Tri-Cities Stormwater Permit Fees - City Ordinances

Environmental Protection Washington 4 Minutes Read · published February 10, 2026 Flag of Washington

Tri-Cities, Washington regulates stormwater through city stormwater utilities and permit programs managed by each municipal public works or planning department. This checklist summarizes how stormwater permit fees are set, where to find official fee schedules, how enforcement and appeals work, and the practical steps property owners and developers must follow to obtain permits and remain compliant.

Confirm the applicable city early in planning to avoid duplicate permits.

Scope and Who Needs a Permit

Each city in the Tri-Cities area administers stormwater permits for land-disturbing activities, new development, and certain redevelopment projects. Permit triggers, fee categories, and exemptions vary by municipality and by project size; applicants should consult their city’s stormwater or public works pages for the controlling ordinance and fee schedule. Learn municipal program pages for the three main cities: Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland Kennewick Stormwater[1], City of Pasco Stormwater[2], Richland Stormwater[3].

Permit Fees & How They Are Calculated

Fees are typically set by municipal ordinance or by a council-approved fee schedule and can include application fees, plan-review fees, inspection fees, and ongoing stormwater utility charges. Fee calculations often depend on impervious surface area, land-disturbing activity acreage, or fixed permit categories.

  • Application fee: not specified on the cited page; see municipal fee schedules for exact amounts.[1]
  • Plan-review fee: not specified on the cited page; amounts vary by scope and city.[2]
  • Inspection and monitoring fees: not specified on the cited page; check local utility schedules.[3]

Penalties & Enforcement

Municipal codes authorize enforcement actions for stormwater violations, but the specific fine amounts, escalation steps, and time limits are set in each city’s code or fee schedule. If a page does not list exact penalties, it is noted below as not specified on the cited page.

  • Monetary fines: not specified on the cited pages; municipal code or fee schedule should be consulted for dollar amounts and per-day continuance rules.[1]
  • Escalation: first offence, repeat, and continuing offence treatment is not specified on the cited pages; city code typically defines escalation procedures.[2]
  • Non-monetary sanctions: administrative orders to correct violations, stop-work orders, permit suspensions, and referral to court are listed as enforcement tools in municipal program descriptions or code; exact procedures are not specified on the cited pages.[3]
  • Enforcer and complaints: enforcement is handled by each city’s public works or stormwater program; use the city stormwater contact or public works complaint form for inspections and reporting.[1]
  • Appeals and review: appeal routes and time limits are set by municipal code or administrative policy and are not specified on the cited pages; check the ordinance or contact the department for deadlines.
If a fee or penalty is not visible on the municipal page, request the current fee schedule from the city finance or public works office.

Applications & Forms

Forms and submittal requirements are published by each city. Typical items include permit application, erosion and sediment control plan, stormwater pollution prevention plan, and fees. Where a city’s public page does not list a downloadable form, the city accepts applications via the permitting portal or planning office.

  • Kennewick: application and permitting instructions available from Public Works or the online permit center; specific form names and numbers are not specified on the cited page.[1]
  • Pasco: stormwater permit process and submittal checklist are on the city site; the cited page does not show a numbered form identifier.[2]
  • Richland: permit and utility permit information published by Public Works; form numbers, if any, are not specified on the cited page.[3]

Common Violations

  • Unpermitted land disturbance or grading without erosion controls.
  • Failure to install or maintain required stormwater controls during construction.
  • Failure to pay stormwater utility fees or inspection fees when invoiced.

Action Steps

  • Early—Confirm the project city and review that city’s stormwater page and fee schedule for permit triggers and costs.[1]
  • Prepare required plans (ESC, SWPPP) and a completed application per the municipal checklist.[2]
  • Pay application and inspection fees as invoiced; ask the city finance office for fee waivers or schedules if unclear.[3]
  • Report violations or request inspections through the city’s stormwater or public works complaint portal.

FAQ

Who sets stormwater permit fees in the Tri-Cities?
The city council or municipal authority sets fees by ordinance or fee schedule and the stormwater or public works department administers them; consult the city fee schedule and stormwater pages for details.[1]
How do I know if my project needs a permit?
Permit triggers depend on land-disturbing area, new impervious surface, and project type; review the local stormwater permit guidance and contact the city reviewer for a permit determination.[2]
What happens if I violate stormwater rules?
Enforcement can include orders to correct, fines, stop-work orders, and referral to court; exact penalties and escalation steps are set in municipal code or policy and may not be listed on the public page.[3]

How-To

  1. Confirm which Tri-Cities municipality has jurisdiction and open that city’s stormwater permit page.
  2. Download or request the application checklist, prepare plans (ESC, SWPPP), and collect required documents.
  3. Submit the application and plans via the city permit portal or planning office and pay required fees.
  4. Schedule inspections as required and maintain erosion controls for the life of the project.
  5. Resolve any compliance notices promptly; if assessed a fine, follow the city’s appeals process or pay per instructions.

Key Takeaways

  • Confirm the correct Tri-Cities jurisdiction before applying to avoid duplicate permits.
  • Fee amounts and penalties are set at the city level; check the municipal fee schedule.
  • Contact the city stormwater or public works office for forms, inspections, and appeals.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Kennewick Stormwater program and permit information
  2. [2] City of Pasco Public Works - Stormwater
  3. [3] City of Richland Stormwater Utility

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