Oct. 10, 2024

Kitsap Public Health Board to consider environmental health fee changes for 2025

You can comment on the proposed 2025 environmental health fee schedule in person, online, or in writing.

KITSAP COUNTY, WA  —  At its Nov. 5 meeting, the Kitsap Public Health Board will accept public comments and consider approval of an updated environmental health fee schedule for 2025. 

The proposed fee schedule would increase fees for food service establishments, pools, and camps by 4.4% while reducing fees for septic system monitoring and maintenance contracts. Fees for other types of environmental health permits would remain unchanged. Scroll down to see details on the proposed fee schedule. 

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

Submitting public comments

You can submit comments regarding environmental health fees at the Nov. 5 Kitsap Public Health Board meeting, scheduled for 10:30-11:45 a.m. at the Norm Dicks Government Center, 345 6th Street, Bremerton.

You can also submit comments prior to the meeting by mail or email:

• Mail comments to: Kitsap Public Health Board, Attention: Executive Secretary, 345 6th Street, Suite 300, Bremerton, WA 98337
• Email: healthboard@kitsappublichealth.org

Proposed environmental health fee schedule changes

Based on direction from the Health Board's Finance Committee, the Health District drafted a proposed 2025 environmental health fee schedule, which can be viewed here.

Proposed changes for 2025 include: 

• Food and Living Environment fees, including permit fees for food establishments, pools and camps, would increase by 4.4%. This increase is based on a 2024 consumer price index (CPI) of 4.4%. The CPI measures the change in prices that people pay for goods. 
  
  
  • If the 4.4% fee increase is approved for 2025, permit fees for food establishments would increase by $15 to $35. 
    
    
  • 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. Fees were increased by 6% in 2024.
    
    
  • Even with a 4.4% increase in 2025, Food and Living Environment fees would not cover the full cost of administering services. 
    
    
• A fee reduction from $30 to $20 for the annual onsite sewage (septic) system monitoring and maintenance contract is also proposed. This reduction is based on the current level of work needed to regulate these systems and the increasing number of properties that pay this fee. Septic monitoring and maintenance fees have been in place since 1996 and have been adjusted throughout the years to address the Health District’s costs for providing oversight.

• Other environmental health fees, including fees for drinking water wells, would not change in 2025.
  
  
• View the Proposed 2025 Environmental Health Fee Schedule for full details. Proposed changes are highlighted in yellow. 

Documents:

• Proposed 2025 Environmental Health Fee Schedule
• 2024 Environmental Health Fee Schedule

CONTACT: 

Tad Sooter | Public Information Officer
Kitsap Public Health District
360-728-2330 - office | (360) 728-2235 - main
pio@kitsappublichealth.org | kitsappublichealth.org