Regional Levee DIF

Regional Levee Development Impact Fee (Regional Levee DIF)

Why a Regional Levee Development Impact Fee?

Since 2010, more than $500M has been invested to improve levees along the west bank of the Feather River to protect more than 45,000 properties within the Sutter Basin. Although much of the work protecting the urban areas has been completed, significant work must be done to improve flood protection for properties south of Yuba City. Without these improvements, additional development would not be allowed.

The total estimated cost for SBFCA’s levee improvement program is $624M. SBFCA’s financing plan for these improvements includes the following funding sources:

• State and federal funding
• Local property assessments and bonds
• Regional Levee Development Impact Fee

The bulk of program costs – about $604M – is funded through state and federal grants, assessment revenues and bonds. The remaining $21M is to come from fees charged to development. This is the associated cost for “buying into” the improved flood protection system. Revenues will be used to advance levee improvements. It will also ensure continued compliance with state and federal regulations for levels of protection that are required for future development.

How does it work?

In accordance with state law, a nexus study was prepared to determine the fee rates by land use type. The fee is charged on a one-time basis on all development within the Sutter Basin prior to finalizing a building permit. Rates are calculated on a per square foot basis and are consistent among all land use agencies. Except for the City of Live Oak, SBFCA’s Regional Levee Development Impact Fee is payable to and collected by the land use agencies. The City of Live Oak requires that developers pay the fee directly to SBFCA.

The City of Live Oak building permit applicants can click HERE for more information.

How do I calculate the fee?

The fee rate varies by land use type.  Each development project is classified into one of four land use categories: Single Family Residential, Multi-Family Residential, Commercial, or Industrial.  The steps for calculating the fee are as follows:

1.  Determine the land use category fee rate based on the characteristics of the development and the descriptions of the land use categories found within the Nexus Study.
2.  Determine the total square footage of development.  The process for determining the applicable square footage is found within the Nexus Study.
3.  Determine the total fee by multiplying the fee rate from Step 1 and the square footage from Step 2.

The result is the fee applicable to the new development project.

Specific exemptions and variations in the method of payment of the fee are further discussed within the Nexus Study.

Additional Resources

City of Live Oak building permit applicants click HERE.