Permits: Required for new construction and major remodeling.  The permit cost is based upon the value of the improvements.  Normally a permit is about 1.5% of the value of the project plus any impact fees.  It is difficult for the building department to give you an estimate until a building permit application is received.  Usually it takes the building department two to four weeks to review plans.

Utility Impact Fees: The City owns a wastewater treatment plant, water supply/treatment facilities, and storm-water facilities.  If you are taking over an existing business and the services or products that you offer remain the same, you most likely will not have to pay utility impact fees (also called General Facility Charges or GFCs).  If your new business uses more water, then you have additional or new impact on the system and are required to pay the corresponding impact fees.  Below you will find the impact fees.  They are based on water, sewer, storm-water and roadway impacts typically associated with a single family residential unit.  A food establishment normally adds milk, grease, and other food preparation products that necessitate higher levels of treatment thus requiring a higher impact fee.  The building department can establish your impact fees when they have a clear plan from you.  The average utility impact fees for recent new small businesses in Orting have been about $15,000.

Traffic Impact Fee (TIF): If your business creates more automobile traffic, you are required to pay a traffic impact fee.  Similar to utility impact fees, traffic impact fees are based on impact to the City’s roadway and intersection infrastructure that typically would be associated with a single family residential unit measured as peak evening trips.  The money collected through traffic impact fees pays for building transportation infrastructure outlined in the City’s Six-Year Transportation Plan.  The City’s engineer will tabulate this cost when you provide the plans to the City. 

Architectural Design Review (ADR): Adherence to the ADR is necessary for any new construction of commercial buildings and/or signage in the City.  The ADR process maintains a “Turn of the Century Western or Victorian” look.  We believe that a well-maintained theme makes Orting a destination for your potential customers.    Any new signs and/or any change to the exterior of your building will require an ADR application to be approved by the Planning Commission.  The application runs between $50,for a sign approval, and $250, for the approval of exterior changes and is available at the City Hall receptionist desk.  Changes to the exterior color of the building are approved through the building department.    If you move into an existing building and do not change the outside features you will not be required to submit an application.

Plans:   Building plans should be developed by an architect and have appropriate engineering stamps as necessary.  The City of Orting has adopted the International Building Codes.  Storm-water plans must be developed using the manual from the Washington State Department of Ecology.  The City’s building standards manual can be purchased for $50 and is available at the City Hall reception desk.