Executive/Council Action Form (ECAF)
ITEM TITLE:
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Ordinance 25-067, relating to right-of-way use permits; adding and amending fees and permit types; amending Chapters 13.02, 13.30, 13.40, 13.50, 13.60, 13.70, 13.80, and 13.110 of the Snohomish County Code
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DEPARTMENT: Public Works
ORIGINATOR: Nathan Howard
EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDATION: Approved by Ken Klein 10/6/25
PURPOSE: Approval of amendments to Title 13 of the Snohomish County Code (SCC) to update non-land development right-of-way (ROW) use permit types, conditions, and fees; adding new permits for data collection devices (e.g. license plate readers) and utility franchise pre-designs; and establishing a utility ROW use fee as a condition for franchise agreements.
BACKGROUND: A staff report is attached to this ECAF that gives more detailed information.
Permit Fee Increases to Recover Costs
? Snohomish County's (the County) Department of Public Works (DPW) is proposing fee increases for non-land development ROW use permits covered by Title 13 of the SCC to recover the costs of processing and executing these permits. Title 13 permits cover any use of the public ROW beyond incidental transportation purposes.
o DPW recently completed a cost of service analysis for non-land development Title 13 permits to ensure the new fees cover the costs of DPW to issue and manage these permits.
o Most Title 13 fees for non-land development ROW use permits have not been revised since 1991.
o In 1991, the County recovered approximately 89% of the costs for these permits.
o In 2024, the County only recovered approximately 34% of the costs for these permits, which is approximately $770,000 less annually than the cost to review/execute those permits.
o The proposed ordinance increases non-land development fees to recover the total cost of reviewing and executing these permits.
o The proposed ordinance institutes a 3% annual fee increase to help keep up with inflation.
Other Permit Process and Condition I...
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