(The Center Square) – The City of Spokane will reinstate permit and inspection fees later this year for installation of solar energy systems and charging stations for electric vehicles.
On Monday, city council members unanimously voted to rescind a fee waiver that’s been in place since March 2018. At the time, eliminating the fees was intended to encourage renewable energy development by residents.
But in recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of permit requests for such systems. In 2019, 73 solar permits were issued by the city. By 2022, the number had grown to 605 permits and 435 had been issued through October of last year.
Additionally, ownership of electric vehicles – accompanied by installation of personal charging stations – has also grown exponentially.
The increased, but uncompensated, workload has placed a fiscal burden on the city’s development services center and fire department, according to a summary document.
With the council’s adoption of the amended ordinance, the fee waiver will expire on June 30. For residential solar energy systems, the city will then charge a $75 plan review fee and $150 inspection fee that combines both building and electrical permits.