Developer Fee Information
Effective July 9, 2024
The California State Allocation Board, at it's January 2024 meeting, authorized an increase in Level 1 school impact (developer) fees, and was approved by Poway Unified School District’s Board of Education on May 9, 2024.
With the increase in Level 1 fee exceeding the approved Level 2 fee, the District will suspend the collection of Level 2 fees until a new School Facilities Needs Analysis is prepared to justify its collection.
Level 1 (developer fees)
Education Code Section 17620 authorizes the governing board of a school district to levy school fees to offset the impacts to school facilities from new residential and commercial/industrial construction and reconstruction.
Government Code Section 66001 (g) allows School Fees to include the costs attributable to the increased demand for public facilities reasonably related to the development project(s) in which the fee is imposed in order to (1) refurbish existing facilities to maintain the existing level of service or (2) achieve an adopted level of service that is consistent with the general plan.
In 2024 the School District conducted a Long-Range Facilities Master Plan 2024 Update (“2024 Plan”) identifying certain capital improvements and modernization needs and preliminary cost estimates for the identified projects. The total budgeted cost of the facilities projects outlined in the 2024 Plan was $1,843,387,746 in 2024 dollars.
Payment of Developer Fees
Shall be in the form of check only made payable to "Poway Unified School District (PUSD)". Payments received for the incorrect amount or improper form payment will not be accepted.
The District will also need a copy of the "School Fee Form" (City of Poway), "Required Agency Clearance Form" (County of San Diego) or "School Charge Approval Form" (City of San Diego) in order to prepare your Certificate of Compliance. Please email a copy of the letter to [email protected] in advance or bring it with you to avoid delay in preparing your certificate. Planning will not be able to prepare your document without a form from your respective agency.
Note: Fees subject to change at any time, therefore, please contact our office to verify current rates prior to securing school fee payments.
Developer Fee Schedule (Construction within District Boundaries)
Fee Rates effective July 9, 2024
Commercial, Industrial & Federally Qualified Senior Housing
$.84/sq. ft for all commercial / industrial assessable area
Residential without Mitigation Agreement
$5.17/SF will be assessed on new residential construction and additions with assessable area greater than 500 square feet. No fees are due for residential additions with 500 square feet or less of assessable area.
Residential with Mitigation Agreement
This rate is determined by the terms of the Mitigation Agreement. These Agreements are established in lieu of the Level 2 or Level 3 fees.
Please contact our office for fee amounts.
In accordance with Resolution 04-2002, passed at the July 30, 2001 School Board meeting, the Certificate of Compliance issued by the Poway Unified School District shall be valid for a period of thirty (30) calendar days from the date of issuance. If the project applicant is unable to obtain a building permit from the City or County due to circumstances beyond reasonable control, the project applicant may submit to the District, a written extension request containing documentation explaining the circumstances preventing the issuance of a building permit. No more than two (2), thirty (30) calendar day extensions will be considered. The District, at the District’s sole discretion, may grant any such extension.