BILL REQ. #:  H-1027.1 

Read first time 01/23/09.   Referred to Committee on Local Government & Housing.

     AN ACT Relating to permit and inspection fees for new farm structures; amending RCW 19.27.100; adding a new section to chapter 19.27 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 36.40 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   (1) The legislature finds that Oregon does not charge any fees for their farm structures and there is a need for farmers in Washington to have competitive parity with our neighboring state.
     (2) In some instances, local governments are charging more for the permit fee than it takes to buy the materials and construction of farm structures, like a pole barn. Local governments benefit from the improvements by having a new source of property tax revenue by the creation of the new structure that generates revenues for many years.
     (3) The legislature intends that first-year taxes paid on the new farm structure be used to offset any permit and inspection fees the county planning department would charge.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 19.27 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Counties may not impose permit fees or inspection charges for the construction or remodel of agricultural structures.
     (2) For purposes of this section and section 3 of this act, "agricultural structure" means a structure designed and constructed to house farm implements, hay, grain, poultry, livestock, or other horticultural products. This structure may not be:
     (a) A place of human habitation;
     (b) A place of employment where agricultural products are processed, treated, or packaged;
     (c) A place used by the public;
     (d) A climate controlled building; or
     (e) A structure used for purposes other than growing plants in which ten or more persons are present at any one time.

Sec. 3   RCW 19.27.100 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 8 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     Except as provided in section 2 of this act, nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a city, town, or county of the state from imposing fees different from those set forth in the state building code.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   A new section is added to chapter 36.40 RCW to read as follows:
     An amount equal to any reduction in revenue resulting from the agricultural structure permit fee and inspection charge exemptions specified in section 2 of this act must be allocated from the county general levy imposed on the agricultural structure to the county planning department.