19.04.160 Fees.
A. Established by Resolution. Fees for work performed under the adopted codes and each permit issued pursuant to this chapter, including applicable plan review fees, shall be as established by City Council resolution.
B. Valuation. The determination of value or valuation of construction shall be made by the Building/Fire Official or their designee. The valuation to be used in computing the permit and plan checking fee shall be the total value of all construction work, painting, roofing, electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, elevators, fire suppression/detection systems, and any other permanent equipment.
C. Fees Waived. The codes as adopted by this chapter do not contain provisions for waiving building permit fees, unless the scope of work is minor in nature and the Building/Fire Official determines that a permit is not required.
D. Basic Plans. The codes as adopted by this chapter do not contain provisions for waiving fees for structures repetitively built within City limits. Each application for a construction permit will be required to pay full fees for each structure.
E. Refunds. It shall be the policy of the Department of Building Safety, as authorized by City Council, to authorize refunds of permit fees in accordance with the requirements listed in this section. Where not specifically provided for, requests for refunds shall be considered on a case-by-case basis. In all cases, the amount of the refund shall be determined by the Building/Fire Official. The time period to process refund payments is dependent upon the City Treasurer processing time. Once a refund is given, the entire permit application shall be considered null and void.
1. Plan Review Fees.
a. The applicant shall file a written request for a refund that demonstrates justifiable cause within five working days of the date the application plan review fees were paid. The Building/Fire Official shall investigate the request, and where the plan review process has not begun, the Building/Fire Official is authorized to refund up to 80 percent of the plan review fee paid.
b. Where the plan review process has begun, the amount of the refund may be prorated; provided, that if the review has been completed, no refund shall be authorized.
c. In the event that the plan review fee exceeds the amount paid at the time of submittal, and before any written request for refund is received, the applicant shall pay the additional fees and no refund shall be authorized.
d. Where the plan review is completed and the plan review period expires by limitation, no refund shall be authorized.
2. Valid Permits.
a. Where a permit has been approved for issuance, and all required fees paid, the applicant shall file a written request for a refund that demonstrates justifiable cause within five working days of the date the fees were paid. The Building/Fire Official shall investigate the request, and where no work has commenced and no City inspections have been requested or conducted, the Building/Fire Official is authorized to refund up to 80 percent of the building permit fees paid at the time of issuance, excluding applicable plan review fees.
b. Where inspections have been requested and conducted by the City, the amount of the refund may be prorated except where work authorized under the permit has been completed and a final inspection conducted.
c. Where the permit has expired by limitation and is considered null and void, no refund shall be authorized.
3. Fees Erroneously Paid or Collected. Where erroneous fees have been paid or collected, after investigating the basis for which the fees were paid or collected, the Building/Fire Official is authorized to refund 100 percent of the erroneous fee paid or collected.
F. Permit Fees Contributed by Council. The Snohomish City Council may contribute the fees associated with this chapter for municipal purpose projects or other governmental units and nonprofit corporations by resolution and written agreement with the applicant entity.
1. Contained within the body of the resolution and the written agreement shall be provisions that identify the specific types of fees or charges being contributed, provide an estimate for the dollar value of the contribution, and address the contribution of the public service for a defined period of time.
2. The City’s contribution of such fees is solely a contribution of financial resources.
3. The City shall not exempt, modify, or create a special relationship or class of customer in the application of the laws and regulations of the City, state, or the United States. (Ord. 2483, 2024)