20.180.060 Planning Fees | Vancouver Municipal Code

20.180.060 Planning Fees.

This section has been amended by Ordinance M-4433, which is pending 1/18/2024 effective date. This section has been amended by Ordinance M-4438, which is pending 1/18/2024 effective date. This section has been amended by ACM dated 1/29/2024, which is pending codification.

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Required planning fees. Fees for planning-related applications, permits, and services are set forth in Table 20.180.060.

Table 20.180.060.
Section	Activity	2023 Fees
1.	Address Changes	$570.00
2.	Airport Height Combining District	$812.00
3.	Appeals (to Hearing Examiner, Planning Commission, or City Council)
A.	Filed by a recognized city neighborhood association	$173.00
B.	Involving an individual single-family or duplex lot	$800.00
C.	All other (see SEPA fees for SEPA procedural appeal fee)	$2,286.00
4.	Archaeological Review
A.	Predeterminations
1.	Base fee	$744.00
2.	Plus fee per acre for each acre more than five	$126.00
B.	Surveys and other special studies	Cost recovery²
5.	Binding Site Plan
A.	Conceptual – Requiring subsequent site plan review
1.	Same as comparable short subdivision or subdivision	See short subdivision or subdivision
B.	Detailed – Not requiring subsequent site plan review
1.	Same as comparable short subdivision or subdivision	See short subdivision or subdivision
2.	Plus ½ comparable site plan review	See site plan review
6.	Boundary Line Adjustments
	Base fee	$1,200.00
	Plus fee per lot for each additional lot more than two	$389.00
7.	Comprehensive Plan Amendments (includes rezone in conjunction with plan amendment)	$15,774.00
8.	Conditional Use Permit
A.	Initial (community centers, group meal service, shelters)	$1,716.00
B.	Initial (all others)	$9,662.00
C.	Major modification, Type III	$1,716.00
D.	Minor modification, Type I	$389.00
9.	Continuance of Public Hearing
A.	Initiated by applicant after public notice is mailed	$2,286.00
B.	Resulting from inadequate information provided by the applicant. Does not apply in cases where new information is presented at the hearing by staff or other parties.	$2,286.00
C.	Hearing examiner reconsideration request	$2,286.00
10.	Covenant Release – Full and Partial	$10,173.00
11.	Critical Areas Permit
A.	Single-family and duplex lots (fee per applicable critical area)
1.	Fish and wildlife habitat areas	$1,716.00
2.	Frequently flooded areas	$344.00
3.	Geologic hazard areas	$344.00
4.	Wetland areas	$1,716.00
B.	All others (fee per applicable critical area)
1.	Fish and wildlife habitat areas	$3,431.00
2.	Frequently flooded areas	$787.00
3.	Geologic hazard areas	$787.00
4.	Wetland areas	$3,431.00
C.	Minor exception request
1.	Single-family and duplex lots	$787.00
2.	All others	$822.00
D.	Reasonable use request
1.	Single-family and duplex lots	$5,031.00
2.	All others	$10,006.00
E.	Digitizing critical areas geographic information	Cost recovery²
12.	Design Review (Downtown)
A.	Minor exterior reviews only	$687.00
B.	All others, including new buildings	$2,286.00
13.	Development Agreement
A.	Initial	$7,691.00
B.	Modification	$3,525.00
C.	Extension	$654.00
14.	Extension of Preliminary Approval	$800.00
15.	Grading and Erosion Control Permit (includes plan check and inspection)
A.	50 cubic yards or less and less than 1 foot in depth	No fee
B.	51 to 100 c.y. or greater than 1 foot in depth	$149.00
C.	101 to 500 c.y.
1.	Base fee	$301.00
2.	Plus fee per 100 c.y. (or fraction thereof) above 500 c.y.	$21.00 (Note: Maximum total grading and erosion control fee shall be $407.00)
D.	Fees resulting from work in progress without a permit	2 × regular fee
16.	Home Occupation
A.	General	$227.00
B.	Penalty – When application is received after code enforcement action has been initiated	2 × regular fee
17.	Impact Fee Deferral for Single-Family Housing (administrative fee per lot)	$717.00
18.	Joint Use Parking Agreement	$1,286.00
19.	Land Use Permit (single-family residential; sheds; decks; driveways; fences, etc.)	$60.00
20.	Lot Determination
A.	Base fee (one to two lots)	$2,505.00
B.	Plus per-lot fee over two	$800.00
21.	Master Plan²
A.	Conceptual (requiring subsequent site plan review)	$8,887.00
B.	Detailed (not requiring subsequent site plan review)	$8,887.00 plus ½ applicable site plan review fee
C.	Hybrid (conceptual approval for overall site, plus partial detailed approval)	$8,887.00 plus ½ applicable site plan review fee for area for which detailed approval is sought
22.	Planned Development
A.	Residential
1.	Base fee	$2,779.00
2.	Plus fee per unit	$126.00
3.	Minimum: Maximum: Subdivision fee reduced by ½ when filed simultaneously.	Min. – $3,974.00 Max. – $17,971.00
B.	Nonresidential
1.	Base fee	$2,743.00
2.	Plus fee per sq. ft. – Ground floor	$0.70
3.	Plus fee per sq. ft. – Upper floors	$0.32
4.	Minimum: Maximum:	Min. – $4,082.00 Max. – $26,865.00
C.	Mixed
1.	Base fee	$2,743.00
2.	Plus fee per sq. ft. – Ground floor	$0.70
3.	Plus fee per sq. ft. – Upper floors	$0.32
4.	Minimum: Maximum: No rezone fee. Subdivision reduced by ½ when filed simultaneously.	Min. – $4,082.00 Max. – $27,051.00
23.	Planning Official Review
A.	Temporary use
1.	Seasonal or special event	$111.00
2.	Temporary sales office, model home, or unforeseen emergency	$337.00
3.	Temporary use in a commercial or industrial district	$1,578.00
B.	Similar use determination or other	$1,578.00
24.	Plat Alteration	$7,385.00
25.	Post-Decision Reviews
A.	Post-decision review – Type I	$389.00
B.	Post-decision review – Type II	$1,094.00
C.	Post-decision review – Type III	$1,716.00
26.	Preapplication Conference Process
A.	Preapplication conference request – Single-family and duplex lots	$344.00
B.	Preapplication conference request - All others	$1,211.00
C.	Preapplication waiver request	$173.00
27.	Zoning Verification Letter (authorizes replacement of destroyed structure)	$261.00
28.	Reporting (misc. application and permit information)	Cost recovery²
29.	SEPA Checklist (Environmental Review)
A.	Grading permit
1.	Single-family and duplex lots	$151.00
2.	All other
a.	Base fee	$1,121.00
b.	Plus fee per acre of land disturbed by the project	$21.00
B.	Subdivision or planned development
a.	Base fee	$915.00
b.	Plus fee per acre of land disturbed by the project	$10.45
C.	Site plan review – Residential
a.	Base fee per unit up to five units	$227.00
b.	Plus fee per unit more than five	$23.00
D.	Nonprojects (including rezone and annual review applications)	$2,515.00
E.	All other reviews
a.	Base fee	$1,830.00
b.	Plus fee per acre of land disturbed by the project	$61.00
F.	SEPA procedural appeal (See “Appeals – All others” for substantive SEPA appeal fee)	$148.00
G.	Environmental impact statement (EIS) review	Cost recovery²
30.	Shoreline Permits
A.	Shoreline substantial development permit	$8,001.00
B.	Shoreline conditional use permit	$8,802.00
C.	Shoreline variance request	$8,802.00
31.	Short Subdivisions
A.	Preliminary (nine lots or fewer) plats	$7,773.00
B.	Final plat check	$2,641.00
32.	Signs – All Except Sandwich Board Signs	$389.00
33.	Site Plan Review (Type I)
A.	Residential	$337.00
B.	Nonresidential	$1,578.00
C.	Qualifying planned action	Same as Type II site plan review fees
34.	Site Plan Review (Type II) – Residential
A.	Base fee	$1,977.00
B.	Plus fee per unit	$137.00
C.	Maximum fee	$27,873.00
35.	Site Plan Review (Type II) – Nonresidential
A.	General case
1.	Base fee	$5,372.00
2.	Plus fee per sq. ft. – Ground floor	$0.22
3.	Plus fee per sq. ft. – Upper floors	$0.10
B.	Commercial pad within a previously approved site plan that was not originally reviewed for the proposed specific use or structure	$3,668.00
C.	Land-extensive uses such as a golf course	$4,422.00
D.	Unoccupied commercial and utility structures	$2,036.00
36.	Special Valuation – Historic Preservation	$582.00
37.	Subdivisions – Preliminary
A.	2 – 9 lots (not qualifying as a short subdivision)	$8,220.00
B.	10 – 22 lots	$11,885.00
C.	23+ lots
1.	Base fee (for first 23 lots)	$11,885.00
2.	Plus fee per lot (each lot more than 23)	$296.00
D.	In conjunction with a planned development	½ regular fee
38.	Subdivisions – Final Plat Check	$5,985.00
39.	Tenant Improvement, Including Multifamily (if exempt from site plan review)	$111.00
40.	Tree Plan Review
A.	Levels 1, 2, 4, 5	$378.00
B.	Levels 3, 6, 7	$126.00
41.	Variance (full fee for 1 variance; ½ cost for 2nd; $0.00 for 3rd or more)
A.	Type I
1.	Single-family and duplex lots	$787.00
2.	All other	$822.00
B.	Type II
1.	Single-family and duplex lots	$2,484.00
2.	All other	$5,983.00
42.	Zoning Certificates	$857.00
43.	Zoning Map or Text Change (not involving comprehensive plan amendment)	$10,305.00

1Fees effective on January 1, 2023, shall be further adjusted as provided for under VMC 20.180.050.

2 Cost Recovery: Applicants or persons requesting reports will be required to sign an agreement that they will pay the actual cost of the work being performed. Actual costs will be calculated based on the salary and benefits of the employees performing work plus overhead at a rate of 30 percent.

3Projects with approved master plans, which include preliminary stormwater and transportation plans, shall be entitled to a 30 percent reduction in the fee for stormwater and transportation plan review.

(ACM dated 1/9/2023, CPI Increase; Ord. M-4402 § 3(F), 2023; Amended during 7/22 update; Ord. M-4376 § 11 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. M-4363 § 10 (Exh. A), 2022; ACM dated 12/28/2021, CPI Increase; ACM dated 11/30/2020, CPI-increase; ACM dated 12/19/2019, CPI Increase; Ord. M-4255 § 4, 2018; ACM dated 11/7/2018, CPI Increase; ACM dated 12/20/2017, CPI Increase; Ord. M-4205 § 1; ACM dated 11/23/2016, CPI Increase; Ord. M-4172 § 3, 2016; ACM dated 12/31/2015, CPI Increase; Ord. M-4097 § 2, 2014; ACM dated 1/1/2014, CPI Increase; Ord. M-4034 § 4, 2012; ACM dated 1/4/2012, CPI Increase; ACM dated 1/25/2011, CPI Increase; Ord. M-3959 § 5, 2010; Ord. M-3932 §§ 2, 3, 2009; Ord. M-3922 § 5, 2009; Ord. M-3895 § 3, 2008; Ord. M-3844 § 4, 2007; Ord. M-3840 § 5, 2007; Ord. M-3701 § 5, 2005; Ord. M-3692 § 10, 2005; Ord. M-3663 § 4, 2004; Ord. M-3643, 2004)