Skip to main content
Loading…
This section is included in your selections.

A. An applicant for a new single-family detached or attached building permit may request to defer the payment of an impact fee required under Chapter 19.04, 19.06, or 19.08 BMC. For purposes of the deferral program, “applicant” includes an entity that controls the applicant, is controlled by the applicant, or is under common control with the applicant. The request to defer impact fees shall be subject to all of the following terms and conditions:

1. The request shall be submitted on forms provided by the city and shall be submitted at the time each individual building permit application is submitted. A separate request must be submitted for each single-family residence for which an impact fee deferral is requested.

2. Each deferral request shall include an administrative processing fee equal to the extra services fee as adopted on the land use application fee schedule.

3. An applicant may submit 20 deferral requests per calendar year. If an applicant wishes to request more than 20 deferrals in a calendar year, the planning and community development director may approve each additional request after consultation with other city departments and the applicable school district. The director shall give substantial weight to recommendations of the applicable school district and shall only approve additional requests if it is determined that the deferral will not be detrimental to capital facility planning for either the city or the school district.

4. Each deferral request shall be subject to the impact fees in effect at the time the applicant submits the deferral request.

5. The term of deferral shall expire and the impact fee shall be paid at the earliest of:

a. The time of final inspection by the city;

b. The time of issuance of certificate of occupancy or equivalent certification;

c. The time of closing of the first sale of the property occurring after the issuance of the applicable building permit; or

d. Eighteen months from the date of original building permit issuance.

B. Prior to issuance of a building permit, the applicant for a deferral request must grant, record at the applicant’s expense, and submit to the city a deferred impact fee lien against the property upon which the development activity allowed by the building permit is to occur. The lien shall be in favor of the city in the amount of the deferred impact fee(s) and shall be in a form approved by the city attorney.

The lien must be signed by all owners of the property and persons or entities holding any interest in the property, with all signatures acknowledged as required for a deed, and recorded among the appropriate land records of Whatcom County.

The lien must specify that it is binding on all successors in title after the recordation and that it is subordinate to one mortgage for the purpose of construction upon the same real property granted by the applicant for impact fee deferral. The lien shall become due at the expiration of the deferral date.

C. The city shall not conduct, approve or issue final inspection and/or final certificate of occupancy until the deferred impact fees have been paid in full. Upon the first sale of property, the deferred impact fees shall be paid at closing if they have not been previously paid.

D. Upon receipt of final payment of the deferred impact fee, the city shall execute a release of deferred impact fee lien for the property. The applicant, or property owner at the time of release, shall be responsible for recording the lien release at his or her own expense.

E. The extinguishment of a deferred impact fee lien by the foreclosure of a lien having priority does not affect the obligation to pay the impact fee as a condition of final inspection, certificate of occupancy or equivalent certification, or at the time of closing of the first sale.

F. In the event that the deferred impact fee is not paid within the time provided in this section, the city may institute foreclosure proceedings in accordance with Chapter 61.12 RCW. The applicable school district may also institute foreclosure proceedings as set forth in RCW 82.02.050. [Ord. 2016-08-031 § 5].