Spokane to reinstate permit fees for solar panel, EV charger installations

The City of Spokane will reinstate permit and inspection fees later this year for installation of solar energy systems and charging stations for electric vehicles.

On Monday, city council members unanimously voted to rescind a fee waiver that’s been in place since March 2018. At the time, eliminating the fees was intended to encourage renewable energy development by residents.

But in recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of permit requests for such systems. In 2019, 73 solar permits were issued by the city. By 2022, the number had grown to 605 permits and 435 had been issued through October of last year.

Additionally, ownership of electric vehicles – accompanied by installation of personal charging stations – has also grown exponentially.

The increased, but uncompensated, workload has placed a fiscal burden on the city’s development services center and fire department, according to a summary document.

With the council’s adoption of the amended ordinance, the fee waiver will expire on June 30. For residential solar energy systems, the city will then charge a $75 plan review fee and $150 inspection fee that combines both building and electrical permits.

The ordinance also establishes a new “energy storage system fee” for systems that may include batteries and require ventilation, protection from vehicle impacts, and an Underwriter Laboratories (UL) listing.

City staff have also been working to incorporate a web-based permitting application called SolarApp+ to provide a simplified review process for residential installations. When operational, builders and contractors can apply directly to SolarApp+ for a $25 plan review that would be entered into the city’s permit system and allow proceeding to the inspection phase.

“We’ve been working on this awhile,” said Jonathan Bingle, who co-sponsored the ordinance change with fellow councilman Michael Cathcart.

The city wants to continue encouraging a transition to cleaner, renewable energy, said Bingle, but reinstating permitting fees will provide an estimated $100,000 a year to offset inspection costs. Bingle said the SolarApp+ technology could provide a “win-win” for both the city and applicants by reducing costs while expediting plan reviews.

During public testimony, the proposals were supported by Kelly Lotze, government affairs coordinator for the Spokane Home Builders Association, and Larry Luton, who chairs a city subcommittee on sustainability but was representing himself. “I’m pleased the council is poised to take action,” said Luton.

One local builder told the council that the city’s fees had “always been reasonable” and there was a need for proper inspection of electrical installations.

“This is important,” Cathcart agreed, saying some solar panel installers had not done work properly. While acknowledging he doesn’t necessarily appreciate increasing city fees, Cathcart indicated that rescinding the waiver was appropriate and the fees were nominal.