Bill > B26-0543

This bill amends the Department of Buildings Establishment Act of 2020 to create a new program providing discounted accelerated plan review (APR) fees for affordable housing projects. Under the proposed legislation, the Department of Buildings will offer at least a 50% fee reduction for qualifying affordable housing applications in areas that have not met their affordable housing production goals. To qualify, applicants must provide documentation proving they have secured government financing for income-restricted housing, intend to apply for such financing, or have a recorded property covenant that exceeds standard inclusionary zoning requirements for affordable units. The department may offset the revenue impact of these discounts by increasing fees for non-qualifying projects. If an applicant's affordable housing status changes, they must notify the department within 10 business days, and the department will either collect the full fee difference or stop providing accelerated review services. This bill aims to incentivize affordable housing development by reducing administrative barriers and costs for developers working to create income-restricted housing units in the District of Columbia.

https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0543