Nov. 14, 2023

Kitsap Public Health Board approves environmental health fees for 2024

Food and Living Environment fees, including permit fees for food establishments, pools and camps, will increase by 6%. Other environmental health fees will not increase.

KITSAP COUNTY, WA  —  The Kitsap Public Health Board approved an adjusted environmental health fee schedule for 2024 at its Nov. 7 meeting. The updated schedule takes effect Jan. 1. 

Environmental health fees are fees charged by the Kitsap Public Health District to cover the cost of providing licensing and permitting services for food service establishments, public pools, drinking water wells, onsite septic systems, solid and hazardous waste facilities, and other activities regulated by the District. 

Permit holders and members of the public were invited to review the fee changes and provide feedback prior to Health Board approval. 

Key adjustments approved by the Board included: 

• Food and Living Environment fees, including permit fees for food establishments, pools and camps, will increase by 6%.
  
  • This increase is based on a 2023 consumer price index (CPI) of 6.8%. The CPI measures the change in prices that consumers pay for goods. 
    
    
  • The 6% fee increase for 2024 will increase permit fees for food establishments by $20 to $50. 
    
    
  • The Health District did not increase food permit fees in 2021 or 2022 to help reduce the financial burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on food businesses. Fees were increased 6% in 2023.
    
    
• Other environmental health fees, including fees for drinking water wells, onsite sewage (septic systems) will not change in 2024.
  
  
• View the 2024 Environmental Health Fee Schedule for full details.

Additional background:

• Adopted 2024 Environmental Health Fee Schedule
• 2023 Environmental Health Fee Schedule
• Nov. 7 Kitsap Public Health Board meeting packet and video recording