(a)
Imposition of Fees.
(1)
Fees shall be imposed at the time of approval of any discretionary permit for development
or if the proposed development does not require any discretionary approvals, at the
time of any other permit required for the development to proceed, including but not
limited to building permits. The applicant pays according to the schedule of fees
in place on the date the fees are paid.
(2)
The schedule of fees in effect on the date the vesting tentative map or vesting tract
map for a development project is deemed complete determines the applicable fee imposed
on the subject map. If there is no vesting map, the applicant pays according to the
schedule of fees in place on the date the fees are paid.
(3)
When the applicant applies for a new permit following the expiration of a previously
issued permit for a development project for which fees were paid, another fee payment
is not required unless (1) the project has been changed in a way that alters its fire
facility development mitigation impact, or (2) the schedule of fees has been amended
during the interim. In this event, the applicant pays the appropriate increase or
decrease in the fees.
(4)
When fees are paid for a development project and the development project is abandoned
without any further action beyond the obtaining of a permit or an approval, the payor
shall be entitled to a refund of the fees paid.
(b)
Payment of Fee.
(1)
Except as set forth in subsection (b)(2) and (3) of this section, fire development
impact mitigation fees shall be paid on the date the final inspection is approved
or the date the certificate of occupancy is issued, whichever occurs first.
(2)
For residential development containing more than one dwelling unit, the developer
may request that the fees be paid in installments based on the phasing of their development
project. The decision whether to allow installment payments shall be determined by
the county fire chief. Any fee installment shall be paid at the time when the first
dwelling unit within each phase of development has received its final inspection.
(3)
The county may require the payment of fees at an earlier time if the fees will be
collected for public improvements of facilities for which an account has been established
and funds appropriated and for which the county has adopted a proposed construction
schedule or plan prior to final inspection, or the fees are to reimburse the local
agency for expenditures previously made.
(4)
If, for any reason, a permit or certificate of occupancy is issued without the payment
of the fee required by this article or without written evidence establishing that
the provisions of this article have otherwise been satisfied, the applicant shall
remain liable for payment of the fee to county fire.
