Fresno Municipal Code Art. 4.17 Vehicle Miles Traveled Mitigation Fee

In order to implement the goals and objectives of the City's General Plan, to mitigate the impact of Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) caused by future development in the city, and to implement a fundamental component of the City's adopted VMT Reduction Program, certain public facilities must be constructed, and certain public services must be implemented. The City Council has determined that a VMT Mitigation Fee is needed in order to finance public facilities and services that reduce vehicle miles traveled, thus ensuring that VMT reducing measures are implemented.

(Added Ord. 2025-043, § 1, eff. 1-17-26)

(a) A VMT Mitigation Fee is established to pay for VMT Reduction Program components as identified in the adopted VMT Reduction Program and Nexus Study.

(Added Ord. 2025-043, § 1, eff. 1-17-26)

(a) The Council shall designate in the Master Fee Resolution, a schedule of VMT Mitigation Fees.

(b) VMT Mitigation Fee amount shall be determined based upon the adopted VMT Reduction Program and Nexus Study which shall be prepared in compliance with California Government Code Section 66016.5, as may be amended.

(Added Ord. 2025-043, § 1, eff. 1-17-26)

(a) The VMT Mitigation Fee for each development project deemed subject to the fee shall be payable as follows:

(1) VMT Mitigation Fees for residential developments shall be payable on the date of final inspection, or the date the certificate of occupancy is issued, whichever occurs first, consistent with the requirements of California Government Code Section 66007, as may be amended.

(2) VMT Mitigation Fees for non-residential developments shall be payable prior to the issuance of a building permit at the fee level in effect on the date such permit is issued.

(Added Ord. 2025-043, § 1, eff. 1-17-26)

(a) A VMT Fund is hereby established.

(b) All VMT Mitigation Fees collected by the City shall be deposited in the VMT Fund for the purpose of funding public facilities reasonably necessary to contribute to the reduction of citywide VMT.

(c) For the purposes of this Article, "public facilities" shall have the same meaning as set forth in California Government Code Section 66000, as may be amended.

(d) The City shall annually review and report on the fund for the VMT Mitigation Fee as set forth by California Government Code Section 66006.

(Added Ord. 2025-043, § 1, eff. 1-17-26)

The revenue from the VMT Fee shall be used for the following purposes:

(a) To contribute to Transportation Demand Management Projects, Transit Projects, and Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects that are identified in the adopted VMT Reduction Program and Nexus as recipients of VMT Mitigation Fee funding.

(b) To reimburse the city for expenditures set forth in subpart (a) above, acquired or constructed by the city with funds (other than gifts or grants) from other sources, together with accrued interest.

(Added Ord. 2025-043, § 1, eff. 1-17-26)