Article 15.30 — PUBLIC FACILITIES FEES

• A. In order to fulfill its responsibilities under the law, and consistent with the exercise of its police power, and in order to implement the goals and objectives of the county general plan and to mitigate impacts caused by new development within the county, public facility fees are necessary. The fees are needed to finance public facilities and to assure that new development pays its fair share for these improvements.

• B. The county's general police power, Title 7, Chapter 5, Section 66000 et seq. of the California Government Code and California Constitution Article 11, Section 7, provide that public facilities fees may be enacted and imposed on development projects. The board of supervisors finds and determines that:

  1. New development projects cause the need for construction, expansion and/or improvement of public facilities within the county of Placer.

  2. Funds for construction, expansion or improvement of public facilities are not currently available nor are likely to be available to accommodate needs caused by new development projects and this results in inadequate public facilities within Placer County.

• C. The board of supervisors finds that the public health, safety, peace, morals, convenience, comfort, prosperity and general welfare will be promoted by the adoption of public facilities fees for construction, expansion or improvement of public facilities.

• D. The board of supervisors finds that failure to enact public facility fees will subject county residents to conditions perilous to their health and/or safety and their general welfare.

• E. The county retained Recht Hausrath and Associates, Urban Economists, to do a study of the fiscal impacts of growth in Placer County and a study of the capital facilities needed by Placer County to serve new growth. That study will be adopted by the board by separate resolution. The board has adopted the comprehensive facilities master plan as prepared by Design Partnership. The county has also completed a criminal justice master plan which was prepared by Lionakis-Beaumont and Jay Farbstein & Associates, (collectively hereinafter "reports"). The reports have been made available for review by the public, and a board of supervisors workshop has been held to study these reports.

• F. The reports determined facilities needs of the county for the services rendered to the residents of the county, both within cities and within the unincorporated area of the county based upon projected population growth. The board of supervisors find these facilities are needed to maintain existing levels of service within existing service areas. The Recht Hausrath and Associates study differentiates between services which are provided by the county within the unincorporated areas of the county which are comparable to the "municipal" services provided by the incorporated cities within their jurisdiction, and those services which are provided by the county countywide to all citizens of the county, including those citizens in incorporated areas of the county.

and Associates study differentiates between services which are provided by the county within the unincorporated areas of the county which are comparable to the "municipal" services provided by the incorporated cities within their jurisdiction, and those services which are provided by the county countywide to all citizens of the county, including those citizens in incorporated areas of the county.

• G. The board of supervisors finds that the need for county facilities has grown as the population has increased in the past, and will continue to grow at least as quickly as the

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/PL4987 on 2026-07-06

Placer County, CA § 15.30.010

PLACER COUNTY CODE

§ 15.30.020

population grows in the future. The service area for the county is the geographical boundaries of the county. New residents and employees are likely to require at least as much service as the county now provides to existing residents and employees currently. The reports fairly identify services which are affected primarily by residential development, such as juvenile justice, etc. It fairly allocates between residential and various types of commercial development the costs of providing new facilities needed as a result of both residential and commercial development.

• H. The board of supervisors finds that the fees imposed pursuant to this article fairly reflect the facilities needs which are generated by new residents and employees, respectively, from developments in each fee category. The reports reasonably apply residential densities and employment densities for various land uses in calculating the fee. The range of use categories for which fees are specified fairly represents the variations in resident and employee demand for services. The variation within each category is reasonable.

• I. The board of supervisors finds that this article properly limits use of all fees collected to public facilities and improvements attributable to new development, and further limits use of fees to specific categories of facilities and improvements until and unless subsequent evidence justifies reallocation.

• J. Fees collected under this article will be collected in two categories: those fees within the unincorporated area which include all countywide services, and all municipal services applicable to the unincorporated areas only, and those fees in the incorporated areas (as hereinafter defined and discussed, see Section 15.30.070(A)) which include nonmunicipal countywide services. This distinction is proper and analysis supporting same is detailed in the reports.

• K. The board of supervisors finds that development within incorporated cities will cause demand on the county for new public facilities in the identified categories.

• L. The board of supervisors finds that the cities do not and cannot provide the identified public facilities for services provided by only the county.

• M. The board of supervisors finds that pursuant to express policies of the countywide general plan adopted by the board of supervisors on August 16, 1994, new development within the county is to pay its fair share for new public facilities, the need for which is generated as a result of the new development, otherwise, the cost of these facilities or the failure to provide such facilities will be disproportionate, and unfairly borne by other county taxpayers, or will unfairly reduce the level of service provided to present county residents.

• N. The board of supervisors find that in order to recover these costs resulting from development within the cities, the county as a political subdivision of the state of California, and as an extension of its legislature must exercise its legislative authority to the actual physical limits of its geographical boundaries, which include not only the unincorporated areas but the incorporated areas as well.

• O. The board of supervisors finds that the provisions of this chapter are consistent with the requirements of California Government Code section 66007(b) and the California Constitution, Article 11, Section 7.

• (Prior code § 38.1)

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/PL4987 on 2026-07-06

Placer County, CA

BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT

§ 15.30.020

§ 15.30.050

The public facility fees enacted pursuant to this article are to be collected prior to the issuance of building permits or at the earliest time permitted by law as determined by the county executive officer or his/her designee.

(Prior code § 38.3)

The ordinance codified in this article is adopted under the authority of the laws of the state of California, including the provisions of Title 7, Chapter 5 of the California Government Code sections 66000 et seq. and pursuant to California Constitution Article 11, Section 7. (Prior code § 38.5)

The following words, when used in this article, and in resolutions adopted thereto, shall have the following meanings:

"Accessory dwelling unit" and "junior accessory dwelling unit" have the same meanings as defined in the California Government Code.

"Board of supervisors" means the board of supervisors of the county.

"County" means the county of Placer, a charter law county organized and existing under the constitution and laws of the state of California, and a political subdivision of the state of California.

"Development project" means any project undertaken for the purpose of development. "Development project" includes a project involving the issuance of a permit for construction or reconstruction, and/or a permit to operate, if the permit involves a change in category of use as defined in the study by Recht Hausrath and Associates.

"Fee" means a monetary exaction, other than a tax or special assessment, which is charged to the applicant in connection with approval of a development project for the purpose of defraying all or a portion of the cost of public facilities related to the development project.

"Public facility" includes public buildings, improvements, systems, fixtures, and associated capital needs required to provide public services and community amenities. (Prior code § 38.10; Ord. 6001-B § 3, 2020)

In establishing and imposing a fee as a condition of approval of a development project, the following shall be done:

• A. Identify the purpose of the fee;

• B. Identify the use to which the fee is to be put;

• C. Determine how there is a reasonable relationship between the fee's use and the type of development project on which the fee is imposed; and

• D. Determine that there is a reasonable relationship between the need for the public facility and the impacts caused by the type of development project on which the fee is imposed.

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/PL4987 on 2026-07-06

Placer County, CA

PLACER COUNTY CODE

§ 15.30.050

§ 15.30.070

(Prior code § 38.12)

• A. The county executive officer or his/her designee shall report to the board once each fiscal year any portion of a fee remaining unexpended or uncommitted in an account five or more years after deposit and shall identify the purpose for which the fee was collected. The board of supervisors shall make findings once each fiscal year with respect to any portion of the fee remaining unexpended or uncommitted in its account five or more years after deposit of the fee, to identify the purpose to which the fee is put and to demonstrate a reasonable relationship between the fee and the purpose for which it was charged.

• B. A refund of unexpended or uncommitted fees for which a need cannot be demonstrated along with accrued interest may be made to the current owner(s) of the development project(s) on a prorated basis. The county may refund unexpended and uncommitted fees that have been found by the board to be no longer needed, by direct payment or by offsetting other obligations owed to the county by the current owner(s) of the development project(s).

• C. If the administrative costs of refunding unexpended and uncommitted revenues collected pursuant to this section exceed the amount to be refunded, the county, after a public hearing, for which notice has been published pursuant to Government Code Section 6061 and posted in three prominent places within the area of the development project, may determine that the revenues shall be allocated for some other purpose for which fees are collected subject to this article and which serves the project on which the fee was originally imposed.

(Prior code § 38.15)

• A. Prior to the issuance of any building permit, or permit for other entitlement if no building permit is involved, the project proponent and/or applicant shall pay to the county at the building department the fees adopted by resolution pursuant to this article, except where exempt by State law. Before any city building official issues a building permit, or before any city issues an entitlement permit if no building permit is involved in the particular project, the city shall determine whether the applicant for such permit has satisfied the fee identified in such resolution, except where exempt by State law. Such satisfaction may be determined by the submittal to the city building official of appropriate documentation from the county that the fees have been satisfied, or at the option of the city, by collection by that city of the fees, after which said city shall pass the fee(s) on to the county. As to any incorporated city within the county of Placer, whether a general law or a charter city, this ordinance and resolution shall only be effective upon the passage by the city council of a resolution implementing the fee within the incorporated limits, except the fees shall be effective as to those areas of any city for which now exists or hereafter exists an annexation agreement between the city and the county which requires the collection of the fee by the city on behalf of the county. Upon agreement between the city and the county, a reasonable cost for administering the collection and transfer of the fee by the city shall be paid to the city by the county.

• B. The amount of the fee shall be the current fee determined as of the date of filing the completed application for the building permit, or other entitlement or development permit,

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/PL4987 on 2026-07-06

Placer County, CA

BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT

§ 15.30.070

§ 15.30.090

in the case where a building permit is not required, except this fee shall not apply to any vested tentative map or vested parcel map after the application for such map is deemed complete. This exception shall only operate for the life of the tentative map or vested parcel map plus one year after the recording of the final map.

• C. When application is made for a new building permit following the expiration of a previously issued building permit for which fees were paid, the fee payment shall not be required, unless the fee schedule has been amended during the interim, in which case the appropriate increase or decrease shall be imposed.

• D. In the event that subsequent development occurs with respect to property, other than singlefamily residences, for which fees under this article have already been paid, additional fees shall be required only for any such additional square footage of development that was not included in computing the prior fee, or in the case of a change in use category, or in the case of an increase in the total number of dwelling units, additional fees shall be required as determined appropriate by the county executive officer or his/her designee.

rticle have already been paid, additional fees shall be required only for any such additional square footage of development that was not included in computing the prior fee, or in the case of a change in use category, or in the case of an increase in the total number of dwelling units, additional fees shall be required as determined appropriate by the county executive officer or his/her designee.

• E. When a fee is paid for a development project and that project is subsequently substantially reduced in size prior to construction, it shall then be entitled to a lower fee and the county shall issue a partial refund of the fee as determined appropriate by the county executive officer or his/her designee.

• F. When a fee is paid for a development project and the project is subsequently abandoned without any further action beyond the obtaining of a building permit, the payor upon request shall be entitled to a refund of the fee paid, minus the administrative portion of the fee.

• G. No fee shall be assessed pursuant to this article for the reconstruction of any residential, commercial or industrial development project that is reconstructed, except that additional fees shall be required for additional square footage, if any, for other than residential use, or based upon a change in category of use. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, no credit shall be due for any change to a less intensive use.

• H. The fees charged to accessory and junior accessory dwelling units of 750 (seven hundred fifty) square feet or more shall be charged proportionately in relation to the square footage of the primary dwelling. Accessory and junior accessory dwelling units less than 750 (seven hundred fifty) square feet are not subject to fees under this section.

• (Prior code § 38.20; Ord. 6001-B § 3, 2020; Ord. 6317-B, 6/10/2025)

Fees paid under this article shall be held in separate public facility accounts to be expended for the purpose for which they were collected by the county. The county shall retain any interest accrued and allocate it to the accounts for which the original fee was imposed. The county shall deposit, invest, account for and expend the fees in accordance with to California Government Code Section 66006.

(Prior code § 38.25)

• A. The adoption of public facility fees is a legislative act and the specific fee amount authorized pursuant to this article shall be adopted by resolution after a noticed public

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/PL4987 on 2026-07-06

Placer County, CA § 15.30.090

PLACER COUNTY CODE

§ 15.30.090

hearing before the board of supervisors. The fees adopted shall be based upon and reflect the need for public facilities as identified in the comprehensive facilities master plan for Placer County, the county facilities needed to serve growth study (Recht Hausrath and Association, August, 1994), and the criminal justice master plan (Lionakis-Beaumont and Jay Farbstein and Associates).

• B. The fees assessed pursuant to this article shall be automatically adjusted annually in accordance with the change, if any, in the state of California, Department of Industrial Relations Consumer Price Index (CPI)—California for all urban consumers, for the month of July of each year, effective on the first day of October of 1995, and on October first of each year thereafter.

• C. The project proponent and/or applicant for any project subject to the fee described in this article may apply to the county executive officer or his/her designee for relief from imposition of the fee, reduction of the fee, or waiver of the fee, based upon the alleged absence of any reasonable relationship or nexus between the impacts of the development and either the amount of the fee charged or the type of facilities to be financed, or other alleged legal basis for exemption. In the case of fees applied within the unincorporated area of the county, such application shall be made in writing and filed with the county executive officer or his/her designee not later than: (1) 10 days prior to the public hearing on the development permit application for the project, or (2) if no development permit is required, such application shall be filed at the time of the filing of the application for a building permit. For those projects within the cities, the application for relief from this article must be filed within 10 days of written notice of the proposed fee regarding that project or within 10 days of application for the building permit, whichever occurs first. The application shall state in detail the actual basis for the claim of waiver, reduction, or adjustment. The county executive officer or his/her designee shall have 15 days to consider and act upon the request, and shall issue his/her administration determination in writing. Failure to take action for more than 20 days shall mean the request is denied. If the project proponent desires to appeal that administrative determination of the county executive officer or his/ her designee, the project proponent must apply in writing within 10 days of written notification of the denial of the appeal for a fee adjustment, paying the appropriate appeals fee, to the board of supervisors, which shall consider the application at a public hearing commenced within 45 days after the filing of the fee adjustment appeal. The county executive officer or his/her designee shall prepare a staff report and recommendation for board consideration. The decision of the board of supervisors shall be final. If a reduction, adjustment, or waiver is granted by the Board, any subsequent material change in use regarding the project shall subject such waiver, adjustment or reduction of the fee to reevaluation by the county.

• D. Reimbursement agreements shall be considered for new development projects which are required to fund or construct improvements included in the capital improvement program which provide capacity significantly in excess of project needs. Such agreements shall include a provision for Placer County to be reimbursed for preparation and administration costs.

• E. Credit against fee obligation for construction of any public facility identified in the capital improvement program by a particular project proponent, shall be considered, and if determined appropriate by the county executive officer or his/her designee, shall be granted against the fees owed by that project proponent. Such credit, if any, shall be calculated by the county executive officer. The county executive officer shall determine the basis for

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/PL4987 on 2026-07-06

Placer County, CA

BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT

§ 15.30.090

§ 15.30.110

calculating the amount of credit for other improvements (such as buildings, etc.), if any. For all improvements such credit shall be limited to the amount of fee that would otherwise be imposed pursuant to this article, except as provided under the provisions for reimbursement set forth above.

(Prior code § 38.30)

This article and any subsequent amendment to the public facilities fee program shall be read together. With respect to any public facility fee enacted by resolution pursuant to this article, any provision of such a public facility fee which is in conflict with this article shall be void. (Prior code 38.40)

Violation of this article shall subject the violator to those provisions of Article 1.24 of the Placer County Code. Violation of this article shall also subject the violator to placement of a lien on the subject real property for the amount of the fees, plus collection costs, attorney fees, and interest, if any, and/or pursuant to a separate hearing held before the board of supervisors, after reasonable notice and due process have been accorded to the parties. (Prior code § 38.55)

Downloaded from https://ecode360.com/PL4987 on 2026-07-06

Placer County, CA