Policy: Impact Fees
Impact fees are charges that local jurisdictions can require new housing developments to pay for updates to public infrastructure and parks. These fees, however, can end up undermining housing production and placing disproportionate burdens on housing types that serve seniors and smaller households.
Impact Fee Resources:
We recommend reading this Terner Center report, Assessing the Cost of Impact Fees on Affordable Housing: An Analysis of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Projects in California. It gives insight into how impact fees function in California and the risk of delaying or disincentivizing the production of affordable housing.
Advocacy: Impact Fees
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Public Comment and Letter: San Rafael impact fees
San Rafael is proposing a new Park Impact Fee of about $18,500 per unit. Many approved San Rafael projects have been unable to obtain financing. We are concerned that this will greatly restrict new housing development. On May 18, 2026, San Rafael had a Public Hearing on their Park Impact Fee Programs and Nexus Study….