development presented May 29 a comprehensive fee‑study and proposed a two‑phase schedule to achieve full cost recovery for planning, land‑development engineering, grading, fire marshal services, surveying and code enforcement.
Director Jacqueline Anciano and Deputy Director Stuart Petrie said the department is under‑recovering by approximately $3.5 million based on fiscal‑year 2024 revenue compared with the cost of services. The department last completed a comprehensive fee update in 2015 and the study identifies new fees, reclassifications, description clarifications and a combined (concurrent) application fee structure intended to reflect efficiencies when multiple permits are processed together.
Petrie presented an illustrative example for new single‑family construction showing phased adjustments that combine concurrent application types to reduce duplicative charges. The department recommended a first phase effective Aug. 4, 2025, and a second phase effective July 1, 2026. The study also corrects and aligns building solar fees with state caps and adds fees for services the department currently provides but for which no fee existed.
Committee members expressed support for the phased approach and for combining concurrent permit fees to reflect efficiencies. The committee voted to forward the fee study and proposed resolutions to the full Board, which was scheduled to consider the items at its June 3 meeting.
