Planning Department Administrative Review Fee Schedule - Please review this document for more information about the fee schedule. 

Recreation Exaction Fee

Eastern District Fee: $926.00 per Lot
Western District Fee: $548.00 per Lot 

Fees Are Due Prior to Approval of Final Plat

Recreation Exaction Fee District Map

What does the recreation fee cover?  Although the Planning Department collects this fee, the Chatham County Parks & Recreation Department administers the money that is collected, which is restricted to the purchase of land for parks and recreation. For information on how the fees collected are used, contact the Chatham County Parks & Recreation Department at 919-545-8550. 

When do you pay a recreation fee? When a parcel of land is being subdivided into more lots, even if just one additional lot, the recreation fee applies. For a "family subdivision" of property, this fee generally does not apply. Once the subdivision of land is approved, this fee with all other applicable fees will be required to be paid to the Planning Department.

NOTE: The county's Subdivision Ordinance defines a family subdivision as follows: "Family subdivision means one or more divisions of a tract of land:

(a)  To convey the resulting parcels, with the exception of parcels retained by the grantor, to a relative or relatives of direct lineage, or to the surviving spouse, if any, of any deceased lineal descendent, as a gift for nominal consideration, but only if no more than one parcel from each tract is conveyed by the grantor to any one relative or such relative's surviving spouse; or

(b) To divide the land from a common ancestor among tenants common, all of whom inherited by intestacy or will.

This provision shall apply only where the grantor or decendent already owned the land so divided upon the effective date of this ordinance." 

How is the recreation fee calculated? The fee amount is based on the value of a "primary building site," according to the Chatham County Tax Office. These values are averaged for the eastern and western halves of the county. To calculate the fee, take the average value of the primary building site, divide by 35 (or 1/35 of land value per the Tax Office) and multiply that figure by the number of lots being created.  The fee per lot is currently $926 in the eastern district and $548 in the western district.

Education Facilities Impact Fee

When does the school impact fee apply?  A school impact fee is required on all new residential development where an existing residence is not being replaced. This fee is paid at the time the building or mobile home permit is obtained from the Central Permitting Office.

Where do the monies collected for the school impact fee go?  The fee is restricted by law to the construction of new school facilities related to growth.

What are the schools using this money for? The school impact fee is collected for school’s capital improvements such as additions, new buildings, or converting existing buildings into new public school space.

County Ordinance: Education Facilities Impact Fee

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