City of Spokane

Spokane Municipal Code

***Note: Many local criminal codes can now be located under Chapter 10.60 SMC while others are now cited under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), which was incorporated into the municipal code in 2022. (See SMC 10.58.010). Code Enforcement, including Noise Control and Animal Regulations are located in Chapters 10.62 through 10.74.

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Title 13
Chapter 13.08
Section 13.08.250
 

Title 13 Public Utilities and Services

Chapter 13.08 Utility Cost Recovery Methods

Article II. Special Connection Charges (formerly 13.03.0702 to 13.03.0712)

Section 13.08.250 Special Connection Charge – Computation
  1. Determination by Director of Engineering Services.

The special connection charge imposed pursuant to this chapter is paid into the sewer or water fund, as applicable and is computed based on the areas to be served by the water or sewer, which determination is made by the Director of Engineering Services. Notwithstanding the methods of computing the special connection charge provided below, the City may use any other method or combination of methods to compute special connection charges which may be deemed to most fairly reflect the sewer service to the properties subject to the special connection charge. The amount may be computed as follows:

    1. Method I:  Lineal Front Footage – Square Footage.
      1. Lateral Lines.

The lineal feet of frontage of property to be served by the water or sewer, as determined by the director of engineering services, is multiplied by the average cost per front foot of lateral line constructed in the City for the year in which the water or sewer to which the property is to be connected was constructed and accepted.

      1. Trunk/Distribution/Transmission Lines.

The number of square feet of property to be served, as determined by the director of engineering services, is multiplied by the cost per square foot of service area (in the year of actual construction) of the trunk/distribution/transmission line to which a connection is being made.

    1. Method II:  Actual Cost.

For those specifically identified projects (as determined by the Director of Engineering Services) where the computation of special connection charges for trunk/distribution/transmission line can be determined based on actual cost and where the City can identify at the outset of the project the service area and those properties for which the water or sewer facilities have been constructed, the special connection charge may be computed as follows:

      1. Trunk/Distribution/Transmission Lines.

The trunk service area is divided generally into those zones which are immediately serviceable by the trunk (with the addition of lateral lines) and those zones which are not serviceable by the existing trunk without an extension or sub line (plus the necessary laterals). Each separate lot, tract, parcel or other property within the trunk/distribution/transmission liner service area is divided into those zones, as determined by the director of engineering services.

        1. Based upon the specific project cost, the Director of Engineering Services computes an estimated cost of completing the trunk/transmission/distribution system necessary to serve the entire service area.
        1. A cost per acre is then computed for the entire service area and this cost is the basis for special connection charges within the zone receiving immediate trunk/distribution/transmission line service from the completed project.
        1. The special connection charges outside the immediately serviceable zone are based upon the average cost per acre after the charges for the immediately serviceable zone are deducted from the specific project costs.
      1. Lateral Service in Conjunction with Trunk/Distribution/Transmission Service.

Where lateral service is provided together with trunk line service (i.e., a side water or sewer connecting directly into the trunk/distribution/transmission line), a lateral service fee may be charged as a part of the special connection fee.

        1. This lateral fee is determined by multiplying the average cost, per square foot of area served, of lateral lines constructed and accepted in the City in the year in which the water or sewer being connected to was constructed and accepted, by the area being served by the new connection.
  1. Annual Average.

The Director of Engineering Services is authorized to annually compute and establish the average cost per area for lateral and trunk/distribution/transmission lines completed by  the City during the previous calendar year, which average assessment is used in computing the special connection charge imposed under this section.

    1. The Director of Engineering Services is also authorized to compute and establish the special connection charges based on actual construction costs for lateral and trunk/distribution/transmission lines, constituting special projects for which properties subject to the special connection charge can be identified at the outset of the project.
    1. Such actual costs and the manner in which the special connection charges will be computed are determined by the Director of Engineering Services upon completion and acceptance of the project by the City.
    1. Such special projects shall be designated by project name and shall conform to the notice requirements of SMC 13.08.220.
    1. A copy of the rates for computation of special connection charges is delivered and filed with the city clerk. Annual rate computations based on average costs are filed with the city clerk each year.

Date Passed: Monday, March 31, 2025

Effective Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025

ORD C36654 Section 16