Council Report - Development Services

Fees and Charges Report 
Date: 
March 5, 2026 
To: 
Audit, Finance, and Enterprise Committee 
Through: 
Marc Heirshberg, Assistant City Manager 
From: 
Nana Appiah, Development Services Director 
Susan Lu, Fiscal Analyst 
Subject: 
Development Services Department Update to Schedule of Fees and 
Charges, Citywide 
Purpose and Recommendation 
The purpose of this report is to reorganize the Development Services Fees and Charges 
Schedule to enhance clarity, align terminology with the current Zoning Ordinance, and 
revise the introduce fees to more accurately reflect the cost of services while ensuring 
transparency and affordability.  If approved by City Council, the revised Fees and Charges 
will take effect on July 1, 2026. 
Background 
The Development Services Department consists of eight divisions:  Historic Preservation 
and Archeology, Planning, Building Division, Customer Service and Permitting, Civil Plan 
Review, Development Agreements Management and Administration, Fiscal and Data 
Management, and General Administration. Fees are charged for land development 
processes administered by the Development Services Department.  Fees are reviewed 
regularly to ensure description clarity and that costs accurately reflect services provided 
Discussion 
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (Exhibit A) 
The Development Services Department is proposing the following fee changes: 
1. Remove Code Compliance Fee Schedule section.
Code Compliance was previously a division within the Development Services 
Department.  In Fiscal Year (FY) 2021/22, the division was restructured into a 
standalone department.  All fines listed under the Code Compliance section of the Fee 
Schedule are administered by the Code Compliance Department.  To reduce 
confusion and improve transparency, the Code Compliance Fee Schedule will be 
removed from the Development Services Department fee schedule.  A separate Code 
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Compliance Fee Schedule will be established to include all Code Compliance–related 
fees and charges. No Fiscal Impact. 
PLANNING SERVICE FEES (Exhibit B) 
The Development Services Department is proposing the following description 
modifications:  
1. Add new “Employment Opportunity District” fee.
The proposed addition of the “Employment Opportunity District” fee is a type of
rezoning fee.  The department currently does not collect fees for Employment
Opportunity (EO) district rezoning plan reviews by staff.  EO District plans require
more detailed reviews, similar to the Infill Development District 2.   Addition of the
fee is to recover cost of providing the staff review.
The current Development Services Department Planning Services fees are
structured by the approval bodies required for each application type, such as
various Planning Boards.  The proposed updates reorganize the fees by service
category, making them easier for customers to understand.  All listed fees pertain
to rezoning. Fiscal Impact is estimated at $5,000.
2. Rename “Site Plan Review/Site Plan Modification” to “Development Plan
Review/Development Plan Modification.”
The proposed update reflects recent changes to the process which combines the
Site Plan Review and Design Review processes. No Fiscal Impact.
3. Rename “Combined Rezoning & Site Plan Review/ Site Plan Modification” to
“Combined Rezoning & Combined Rezoning & Development Plan
Review/Development Plan Modification.”
The proposed update to the name of the combined services fee will standardize
language used to refer to site plans and other combined fees’ names. No Fiscal
Impact.
4. Rename “Combined Development Incentive Permit & Site Plan Review/Site Plan
Modification” to “Combined Development Incentive Permit & Development Plan
Review/Development Plan Modification.”
The proposed update to the name of the combined services fee will standardize
language used to refer to site plans as development plans and other combined
fees’ names. No Fiscal Impact.
5. Increase fees and rename “Combined Substantial Conformance Improvement
Permit & Site Plan Review/Site Plan Modification” to “Combined Substantial
Conformance Improvement Permit & Development Plan Review/Development
Plan Modification”.
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This fee consolidates Substantial Conformance Improvement Permit with the 
Development Plan Review/Development Plan Modification services.  The 
proposed $1,000 increase in the base fee across all districts reflects the increase 
to the Development Plan Review/Development Plan Modification fee.  Currently, 
the fees are charged separately.  Combined, the total fee charged equals the 
new rate, therefore this fee update does not have a financial impact. 
The proposed update to the name of the combined services fee will standardize 
language used to refer to site plans as development plans and other combined 
fees’ names. 
6. Remove “Design Review Board” fee categories.
The current Development Services Department Planning Services fees are
structured by the approval bodies required for each application type, such as
various Planning Boards.  The proposed update removes all Design Review
Board related fees as plans can be reviewed administratively, per Planning
Ordinance text amendments.  All fees under this category have been relocated to
other appropriate fee categories.  The reorganization makes fees easier for
customers to understand. No Fiscal Impact.
7. Remove “Design Review Application” fee.
Per updated Planning Ordinance text amendments, this service is no longer
applicable as this review can be done administratively.  Applicable fees are listed
under “Administrative Review” fee category. No Fiscal Impact.
8. Remove “Design Review Application Submitted concurrently with a Rezoning or
Site Plan Review Application” fee.
The proposed update will eliminate a fee that is obsolete.  This service is
charged with “Development Plan Review/Development Plan Modification”. No
Fiscal Impact.
9. Increase fee to match other fees associated with “Administrative Review” fees
and rename removing the word “Fee” from “Administrative Use Permit”.
The proposed increase in the Administrative Use Permit fee from $25 to $648 is
intended to standardize the fee for all administratively reviewed applications. No
Fiscal Impact.
10. Add a “Map of Dedication” fee.
Map of Dedication were previously processed through the City’s Real Estate
Office and approved by City Council.  Since the approval of the Land Division
text amendments, Maps of Dedication are now administratively approved by
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Planning Division through the Land Division review process.  The proposed 
addition of the fee of $100 will recover costs associated with the service provided 
by the Planning Division. Fiscal Impact is estimated at $500. 
11. Remove “Group Home” header, rename the “Group Home Registration Fee” to
“Community Residence Registration Fee”, and rename “Annual Renewal” fee to
“Community Residence Annual Renewal”.
The proposed update will allow terms within the Fees and Charges Schedule to
mirror language used within City Ordinances. No Fiscal Impact.
12. Add “Planning Resubmittal” fee
On occasion, applicants may resubmit plans for Planning Staff review multiple
times.  Adding Planning Resubmittal Fee will allow the City to recover the cost of
the additional services provided for plans resubmitted for fourth review and
beyond.  The proposed fee is to be twenty (20) percent of the original application
fee, calculated at the current fee schedule rates. Fiscal Impact is estimated at
$13,000
Methodology 
Development Services Department Fee Schedule was reviewed to ensure compliance 
with State reporting statues and to ensure that the language was clear for applicants and 
residents. 
Alternatives 
The alternative is no change to the Fee Schedule formatting, Code Compliance Fees and 
Charges schedule continues to be listed under the Development Services Department, 
Planning fees will not change, and new fees will not be added to the Fees and Charges 
Schedule to cover increased costs of providing additional services. 
Fiscal Impact 
Total estimated fiscal impact for Development Services is $0. 
Total estimated fiscal impact for Planning Services is $18,500 
Total estimated fiscal impact is $18,500. 
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Fees & Charges Schedule – Key 
Heading Configuration 
Schedule of Fees & 
Charges  
Department 
Contact Information 
HEADING 1 
HEADING 2 
Heading 3 
Description of Fee 
   Description of Fee 2 
Font Indications 
Font 
Font Indications 
Regular Font 
Existing fee or language 
Strikethrough 
Fee or language will be deleted 
from the Fee Schedule 
BOLD CAPS 
Language is being added to Fee 
Schedule 
Bold 
New or increased Fee Amount 
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Schedule of Fees & Charges 
Exhibit A – Code Compliance Department 
Department: Code Compliance 
Description of Service 
Current 
Fee Range 
Proposed 
Fee Range 
Unit 
Total Fiscal Impact 
Notes 
RE-INSPECTION FEES 
$0 Move from Development 
Services Department 
 NON-COMPLIANCE FEE 
  Fee assessed upon the second 
inspection if the violation 
remains 
$200.00 
$0 Move from Development 
Services Department 
 CONTINUED NON-
COMPLIANCE FEE 
  Fee assessed after a citation is 
issued for each inspection 
where the violation still remains 
$100.00 
$0 Move from Development 
Services Department 
COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT 
FEE 
  When complex circumstances 
make achieving compliance 
time-consuming, a compliance 
agreement can be entered into 
to establish the required 
actions and timeline 
$150.00 
Per 
Agreement 
$0 Move from Development 
Services Department. Revised 
language to clarify intent. 
RESIDENTIAL CIVIL VIOLATION 
FINES* 
Create a new category of civil 
violations (residential vs non-
residential) 
  FINE ASSESSED FOR 1st 
CIVIL VIOLATION 
$250.00-
$1,500.00 
PER 
VIOLATION 
$0 Move from Development 
Services Department 
  CONTINUED 2ND FINDING OF A 
PRIOR VIOLATION 
$350.00-
$2,500.00 
$350.00-
$2,000.00 
PER 
VIOLATION 
$0 Move from Development 
Services Department, Decrease 
max to $2,000 to match non-
residential 
  CONTINUED 3RD FINDING OF A 
PRIOR VIOLATION 
$500.00-
$2,500.00 
PER 
VIOLATION 
$0 Move from Development 
Services Department 
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Description of Service 
Current 
Fee Range 
Proposed 
Fee Range 
Unit 
Total Fiscal Impact 
Notes 
NON-RESIDENTIAL CIVIL 
VIOLATION FINES* 
PER 
VIOLATION 
Create new civil violation 
category to differentiate between 
residential and non-Residential 
properties 
  FINE ASSESSED FOR 1st 
CIVIL VIOLATION 
$750.00-
$1,500.00 
PER 
VIOLATION 
$130,000.00 Create new fine range for Non-
Residential civil violations 
  CONTINUED 2ND FINDING OF 
PRIOR VIOLATION 
$1,250.00-
$2,000.00 
PER 
VIOLATION 
$10,000.00 Create new fine range for Non-
Residential civil violations 
  CONTINUED 3RD FINDING OF 
PRIOR VIOLATION 
$1,750.00-
$2,500.00 
PER 
VIOLATION 
$10,000.00 Create new fine range for Non-
Residential civil violations 
 ADMINISTRATIVE LIEN FEE 
$20.00 
$60.00 
Lien 
$4,500.00 Increase fee to comply with 
current Maricopa County 
Recorder’s Office fees to place 
and release liens 
TITLE SEARCH FEE 
$650.00 
PER CASE 
$6,500.00 Create new fee to recover cost of 
staff research of owners or 
responsible parties’ properties in 
violation of City Code that are 
difficult to locate 
CERTIFIED MAIL FEE 
$15.00 
EACH 
$5,000.00 Create new fee to recover cost of 
certified mail to property owners 
*INCLUDING PROCESS
SERVER FEES AND ALL 
OTHER APPLICABLE FEES 
AND CHARGES 
Footnote to clarify miscellaneous 
fees that makes up Civil Violation 
fee 
Estimated Total Annual Fiscal Impact: 
$166,000.00 
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Schedule of Fees & Charges 
Exhibit B – Planning Services Fees 
Department: Development Services 
Description of Service 
Current Fee 
Range 
Proposed 
Fee Range 
Unit 
Total Fiscal 
Impact 
Notes 
Bonus Intensity Zone (BIZ) and 
Planned Area Development (PAD), 
and Age Specific Overlay 
  Rezoning to the Planned 
Community District 
    EMPLOYMENT 
OPPORTUNITY DISTRICT 
$4,800 
Plus 
$78/acre 
$5,000.00 Add this rezoning fee, currently 
not being collected for plan 
review 
Site DEVELOPMENT Plan 
Review/Site DEVELOPMENT Plan 
Modification 
$0 Renamed to combine the Site 
Plan Review and Design Review 
processes 
Combined Rezoning & Site 
DEVELOPMENT Plan Review/Site 
DEVELOPMENT Plan 
Modification  
$0 Renamed to specify type of plans 
reviewed 
Combined Development Incentive 
Permit & Site DEVELOPMENT 
Plan Review/Site Plan Modification 
$0 Renamed to specify type of plans 
reviewed 
Combined Substantial 
Conformance Improvement Permit 
& Site DEVELOPMENT Plan 
Review/Site DEVELOPMENT Plan 
Modification  
$0 Renamed to specify type of plans 
reviewed 
  All Downtown Districts 
$1,994.00 Plus 
$162/acre 
$2,994.00 
Plus 
$162/acre 
$0 Modified fee to reflect combined 
reviews.  This is currently 
charged as two separate fees that 
combines to new rate, no 
financial impact. 
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Description of Service 
Current Fee 
Range 
Proposed 
Fee Range 
Unit 
Total Fiscal 
Impact 
Notes 
  All Other Districts 
$2,400.00 
$3,400.00 
Plus 
$195.00/acre 
for first 100 
acres 
Plus 
$95.00/acre 
for 101-250 
acres 
Plus 
$60.00/acre 
for 251-500 
acres 
$25/acre for 
501 plus 
acres 
$0 Modified fee to reflect combined 
reviews.  This is currently 
charged as two separate fees that 
combines to new rate, no 
financial impact. 
Design Review Board 
$0 Remove fee category as it is no 
longer applicable  
  Design Review Application 
$1,800.00 
$0 This is a duplicate fee.  Fee is 
included in “Combined 
Development Plan/Development 
Plan Modification”. 
  Design Review Application 
Submitted concurrently with a 
Rezoning or Site Plan Review 
Application 
 $1,000.00 
$0 This fee is no longer applicable 
as review can be completed 
administratively.  Review fees are 
listed under “Administrative 
Review” fee categories 
  Administrative Use Permit Fee 
$25.00 
$648.00 
$0 Remove "Fee" from name and 
increase to standardize with other 
Administrative Review fees.  
Currently charge under 
Administrative Review fee 
therefore no financial impact. 
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Description of Service 
Current Fee 
Range 
Proposed 
Fee Range 
Unit 
Total Fiscal 
Impact 
Notes 
Subdivision Development Review 
  Administrative Review 
$648.00 
  MAP OF DEDICATION 
$100.00 
$500.00 Previously provided by City Real 
Estate Office with Council 
approval, now can be processed 
administratively as part of Land 
Division review process 
Group Home 
Delete header 
  Group Home COMMUNITY 
RESIDENCE Registration 
 $250.00 
$0 Renamed to match language 
used in City Ordinance 
  COMMUNITY RESIDENCE 
Annual Renewal 
 $50.00 
$0 Renamed to clarify type of 
renewal fee 
Other Fees and Charges 
  PLANNING RESUBMITTAL 
 4th and 5th 
RESUBMISSION - 
20% OF THE 
ORIGINAL PLAN 
REVIEW FEE, 
CALCULATED AT 
CURRENT FEE 
SCHEDULE 
RATES 
6th and 7th 
RESUBMISSION - 
20% OF THE 
ORIGINAL PLAN 
REVIEW FEE, 
CALCULATED AT 
CURRENT FEE 
SCHEDULE 
RATES  
$13,000.00 Added the fee to recover the cost 
of staff time and resources to 
review fourth and beyond 
resubmission 
Estimated Total Annual Fiscal Impact: 
$18,500.00 
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