In 2005 development fees for most DPD services will increase. These changes are a result of the adoption of the City’s budget for 2005-06 and the annual increase assigned to the estimated values of construction projects. All fee increases have been made to cover the cost of services.

For land use review the increased fees replace general fund subsidies, as continued shortfalls in tax revenue for general city services have required us to move to full fees to cover most of these services. For construction projects higher construction fees are tied to higher values and a three percent increase for inflation for construction-related permits, such as electrical permits.

Most fee changes will go into effect Jan. 1, 2005. However, fee changes for some master use permits (MUPs) and some side sewer permits have later start dates, as detailed below.

Fee Changes by Permit Category

LAND USE.......................................... effective Jan. 1, 2005 (except as noted)

• Intake Fee – There is a new intake fee of $155 for master use permit applications (MUPs). This fee is separate from plan review fees and will be charged for each intake appointment.
• Public Notice Fees – There are new public notice fees for required services like notice in DPD’s Land Use Information Bulletin, posting in the field, the 300’ mailed notice, notice in community newspapers, and public meetings. Notice requirements vary depending on the type of MUP. An average notice fee will be between $585 and $740; the highest notice fee will be $1,610 for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). These fees are separate from plan review fees.
• Shoreline Exemptions – There is a new fee of $155 for review of a proposal for a shoreline exemption.
• Administrative Conditional Uses (ACUs) and Variances – Review fees for ACUs and Variances will increase from $1,620 for 20 hours of review to $2,500 for 10 hours of review. The hourly rate for review beyond the 10 hours remains $250. NOTE: This increase will go into effect June 1, 2005, and will not apply to ACUs and Variances for community centers, child care centers, adult care centers, private schools, religious facilities and public and private libraries in single family and multifamily zones.
• Most other MUPs—such as SEPA, shoreline, shortplats, and EIS—will see a minor decrease in the initial fee for the first 10 hours of review. The new intake and notice fees are separate and additional.
• MUPs that combine Variances and ACU’s with other MUP components will see the initial fee drop and the initial review hours reduced to 10 hours.
• Low-Income Housing fees continue to be sudsidized, with most permits receiving increased support.

CONSTRUCTION............................................................... effective Jan. 1, 2005

• The new data valuation table for new construction will raise the cost of construction permits between two percent and five percent (see attached examples). This increase is adopted annually by rule. The International Construction Codes valuation table is established nationally, with regional and local adjustments, and is used by development departments to estimate the cost of new construction by occupancy and construction type.

CONSTRUCTION-RELATED............................................... effective Jan. 1, 2005

• A three percent increase will apply to construction-related permits, such as electrical and boiler permits. This is the first increase since 2003.

SIDE SEWER............................................... effective Jan. 1 & Feb. 28, 2005

• For the first time since 1996, side sewer fees are increasing—both to adjust for inflation and to fully cover costs.
• Effective Jan. 1, 2005, the Seattle Dept. of Transportation requires a street use permit for use of the right-of-way (ROW) in conjunction with permitted side sewer work. ROW use includes material laydown and storage; stockpiling; curb and sidewalk crossing of equipment; equipment parking during the side sewer installation; and/or excavation in the ROW to make a side sewer repair and/or connection. Proof of payment for the street use permit is required when applying for a DPD side sewer permit. Read more
• On Feb. 28, 2005 other side sewer permit fees will increase. DETAILS

Detailed information on DPD fees is provided in the 2005 Fee Subtitle and related documents available on the DPD Fees homepage.