Division 9 — FEES
Imperial County Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · ingested 2026-07-06 · Imperial County
Chapter 1 - LAND USE (PLANNING) PROJECTS
90901.00 - Applicability. ¶
Every application for a land use project (permit) shall be assessed a filing and/or processing fee as provided within this division. The planning and development services department shall not accept or receive any application without the specified fee, nor shall the department waive any fee specified herein.
(Amended during 2008 codification; Ord. 1386 (part), 2004: Ord. 1355 § 2 (part), 2002)
90901.01 - Applications.
A.
Applications for any land use permit (authorization), including but not limited to variances, changes of zone, parcel maps or other planning processes shall be made in writing to the planning and development services department upon such form(s) as approved by the planning commission. The planning and development services department shall provide forms for such application purposes and shall prescribe the type of information to be provided thereon. No application or petition shall be received and accepted unless it complies with all requirements stated thereon.
B.
Applications filed pursuant to this division, shall be numbered consecutively in the order of their filing, and shall become a part of the permanent official records of the planning and development services department, and there shall be attached thereto copies of all notices, actions, maps and other information that were part of the official proceedings.
(Amended during 2008 codification; Ord. 1386 (part), 2004: Ord. 1355 § 2 (part), 2002)
90901.02 - Filing fee(s).
Every application, request for permit, or request for a planning review or service procedure to the Planning and Development Services Department shall include a fee as prescribed herein below. The Department shall not accept or receive any such request without the proper fee, and no fee shall be waived by the Department.
(Amended during 2008 codification; Ord. 1386 (part), 2004; Ord. 1355, § 2(part), 2002)
(Ord. No. 1587, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-23)
90901.03 - General planning.
(Footnotes refer to definitions and explanations at the end of this
| C.E.Q.A. | General Fee | General Fee | General Plan | General Plan | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APPLICATION/PROCESS TYPE: | Flat Rate P/B |
Deposit (T/M2) |
Flat Rate (3%)** |
Deposit (TMI) |
Fee | |
| Administrative Permitting/Hearing | $1,000.00 | $250.00 | $1,250.00 | |||
| Appeal | $970.00 | $30.00 | $1,000.00 | |||
| Development Agreement* | $2,000.00 | $2,000.00 | ||||
| ZONING | ||||||
| ABC License | $242.50 | $7.50 | $250.00 | |||
| Address Verifcation | $145.50 | $4.50 | $150.00 | |||
| Zoning Information Letter per parcel) | $242.50 | $7.50 | $250.00 | |||
| Zoning Review - Building Permit | $242.50 | $7.50 | $250.00 | |||
| TIME EXTENSIONS | ||||||
| CUP Extension by Dir. (Every three years) | $582.00 | $18.00 | $600.00 | |||
| CUP Extension by Dir. (Every fve years) | $970.00 | $30.00 | $1,000.00 | |||
| CUP Extension by PC B/S (Fifteen-year re-entitlement) - Minor CUP |
$1,164.00 | $36.00 | $1,200.00 | |||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CUP Extension by PC B/S (Fifteen-year re-entitlement) - Intermediate CUP |
$1,940.00 | $560.00 | $2,000.00 | |||
| CUP Extension by PC B/S (Fifteen-year re-entitlement) - Major CUP |
$2,910.00 | $90.00 | $3,000.00 | |||
| CUP Extension by PC E/S (Thirty-year re-entitlement) - Major CUP |
$4,850.00 | $150.00 | $5,000.00 | |||
| PM/TR Extension by Dir. (Yearly) - Minor | $582.00 | $18.00 | $600.00 | |||
| PM/TR Extension by PC B/S - (Yearly) - Major | $1,164.00 | $36.00 | $1,200.00 | |||
| DESIGN REVIEW (Per Parcel) | ||||||
| Design Review - Residential - base (1 unit) | $582.00 | $18.00 | $600.00 | |||
| Design Review - Residential Subdivision 4 or less | $485.00 | $15.00 | $500.00 | |||
| Design Review - Residential Subdivision 5 or more | $970.00 | $30.00 | $1,000.00 | |||
| Design Review - Residential Multi-Family 2—4 Units | $485.00 | $15.00 | $500.00 | |||
| Design Review - Residential Multi-Family 5—29 Units | $727.50 | $22.50 | $750.00 | |||
| Design Review - Residential Multi-Family 30+ Units | $970.00 | $30.00 | $1,000.00 | |||
| Design Review - Commercial < 20K sq. ft (includes all non- residential uses) |
$1,455.00 | $45.00 | $1,500.00 | |||
| Design Review - Commercial > 20K sq. ft. (includes all non- residential uses) |
$1,940.00 | S 60.00 | $2,000.00 | |||
| SPECIFIC PLANNING | ||||||
| CEQA Review Only (Major) | T/M2 | $7,000.00 | $500.00 | $7,500.00 | ||
| CEQA Review Only (Minor) | $3,395.00 | $105.00 | $3,500.00 | |||
| General Plan Amendment | T/M2 | $12,000.00 | $3,000.00 | $15,000.00 | ||
| Notice of Exemption | $727.50 | $22.50 | $750.00 | |||
| Specifc Plan Review/ Amendment | T/M2 | $12,000.00 | $3,000.00 | $15,000.00 | ||
| Variance - Commercial/Industrial | $2,910.00 | $90.00 | $3,000.00 | |||
| Variance - Residential | $1,455.00 | $45.00 | $1,500.00 | |||
| Zone Change | T/M2 | $12,000.00 | $3,000.00 | $15,000.00 | ||
| SUBDIVISIONS | ||||||
| Minor Subdivision Administrative (SB9 Urban Lot Split) Not more than 2 Lots |
$2,910.00 | $90.00 | $3,000.00 | |||
| Minor Subdivision (Up to 4 lots) Parcel Map | T/M2 | $6,500.00 | $1,000.00 | $7,500.00 | ||
| Major Subdivision (5 lots or more) Tract Map | T/M2 | $12,000.00 | $3,000.00 | $15,000.00 | ||
| Lot Line Adjustment (Up to 4 lots) | $4,365.00 | $135.00 | $4,500.00 | |||
| Lot Merger (4 or less lots) | $4,365.00 | $135.00 | $4,500.00 | |||
| Lot Merger (5 or more lots) | $5,335.00 | $165.00 | $5,500.00 | |||
| Reversion to Acreage | T/M2 | $7,000.00 | $500.00 | $7,500.00 | ||
| Certifcate of Compliance | $1,697.50 | $52.50 | $1,750.00 | |||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS | ||||||
| CUP (2nd dwelling 1,200 s.f or greater) | $1,940.00 | $60.00 | $2,000.00 | |||
| CUP (Minor) | $4,365.00 | $135.00 | $4,500.00 | |||
| CUP (Intermediate) | T/M2 | $7,000.00 | $500.00 | $7,500.00 | ||
| CUP (Major) | TZM2 | $12,000.00 | $3,000.00 | $15,000.00 | ||
| MINING/RECLAMATION | ||||||
| Mining (CUP) | T/M2 | $7,000.00 | $500.00 | $7,500.00 | ||
| Mining (Exploratory) | T/M2 | $7,000.00 | $500.00 | $7,500.00 | ||
| Reclamation Plan | T/M2 | $7,000.00 | $500.00 | $7,500.00 | ||
| GEOTHERMAL | ||||||
| Intermediate Exploration (6 Wells or less) | T/M2 | $7,000.00 | $500.00 | $7,500.00 | ||
| Major Exploration (More than 6 wells) | T/M2 | $12,000.00 | $3,000.00 | $15,000.00 | ||
| Intermediate Production (up to 50 Megawatts) | T/M2 | $7,000.00 | $500.00 | $7,500.00 | ||
| Major Production (Greater than 50 Megawatts) | T/M2 | $12,000.00 | $3,000.00 | $15,000.00 | ||
| Test Facility (existing well not to exceed 24 mths.) | T/M2 | $5,000.00 | $500.00 | $5,500,00 | ||
| Intermediate Mineral Extraction - (Not to exceed 25,000 metric tons annually) |
T/M2 | $7,000.00 | $500.00 | $7,500.00 | ||
| Major Mineral Extraction - (More than 25,000 metric tons annually) | T/M2 | $12,000.00 | $3,000.00 | $15,000.00 | ||
| CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION | ||||||
| [Administrative Processing Fee (10% total contract) (max of 520,000) |
10% | |||||
| COMMERCIAL CANNABIS ACTIVITY - CCA | ||||||
| First Application - Each (Plus CUP fee if required) | $4,000.00 | |||||
| Each additional application | $1,000.00 | |||||
| Security Plan Review - Each | $1,000.00 | |||||
| Annual License | $1,500.00 | |||||
| Additional or Extraordinary work (after 30 hours of billed staf time) |
T/M2 | |||||
| DOCUMENT CHARGES | ||||||
| Xerox (Color 8½ " x 11") Xerox (8½" x 11") Xerox (large) Printed Documents |
$2.00/page 1 + $.25/page after frst page $2.00 Page 1 + $.10/page after frst page $1.50/square foot Cost + 25% |
|||||
| MISCELLANEOUS | ||||||
| Notary Fee - Each Signature | $15.00 | |||||
| Expert Witness | T/M2 | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 | |||
| Airport Land Use Commission (Add-on to Projects that involve ALUC) |
T/M2 | $2,500.00 | $2,500.00 | |||
| Home Occupancy Permit - Actual Time at Staf hourly Rates (2 hours) |
$250.00 | $250.00 | ||||
| Similarity of Use | T/M2 | $1,164.00 | $36.00 | $1,200.00 | ||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Compliance Monitoring (CUP Minor and Intermediate) | T/M2 | |||||
| Compliance Monitoring (CUP Major) | T/M2 | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | |||
| Projects Not Specifed Hourly | $148.00 | $148.00 | ||||
| * If additional or extraordinary work is required, the agreement will become T/M | 2and deposit will be required. |
(Ord. 1386(part), 2004; Ord. 1355, § 2(part), 2002; Ord. No. 1587, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-23)
90901.04 - Specific planning. ¶
| Application/Process Type | C.E.Q.A. | General Fee | General Fee | General Plan | General Plan | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Rate | Deposit | Flat Rate (2-35%) |
Deposit | ||||||
| P.W. | P/B | P.W. | P/B | LGL | (T/M)2 | (*-1) | (T/M)1 | ||
| General Plan Amendment | T/M2 | T/M2 | - | - | - | $10,000 | - | $2,000 | $12,000 |
| Zone Change | T/M2 | T/M2 | - | - | - | $10,000 | - | $1,500 | $11,500 |
| Specifc Plan Review | T/M2 | T/M2 | - | - | - | $10,000 | - | $3,500 | $13,500 |
| Variance | - | - | - | $976.50 | - | - | $23.50 | - | $1,000 |
| CEQA Review Only (Minor) | $250 | - | - | $2,148.30 | $50 | - | $51.70 | - | $2,500 |
| CEQA Review Only (Major) | T/M2 | T/M2 | - | - | - | $5,000 | - | $200 | $5,200 |
| Notice of Exemption | - | $488.25 | - | - | $50 | - | $11.75 | - | $550 |
(Ord. 1386 (part), 2004: Ord. 1355 § 2 (part), 2002)
90901.05 - Subdivisions. ¶
| Application/Process Type | C.E.Q.A. | General Fee | General Fee | General Plan | General Plan | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Rate | Deposit | Flat Rate (2-35%) |
Deposit | ||||||
| P.W. | P/B | P.W. | P/B | LGL | (T/M)2 | (*-1) | (T/M)1 | ||
| Minor Subdivision (<4 lots) | T/M2 | T/M2 | - | - | $50 | $4,950 | - | $700 | $5,700 |
| Major Subdivision (>5 lots) | T/M2 | T/M2 | - | - | - | $10,000 | - | $2,000 | $12,000 |
| Lot Line Adjustment (<4 lots) | - | - | $350 | $2,929.50 | - | - | $70.50 | - | $3,350 |
| Lot Merger (<4 lots) | - | - | $350 | $2,929.50 | - | - | $70.50 | - | $3,350 |
| Reversion to Acreage | T/M2 | T/M2 | - | - | - | $5,000 | - | $200 | $5,200 |
| Certifcate of Compliance | - | - | $100 | $1,464.75 | - | - | $35.35 | - | $1,600 |
(Ord. 1386 (part), 2004: Ord. 1355 § 2 (part), 2002)
90901.06 - Conditional use permits. ¶
| Application/Process Type | C.E.Q.A. | General Fee | General Fee | General Plan | General Plan | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Rate | Deposit | Flat Rate (2-35%) |
Deposit | ||||||
| P.W. | P/B | P.W. | P/B | LGL | (T/M)2 | (*-1) | (T/M)1 | ||
| CUP (2nd Dwelling - Admin.) | - | - | - | $1,464.75 | - | - | $35.25 | - | $1,500 |
| CUP (2nd Dwelling - PC) | - | - | - | $1,953.00 | - | $47.00 | - | $2,000 | |
| CUP (Minor) | $250 | - | - | $2,929.50 | $50 | - | $70.50 | - | $3,300 |
| CUP (Intermediate) | T/M2 | T/M2 | - | - | - | $5,000 | - | $500 | $5,500 |
| CUP (Major) | T/M2 | T/M2 | - | - | - | $10,000 | - | $1,000 | $11,000 |
(Ord. 1386 (part), 2004: Ord. 1355 § 2 (part), 2002)
90901.07 - Mining reclamation. ¶
| Application/Process Type | C.E.Q.A. | General Fee | General Fee | General Plan | General Plan | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Rate | Deposit | Flat Rate (2-35%) |
Deposit | ||||||
| P.W. | P/B | P.W. | P/B | LGL | (T/M)2 | (*-1) | (T/M)1 | ||
| Mining | T/M2 | T/M2 | - | - | - | $5,000 | - | $500 | $5,500 |
| Mining (Exploratory) | T/M2 | T/M2 | - | - | - | $3,000 | - | $500 | $3,500 |
| Reclamation (Minor) | T/M2 | T/M2 | - | - | - | $5,000 | - | $300 | $5,300 |
| Reclamation (Major) | T/M2 | T/M2 | - | - | - | $5,000 | - | $1,500 | $6,500 |
(Ord. 1386 (part), 2004: Ord. 1355 § 2 (part), 2002)
90901.08 - Geothermal. ¶
| Application/Process Type | C.E.Q.A. | General Fee | General Fee | General Plan | General Plan | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Rate | Deposit | Flat Rate (2-35%) |
Deposit | ||||||
| P.W. | P/B | P.W. | P/B | LGL | (T/M)2 | (*-1) | (T/M)1 | ||
| Minor Exp. Permit (in G) | - | - | - | - | - | $3,000 | - | $500 | $3,500 |
| Minor Exp. Permit (out G) | - | - | - | - | - | $3,000 | - | $500 | $3,500 |
| Minor Prod. Permit (in G) | T/M2 | T/M2 | - | - | - | $3,000 | - | $700 | $3,700 |
| Minor Prod. Permit (out G) | T/M2 | T/M2 | - | - | - | $3,000 | - | $1,000 | $4,000 |
| Intermediate Prod. Permit | T/M2 | T/M2 | - | - | - | $5,000 | - | $1,500 | $6,500 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Major Exploration | T/M2 | T/M2 | - | - | - | $5,000 | - | $3,000 | $8,000 |
| Major Production | T/M2 | T/M2 | - | - | - | $10,000 | - | $1,000 | $10,000 + $1,000/M |
| Test Facility | $125 | $465 | - | - | - | $5,000 | - | $500 | $5,500 |
| Public Works Survey Review | General Fee | ||||||||
| --- | --- | --- | |||||||
| Application/Process Type | Flat Rate | Deposit (T/M)1 | |||||||
| Legal Descriptions (Review) 1. Lot Line Adjustment/Lot Merger/Certifcate of Compliance 2. Road Right-of-Way (Only) |
$300 $400 |
- - |
|||||||
| Reversion to Acreage | $400 | - | |||||||
| Annexation Map Review (LAFCO) | - | $500 | |||||||
| Environmental Constraint Sheet | $350 | - | |||||||
| Amending Certifcate | $200 | - | |||||||
| Amending Map | $400 | - | |||||||
| Corner Record Card | $7 | - | |||||||
| Record of Survey | - | $500 |
(Ord. 1386 (part), 2004: Ord. 1355 § 2 (part), 2002)
90901.09 - Definitions and explanations.
A.
Valuation.
1.
The Valuation of a project shall be the ultimate (build out) value of the proposed project and shall include cost of land plus cost of improvements, as determined by the Director.
2.
Projects that cannot be clearly shown as having a "build out" value, (for example: a new landfill, a new mining operation) will be valued for the purpose of computation of specific fees other than T&M by the Director. The
Director's determination may be appealed to the Planning Commission, but not the Board of Supervisors.
B.
Conditional Use Permits.
1.
Second Dwelling Only - Process to allow one additional dwelling to be placed on a parcel with an existing dwelling.
2.
Minor - This classification shall include and be limited to the following uses:
a.
Domestic Water Well.
b.
Home Occupation.
c.
Day Care or Nursery.
d.
Schools.
e.
Temporary offices at project site for project duration.
f.
Temporary real estate offices within housing tract.
C.
Intermediate - Any Conditional Use Permit with a project value of less than five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) unless determined by the Director that the project requires a major CUP.
D.
Major - Any Conditional Use Permit with a project value greater than five million dollars ($5,000,000.00) and/or not considered an intermediate.
1.
The category of the CUP type (minor, intermediate, major) shall be as determined by the Department There shall be no appeal from this decision,
2.
T/M: Time and Material. All projects shown to have a T/M billing rate shall deposit the amount specified within this Division at the time of the application and shall be billed by the department on a quarterly basis Deposit is to be maintained throughout the course of the project. If the Department has not received payment within 30 days of billing, the Department shall cease processing the application until the funds are provided to maintain the initial deposit limit.
The T/M deposit schedule is as follows:
T/M[1 ] ** - General Plan Charge will be 3% of the total cost of the project-not to be refunded.
T/M[2 ] - Initial Deposit as shown in each category Please note this fee is not used as part of any T&M billing
3.
T and M: Time and Materials. Under this billing system, the County Planning/Building Department, as well as any County Department that has a function in the permit review process and an adopted Ordinance Schedule of fees is authorized to charge for all salary and benefit costs and actual expenses, including, but not limited to, office and field cost; mileage; County overhead; and special consultants. All billing, however, shall be by and through the Planning/Building department only. Any Department that does not provide a billing statement to the Planning/Building Department by the tenth of the month shall not be entitled to collect.
The Department shall add fifteen (15) percent to the total cost of all materials, including advertising, to offset the cost of the following: permit tracking system, monitoring program, file storage costs; and office space/maintenance costs.
4.
Hourly Rate. The maximum hourly rate for Planning/Building Department cost shall be set at actual salary rate as calculated by Cost of Services User Fee Study as the "fully burdened" rate, which includes overhead, benefits and shall not exceed three hundred dollars ($300.00) per hour. This rate includes labor and County overhead but does not include material or other direct expenses.
5.
Auditing/Account. The Applicant has the opportunity to review the accounting of any Department related to the project. If the Applicant feels the accounting is in error, the applicant may file a written request fora review with the Director. In the event the Applicant and Director cannot reach an agreement, this matter shall be brought to the Planning Commission for arbitration, and to the Board of Supervisors for all other Departments.
| Staf Rates Per Hour | |
| Account Clerks | $111.56 |
| Accountant/Accountant Auditor | 125.81 |
| Administrative Secretary | 113.24 |
| Asst Dir of Planning and Building | 205.37 |
| Auto CAED/GIS Tech | 132.34 |
| --- | --- |
| Dir of Planning and Building | 266.10 |
| Ofce Assistant III/Ofce Tech | 105.24 |
| Ofce Supervisor II | 132.31 |
| Permit Specialist | 141.08 |
| Planner I | 118.49 |
| Planner II/III | 138.52 |
| Planner IV | 170.54 |
| Planning Division Manager | 172.06 |
6.
Overtime, Night, Expedited or Holiday Work. The rate for any overtime, night, expedited or holiday work shall be at one hundred fifty (150) percent of above listed rates. Mileage will be charged at the current County rate and is not included in the above hourly rates.
7.
Fee for Lot Line Adjustment. The fee for a Lot Line Adjustment applies when there are less than four parcels and the Lot Line Adjustment starts and ends with the same amount of parcels. No other Lot Line Adjustments are allowed.
8.
Billing Protocol. When billing, the department shall calculate all staff time at the fully burdened rate. The department shall then add the total cost of all materials, including advertising, for a subtotal amount. The department shall add a fifteen-percent charge to the subtotal amount to offset the cost of the following: permit tracking system; monitoring program; file storage costs; and office space/maintenance costs.
[*-1]
Please note that this fee is not used as part of any T and M billing. If you have paid this fee along with a deposit for a special application, only the deposit amount is used as a credit against which costs are applied.
(Amended during 2008 codification; Ord. 1386(part), 2004; Ord. 1355, § 2(part), 2002)
(Ord. No. 1587, §§ 1, 2, 12-5-23)
90901.10 - Other fee(s). ¶
The schedule of fees contained in this division constitutes the adopted fees and any other fees specified within the codified ordinances of Imperial County if in conflict with this schedule, shall be null and void.
(Ord. 1386 (part), 2004: Ord. 1355 § 2 (part), 2002)
90901.11 - Use/cost of consultants. ¶
The planning and development services department, at the discretion of the director, may use or employ outside independent consultants to assist in processing applications, conduct special studies or provide expertise not available within the department. The cost for such consultants shall be a charge against the project and not against the county general fund unless first approved by the board or allocated within the adopted budget.
The billing for consultants shall be the same as the billing for staff time and to the extent possible the charges shall be similar.
(Amended during 2008 codification; Ord. 1386 (part), 2004: Ord. 1355 § 2 (part), 2002)
90901.12 - NSF checks. ¶
If the department receives payment in the form of a check and the check is not redeemable, the department shall charge a re-filing fee equal to double the original amount. All processing and time frames shall be held in abeyance until such time as the full amount has been deposited. The director may waive this provision only if it is determined that the check was non-redeemable through no fault of the applicant. This requires written proof from the bank.
(Ord. 1386 (part), 2004: Ord. 1355 § 2 (part), 2002)
90901.13 - Fee refund. ¶
Refund of fees collected shall be as provided by the applicable sections within this title. Refunds for T/M projects shall deduct all costs incurred to date plus ten percent (10%) overhead. Refunds shall be processed in accordance with the auditor's guidelines, procedures or instructions.
(Ord. 1386 (part), 2004: Ord. 1355 § 2 (part), 2002)