Question: In regard to increases in our development fees, can you list how various localities compare to our fees? (Councilman Chapman)
Response:
Development Fees Comparison (Source: Conversations with land use attorneys working in Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax):
Each jurisdiction calculates development fees very differently, so it’s extremely difficult to perform a direct comparison.
- Arlington recently updated its fee schedule with several fees increasing substantially, including one that escalated by 75%. The County charges a fee per residential unit count, hotel rooms or commercial square footage.
- Fairfax has generally lower fees, but the approvals take much longer. Applicants must separately seek approval from different departments unlike Alexandria’s streamlined process.
Historic Preservation Fees (Source: Comparison analysis done with 6 other jurisdictions in the region – Fairfax City, Falls Church, Prince William, Loudon, DC and Prince Georges):
Historic preservation fees in neighboring localities range from $0 to over $135, depending on the type and level of review requested.
Chart and Table comparison of Historic Preservation Application Fees across the Region:
