County updates road impact fees

New fee structure to include non-residential use

PRESS RELEASE
December 21, 2016

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Garfield County has updated its road impact fees, which will include non-residential use, beginning in 2017. It’s the first increase since the county began collecting the fees in 1997.

The Board of County Commissioners voted to update the road impact fees Dec. 5. The county will still collect road impact fees for residential use, but now also include non-residential projects, such as commercial, industrial, and office uses. The county only collected the fees for residential development in the past.

The changes will take effect Jan. 1, 2017. The amount of the fees is determined by both the square footage of the project, and the benefit district it is located in. Additionally, the fees will be assessed at the time building permits are issued on all new developments. Prior to the update, half of the fees were collected at the time the property was subdivided, and the other half when a building permit was issued.

Road impact fees are collected from new construction and used for needed system improvements to accommodate new development. The county can spend impact fees solely for capital improvements, or debt service for growth-related infrastructure. The fees are not used for operations, maintenance and replacement of infrastructure, or correcting existing deficiencies.

A road impact fee represents new growth’s proportionate share of capital facility needs, and are seen as one component of a comprehensive funding strategy to ensure provision of adequate public facilities.

The fees are collected on new development within a service area – north, south, or east benefit district – that has been defined as lands within six miles of an incorporated municipality, or within one mile of a primary snow plow route. The fees collected in a service area can only be spent for system improvements within that area.

Anyone seeking a building permit from the county that is within one of these districts should be aware of this change in fee structure, as well as the expansion of the fees to include non-residential development. The updated fee schedule and service area map are available on the county’s website.

Any questions should be directed to the Garfield County Community Development Department at (970) 945-8212.