New fees for land use permit applications take effect August 1

WENATCHEE — The Board of County Commissioners has adopted a new fee schedule for land use permit applications, effective August 1. This decision follows a comprehensive cost-recovery analysis, several board workshops with the Community Development department, and a public hearing.

The updated fee schedule will be available on the Community Development website starting August 1.

"The current fees, which are at least 14 years old, have not kept pace with either the annual CPI increases or the increase in labor costs, so they do not allow our department to follow a cost-recovery model for permit processing," said Deanna Walter, director of Community Development. "In 2024, we used $300,000 from the general fund to balance the cost of permit processing. Taxpayers were supplementing the cost of processing land use applications for site-specific developments."

After hearing testimony from developers at the public hearing, commissioners opted for a phased implementation of the fee adjustments over the next three years. Fee increases will occur annually on August 1 until 2028. Beginning August 1, 2029, building and permitting fees will then increase by 4 percent annually.

"By 2028, Community Development will be an enterprise department, meaning it will not require money from the general fund to supplement its budget," said Commissioner Shon Smith. "The phasing in of the increases is a compromise that works for builders, the public and the county."

A cost-recovery analysis review for Community Development will be conducted at least every five years to consider further fee revisions.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media