This is the third article in a three-part series on Clark County’s 2025 comprehensive plan update. Part 1 covers urban growth area expansions and agricultural land; Part 2 covers rezoning, overlays, and code changes; and Part 3 covers impact fees, new policies, and next steps.
On October 13, 2026, the Clark County Council adopted Ordinance 2026-10-01, completing the county’s 2025 periodic update to its Comprehensive Growth Management Plan. Most of the ordinance took effect October 23, 2026.
Higher impact fees beginning November 12
New school, fire, and traffic impact fees take effect November 12, 2026. These fees are intended to address increased community needs created by new development. Traffic impact fees, calculated per average daily trip (ADT), will increase as follows:
The ordinance updates school impact fees in five districts (fees in other districts are unchanged):
Woodland School District fees phase in over three years, for both single-family and multifamily units: $8,222.97 on November 12, 2026; $9,384.45 on November 12, 2027; and $10,545.93 on November 12, 2028. Accessory dwelling unit fees in that district phase in from $2,055.74 to $2,636.48.
New fire impact fees apply in Fire Districts 3, 6, and 10 and in Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue, ranging from $654 to $2,284.50 per single-family unit and from $0.63 to $1.62 per square foot for nonresidential development.
Automatic annual increases
Impact fees will also rise automatically. Amended CCC 40.630.010 allows a capital facilities plan to provide for one inflation adjustment per calendar year, based on the index’s January issue and effective March 1, without further Council action. Rates cannot increase for more than three consecutive years without Council review. County staff also projected a $554 million shortfall over the 20-year planning period in funding for needed transportation improvements, which may put further pressure on traffic impact fees.
New housing and climate policies
The plan adds a new Climate Element required by House Bill 1181, including a policy to work with Clark Public Utilities and fire districts on regulations that welcome grid-scale batteries. The Climate Element’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction subelement takes effect only when the Washington State Department of Commerce approves it.
The Housing Element now calls for waiving permit fees for qualifying buyers at 80 to 100 percent of area median income who hold their homes for five years, using preapproved plans to shorten review, implementing outcome-based approvals for site development, and establishing a Housing Commission. The Council also directed the county to form a Mineral Resources Commission and begin work on a Public Benefit Rating System. These policies will shape future code amendments, and developers should watch for implementing ordinances.
Next steps for property owners and developers
- Budget for higher impact fees and annual automatic increases. Impact fees are generally due when the building permit issues, so projects expecting permits after November 12, 2026, should plan for the new rates.
- Confirm your property’s designation, zoning, and any overlay on the adopted maps (see Part 2).
- If your property is in a UGA expansion area, watch for appeals to the Growth Management Hearings Board (see Part 1).
- Watch implementation work in 2027, including the countywide transfer of development rights program and housing incentive programs.
Miller Nash’s real estate and land use team is following the county’s implementation of the update. If you have questions about how the update affects your property or project, please contact us.
This article is provided for informational purposes only—it does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship between the firm and the reader. Readers should consult legal counsel before taking action relating to the subject matter of this article.
