On October 24, 2023, Camden City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2023-27 implementing development impact fees on new construction permits within the City of Camden. Beginning October 25, 2023, the City began collecting impact fees for the following categories:
• Fire Protection
• Municipal Facilities and Equipment
• Parks and Recreation (only charged for residential projects)
Development impact fees are one-time fees that are be collected at the time a building permit is issued. Impact fees are determined for each project based on a formula contained within the impact fee ordinance. The basis for each fee calculation includes: the number of proposed units; persons per household (residential) or employee space ratio (commercial); the replacement cost for each fee category; and any discount rate adopted by City Council. As of October 24, 2023, those discount rates are 20% for Parks & Recreation, 20% for Fire Protection, and 20% for Municipal Facilities & Equipment.
Consistent with state law, the impact fee ordinance authorizes exemptions for the following types of construction projects: rebuilding, remodeling, repairing or replacing an existing structure (provided there is no increase in the number of service units); residential additions; construction trailers and temporary offices; neighborhood amenities (playgrounds, tennis courts, clubhouses, etc.), volunteer fire stations, elementary schools, middle schools, secondary schools, and affordable housing units which meet minimum eligibility requirements.
Impact fees are based upon generally accepted industry criteria, including Census Bureau and ITE data. In instances where an applicant contends that the assumptions included within the impact fee ordinance are not accurate for the intended use, the ordinance allows an applicant to perform an independent fee calculation (at the applicant’s expense). The ordinance also authorizes credit agreements for approved monetary or in-kind contributions.
Development Impact Fee Documents
Development Impact Fee Schedule
Development Impact Fee Report
Housing Affordability Analysis
Development Impact Fee Ordinance
Capital Improvement Plan