PORT ORCHARD — Building in the city would cost more starting Dec. 1 under a fee increase the Port Orchard City Council is scheduled to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 10, alongside a five-year deal to have South Kitsap Fire and Rescue take over the city’s fire-code work.
The proposed fee schedule would:
- Raise development fees charged by the Community Development and Public Works departments 4% across the board.
- Double the technology fee charged on each permit, from $10 to $20.
- Add fire-code review fees, such as $93 for fire plan review on a single-family home permit and $279 for a residential subdivision or final plat.
City staff estimate the changes would bring in about $122,313 a year if permit volumes hold steady. Staff say Community Development and Public Works engineering costs are up 4% in the 2027 budget, permit software costs have more than doubled since the technology fee was adopted in 2015, and fire-code costs are rising. The council considered a larger 15.3% increase at its October work study session, according to the staff report.
The resolution states it is the council’s policy that permit applicants, not the general fund, cover the cost of processing permits and inspections. New fees would start Dec. 1, and current fees stay in place until then.
Fire code goes back to SKFR
Port Orchard has handled fire-code reviews and inspections itself since 2020, but the city no longer has certified fire-code staff, according to Community Development Director Nick Bond. The consultant the city has used for several months can inspect only one day a week, commutes from King County at city expense and spends winters out of state, unavailable from January until spring, Bond wrote.
Under the proposed interlocal agreement, South Kitsap Fire and Rescue would again become the city’s fire-code authority starting Jan. 1, handling fire permit reviews and inspections, special events, fireworks stands and displays, and fire and life-safety review of building permits, subdivisions and other development. The district would create and fill a fire marshal position before Jan. 1, with the work estimated at about 35 hours a week.
The city would pay 85% of the cost and the district 15%. Based on first-year staffing costs of about $223,055, the city’s share would be about $189,600 a year and the district’s about $33,500, according to the agreement. Annual increases are capped at 5% without the city’s consent. The agreement runs five years, and either side can end it with 180 days’ notice. Until January, the district can help on request at $93 an hour.
The fire district would try to get voluntary compliance with fire-code violations, but formal enforcement, fines and penalties would remain with the city.
Also on the agenda
The consent agenda includes a public defense contract with LaCross Law and agreements with Kitsap County for jail and juvenile detention services. In a discussion item with no action planned, the council will review the city’s annual impact fee report, which shows $5.3 million in park impact fees and $8.5 million in transportation impact fees on hand at the end of 2025.
The council meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at City Hall, 216 Prospect St., and on Zoom (meeting ID 892 9467 5108, call-in 253-215-8782). Comments on agenda items are taken at the start of the meeting, three minutes per person.
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