Commissioners adopted Resolution 2466a, marking the first broad update to ACHD’s development-related fees in eight years. 

The changes follow an independent fee study conducted by a consultant, which found ACHD was under-recovering costs for development-related services by at least $2 million annually. Following an extensive public involvement process, staff presented the alternative resolution reflecting feedback received from the development community. The alternative resolution includes more moderate increases to certain permitting fees and penalties. 

Updated fees include increased costs for traffic impact study reviews, plan and plat reviews, traffic control reviews, and other development-related services. The changes are intended to better align fees with the actual cost of staff time and resources required to process applications and reviews. 

“The new fees ensure taxpayers are not subsidizing work that primarily benefits developers,” said Miranda Gold, ACHD Commission President. “These updates are intended to encourage applicants to submit complete and accurate plans the first time, while better aligning fees with the staff time required to process them.” 

The updated fee schedule also increases penalties for violations within ACHD’s right of way, including working without a permit, incomplete traffic control setup, or unacceptable debris or material on a construction site or within the right of way. The increased penalties are intended to discourage violations and improve compliance. 

Moving forward, ACHD plans to conduct an internal review of development-related fees every two years to evaluate and adjust costs as necessary and avoid larger increases in the future. 

Resolution 2466a was adopted following a public comment period and is part of ACHD’s broader effort to review and modernize policies across the agency. The updated fees will go into effect on October 1.