Deep Green Incentive Program (DGIP)

The Deep Green Incentive Program encourages the highest standard for green building within the city to address greenhouse gas emissions from new buildings. For a helpful overview of the program, see this informational handout.

This program took effect on April 25, 2017 via Ordinance No. 760 and was amended in April 2019 through Ordinance No. 839. It is a tiered program that offers various incentives to developments that achieve various green building certifications.

Two key incentives of this program are expedited permit review and waived/reduced building permit review fees.

Expedited Review

The following permits types are available for expedited permit review under the DGIP:

• Accessory Dwelling Unit
• Building Permit
• Clearing and Grading Permit
• Right-of-Way
• Site Development Permit

Other Type A land use actions, including Administrative Design Review (ADR), Deviation from Engineering Standards, Final Plat, Interpretation of Development Code, Lot Line Adjustment, Lot Merger, and Noise Variance, and any Type B, Type C or Legislative land use actions, are not available for expedited review.

Reduced Building Permit Review Fees

Fee waivers apply only to building permits, including any miscellaneous structure permits. Fees associated with site development permits, ROW permits, Fire permits, and Wastewater permits are not eligible for fee waivers. In addition, the Building Permit Fee, inspection fees, and impact fees are not eligible for fee waivers.

The following City-imposed application fees are eligible for fee waivers at the amount based on the corresponding Tier (e.g. 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%):

• Building Permit Plan Review Fee
• Building Revision Fee
• Mechanical/Plumbing Hourly Review Fee
• Civil Plan Review Fee
• Civil Review Fee – Hourly
• Civil Revision Fee
• Transportation Impact Analysis Review Fee
• SEPA Review Fee
• Zoning Site Review Fee – Initial
• Zoning Site Review Fee – Hourly
• Zoning Revision Fee
• Critical Area Review Fee – Initial
• Critical Area Review Fee – Hourly
• Tree Removal Review Fee
• Affordable Housing Review Fee
• Administrative Impact Fee Review Fee
• **Pre-Application Meeting Fee
  
  *Fees not identified above are not eligible for fee waivers under the DGIP and shall be assessed and paid pursuant to the adopted Fee Schedule and administrative policies.
  
  ** Projects pursuing Tier 1 shall pay required pre-application fees. Those developments which progress and qualify for Tier 1 are eligible for a credit in the amount of the portions of pre-application fees eligible to be waived upon filing a complete building permit application.