Impact Fees

Workers putting down asphalt on road.

U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause

A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.

April 18, 2024 - Los Angeles Times

Wood-frame houses under construction.

California Impact Fees Reach Supreme Court

An upcoming ruling could have a major impact on building and development in California and around the country.

October 4, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

View of downtown Seattle with Space Needle and mountains in background

Transportation Impact Fee Proposal Resurfaces in Seattle

Charging developers for improving local infrastructure impacted by their projects could boost transportation revenue, but permit applications in the city are slowing down.

September 18, 2023 - The Urbanist

Rainbow painted crosswalk next to green painted bike lane on Seattle, Washington street

Poorly Timed Arrival for Seattle’s Long-Awaited Transportation Fee

A proposed transportation impact fee, years in the making, is stirring a controversy at a time of declining permitting and construction activity in the city of Seattle.

April 24, 2023 - The Urbanist

A map of the MARTA rail system highlighting the Arts Center Station.

Atlanta Street Extension Project Will Benefit Transit Access

Plans to extend 15th Street in Midtown Atlanta are designed to improve access to the Arts Center MARTA station.

September 6, 2022 - Urbanize Atlanta

Loking down Flagler Street, Downtown Miami, Florida

Miami Funds Protected Bike Lanes With E-Scooter Fees

The city, which has some of the nation's most dangerous streets for pedestrians and cyclists, is installing 3 miles of new bike lanes and pedestrian ramps on some of its busiest downtown corridors.

June 18, 2021 - Smart Cities Dive

San Diego Waterfront

San Diego Planners Want to Reform Park Funding System

The San Diego Planning Department wants to change the system that currently funds improvements to public amenities, facing considerations about the implementation and legality of the proposed alternative.

July 16, 2020 - Voice of San Diego

residential Neighborhood

McMimpact Fee Proposed

Should there be an extra fee for property owners who tear down an existing single-family home and replace it with a much larger, more expensive single-family home?

October 17, 2019 - WAMU

Housing Construction

Report: Impact Fees Add 18 Percent to the Cost of Housing in California

Development impact fees in California triple the national average. A bill in the State Legislature would reform the state's development fees, as one measure in an effort to build more housing in the state.

August 11, 2019 - The Mercury News

High Rise Construction

Transportation Impact Fee Finally on the Table in Seattle

The city of Seattle is the largest jurisdiction in the state of Washington that passes on its legal opportunity to implement a transportation impact fee on new development.

March 24, 2019 - The Urbanist

Boston Housing

Boston Mayor's Proposal Would Allow More Increases in City Linkage Fees

Developers pay impact fees to fund affordable housing and job programs, but the mayor wants the city to have more discretion around changing the requirements.

January 14, 2019 - The Boston Globe

Manitoba

Infill Development Still a Tricky Proposition

Impact fess, also known as growth fees, are creating controversy in the Canadian city of Winnpeg, even as the city prepares new infill development guidelines to quell development controversies in older neighborhoods.

January 10, 2019 - CBC

Rental Construction

How Did Cities Boost Affordable Housing in 2017?

Affordability is elusive in many of America's cities, but some of them made concrete efforts to fight that trend in 2017.

January 18, 2018 - Next City

Fear of Density Faulted for Lack of Open Spaces in Dallas

Planners and residents are concerned about the lack of green space requirements in the booming area of Uptown in Dallas. Instead of delivering amenities, some say, developers are often engaged in battles over density.

August 7, 2014 - Dallas News

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