Construction Fees: for New Dams or Modifications to Existing Dams

Washington State Department of Ecology

Dam Safety

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Fees

Periodic Inspect. Fees

Any person intending to construct or modify any dam must submit plans, specifications, and a construction inspection plan for review and approval by Ecology. Construction permit fees are required for examining plans and specifications. Fees are charged on a per project basis.

New Construction Fees

For new construction, fees are based on the height of the dam and the length of the top of the dam (crest length). See the "Construction Fees Table".

Modifications to Existing Dam Fees

Modification fees are a percentage of the new dam construction fees, based on the feature to be modified and the extent of the modification (the “significant enlargement factor”*). See table below.

To determine your dam modification construction fees: use the Construction Fees Table and multiply by the enlargement factor in the table below.

Note that the fee for modifications to existing dams with significant impoundment enlargements can be no less than $1,400.

Dam Modifications Fees With/Without Enlargement *
Description Modification Fee as a Percentage of the Fee for New Dam Construction Features Modified	Modifications Involving Significant Enlargements*	Modifications Without Significant Enlargements*
Spillway(s)	35%	25%
Impounding Barrier	35%	25%
Appurtenant Works and Miscellaneous Construction Elements	10%	10%
* Significant Enlargement is any modification of an existing dam that increases the dam height or normal pool height more than 5.0 feet, and which also represents a ten percent or greater increase in dam height or normal pool height over that which existed prior to the modification.

Procedures for paying construction permit fees allow dam owners to make an initial payment of $1,400** for construction of a new dam or modification of an existing dam or project. Ecology will then bill the unpaid balance.

Fee adjustments for repairs, removals, and reclamation

The exceptions to the normal construction inspection fees above are:

For dam safety deficiency repairs required by Ecology, fees are $1,400**.
For removal of a dam with safety deficiencies, fees are $10.
For reclamation of mining operation dams, fees are $1,400**.
There is NO fee for routine maintenance, normal replacement, or minor repairs.
NO fees are required for review of conceptual plans, changes required during review, or construction change orders.

** These fees will increase under the proposed rule amendment of Chapter 173-175 WAC. For more information, see Dam Safety Fee Rulemaking or Current Rulemaking Chapter 173-175 WAC - Dam Safety.

Dam Safety