The city’s Development Fee Schedule contains all current city fees applicable to development. This includes permitting, inspection, impact fee, and other fees assessed by the city relating to construction and development.
Fee Deferral Program
The fee deferral program gives developers the option to defer impact fees, also referred to as Public Facilities Fees, but only until the development is ready for its utility release. The purpose is to assist new development by gradually implementing the upfront costs of development in the City of San Marcos.
Fee deferral form(PDF, 370KB)
An application to defer payment of PFF must be completed and approved. As a condition of the deferment, a lien will be recorded on the affected property with the County Recorder for the County of San Diego, in the amount that is deferred and shall be enforceable against successors in interest to Owner.
2026 Fee Update
Development Impact Fees, Inclusionary Housing In-Lieu Fees, and Development User Fees were updated and adopted by the City Council on June 23, 2026, to reflect annual inflationary adjustments.
Development Impact Fees and Inclusionary Housing In-Lieu Fees were increased by 2.7%, corresponding to the annual increase in the Construction Cost Index as of March 2026. Development User Fees were increased by 3.2%, corresponding to the annual increase in the San Diego-area Consumer Price Index as of March 2026.
The updated fees are effective September 1, 2026. The complete updated fee schedule is available below under “Development Services Fees Effective September 1.”
Inclusionary Housing Fees Proposed 2026.pdf(PDF, 110KB)
User Fees Proposed 2026.pdf(PDF, 369KB)
Development Impact Fees Proposed 2026.pdf(PDF, 160KB)
Grace Period
As part of Impact Fees in effect on March 3, 2025, the City Council authorized the ability of “active” applicants to have a 2-year grace period through March 3, 2027, where those projects would be subject to prior Impact Fees.