The San Diego County Board of Supervisors Wednesday gave the green light to waiving impact and permit fees for certain types of development, as a way to promote more affordable housing.
By a 4-0 vote — Greg Cox was absent — the supervisors approved ordinances that will waive impact fees for transportation, park lands dedication and drainage, and permit fees for building and onsite wastewater systems.
According to the county, those moves will create incentives for people to build “granny flats,” or smaller homes, on property that already has single-family dwellings.
Under the five-year pilot program, the county will spend $11 million to subsidize fees, which vary depending on a home’s size, officials said.
The fee waivers will span a five-year trial period, until Jan. 9, 2024.
Supervisor Dianne Jacob described the vote on fee waivers as “a big deal.”
“We talk about need for affordable housing, but this is the quickest way to get there,” Jacob said. “If we get the word out to property owners, this will act as an incentive for them to do more with their land.”
— City News Service
