Kirkland, WA vs Star, ID: Development Impact Fees Compared (2026)
A single-family home pays about $47,431 in Kirkland vs $32,492 in Star — Kirkland is $14,939 (46%) higher. Every figure below is normalized per dwelling unit by category, with links to each jurisdiction’s official sources.
City
Kirkland, WA
$47,431
Total per single-family home
impact + connection fees
$28,182
Impact / development fees
roads, parks, schools…
$19,249
Water & sewer connection
tap / capacity / SDC
—
Per multifamily unit
total fees / unit
Impact / development fees
| Fee (local term) | Basis | Amount | Source · effective |
|---|---|---|---|
Transportation / roads Transportation Impact Fee — Kirkland charges the transportation impact fee at $4.39/sq ft (2025) for Residential Non-Stacked, raised 2.7% CPI-W to ~$4.51/sf for Jan-Jun 2026, capped at a per-dwelling-unit max of $8,115.35. The max is reached at ~1,800 sq ft, so essentially every detached single-family home pays the $8,115.35 cap. Figure is the Jan-Jun 2026 maximum from the official fee-change notice. KMC Ch. 27.04, Ord. O-4904. VERIFIED via Jina proxy of source 1 and an independent search snippet. | per dwelling unit | $8,115 | City of Kirkland Jan 1, 2026High |
Parks & recreation Park Impact Fee — Charged at $5.04/sq ft (2025) Residential Non-Stacked, +2.7% CPI-W for Jan-Jun 2026, capped at per-dwelling-unit max of $9,316.94. Max reached at ~1,800 sq ft, so a typical detached single-family home pays the $9,316.94 cap. KMC Ch. 27.06, Ord. O-4901. VERIFIED via Jina proxy of source 1 and an independent search snippet. | per dwelling unit | $9,317 | City of Kirkland Jan 1, 2026High |
Fire / EMS Fire Impact Fee — Fire impact fee is per sq ft of conditioned floor area: $0.73/sf (2025), +2.7% CPI-W = ~$0.7497/sf for Jan-Jun 2026. Unlike park/transportation, the fire cap ($2,399.07 in 2026) is NOT reached until ~3,200 sq ft, so a representative ~2,500 sq ft home pays ~$1,874 (2,500 x $0.7497 = $1,874.27). Amount shown is COMPUTED for a 2,500 sq ft home; actual fee scales with home size up to the $2,399.07 max. KMC Ch. 27.10, Ord. O-4901. Per-sf rate and max VERIFIED in source 0 (Jina proxy); confidence downgraded high->medium because the exact dollar is a derived computation at an assumed home size, not a published figure. | per dwelling unit | $1,874 | City of Kirkland Jan 1, 2026Medium |
Fire / EMS Fire Impact Fee (maximum cap, large home) — Maximum per-dwelling-unit fire impact fee (Jan-Jun 2026), reached at ~3,200+ sq ft of conditioned floor area. Excluded from total as an alternative tier to the per-sqft primary row above. VERIFIED verbatim in source 1 (Jina proxy). alternative · not added to total | per dwelling unit | $2,399 | City of Kirkland Jan 1, 2026High |
Schools School Impact Fee (Lake Washington SD No. 414) — Flat fee per detached single-family unit, set by Lake Washington School District No. 414 and collected by the City of Kirkland under RCW 82.02 / KMC Ch. 27.08 (Ord. O-4910 for 2026). 2025 was $5,972; Jan 2026 is $7,277. A separate $142 school impact fee administrative fee is also charged per the July-Dec 2025 schedule. VERIFIED verbatim in source 1 (Jina proxy) and corroborated by LWSD Impact Fees FAQ (SF $7,277 effective 1/1/2026). | per dwelling unit | $7,277 | City of Kirkland Jan 1, 2026High |
Schools School Impact Fee admin fee — Administrative fee charged in addition to the school impact fee. Value shown is from the 2025 schedule ($142); the 2026 admin amount may differ slightly with CPI but was not separately published in the Jan 2026 notice. Excluded from total to avoid double counting; add to school fee for an all-in figure. VERIFIED verbatim in source 0 (Jina proxy). alternative · not added to total | per dwelling unit | $142 | City of Kirkland Jan 1, 2025Medium |
Drainage / stormwater Surface Water Capital Facility Charge (SWCFC), one new detached dwelling — Kirkland stormwater/surface water capital facility charge for one new detached dwelling on a single lot (Jan 2026). For other development types the charge = (impervious sq ft added / 2,600), rounded down, x $1,598. Alteration/expansion of an existing single dwelling on a single lot is exempt. VERIFIED verbatim by direct pdftotext of source 2. | per dwelling unit | $1,598 | City of Kirkland (hosted by MRSC) Jan 1, 2026High |
Water & sewer connection fees
| Fee (local term) | Basis | Amount | Source · effective |
|---|---|---|---|
Water connection (tap / SDC) Water Capital Facility Charge (WCFC), 5/8" x 3/4" meter — City of Kirkland Water Capital Facility Charge for a new connection at the base residential 5/8"x3/4" meter (Jan 2026). This is the city portion. The additive Cascade Water Alliance RCFC ($8,852) is a separate row; combined total for a 3/4" connection is $13,724. VERIFIED verbatim by direct pdftotext of source 2. | per meter | $4,872 | City of Kirkland (hosted by MRSC) Jan 1, 2026High |
Water connection (tap / SDC) Cascade Water Alliance Regional Capital Facility Charge (RCFC), 3/4" meter — Cascade Water Alliance regional wholesale capacity charge collected by Kirkland on all new water connections, ADDITIVE to the city WCFC (correctly NOT excluded; applies to the same connection alongside WCFC). 2026 = $8,852 for a 3/4" meter (Cascade Board Resolution 2024-13). No vesting; rate due is the rate in place at time of payment. Levied by a separate regional entity (Cascade Water Alliance) but mandatory for Kirkland builders. VERIFIED verbatim in source 1 (Jina proxy) and cross-checked against source 2 total ($13,724). | per meter | $8,852 | City of Kirkland Jan 1, 2026High |
Water connection (tap / SDC) Water meter installation (drop-in), 5/8" x 3/4" — One-time water meter drop-in (installation) fee for the base residential meter (Jan 2026). Separate from and additive to the WCFC/RCFC capacity charges. VERIFIED verbatim by direct pdftotext of source 2. | per meter | $401 | City of Kirkland (hosted by MRSC) Jan 1, 2026High |
Sewer connection (tap / SDC) Sewer Capital Facility Charge (SCFC), single-family — City of Kirkland Sewer Capital Facility Charge for a single-family residential connection (Jan 2026). Multi-unit: 2-unit $8,301; 3-unit $12,451; 4-unit $16,602; 5+ units $3,228/unit. Does NOT include the separate King County sewer treatment capacity charge (see coverage notes). VERIFIED verbatim by direct pdftotext of source 2. | per dwelling unit | $5,124 | City of Kirkland (hosted by MRSC) Jan 1, 2026High |
Sewer connection (tap / SDC) King County Sewer Treatment Capacity Charge (monthly, separate district) — SEPARATE regional charge by King County Wastewater Treatment Division, billed in addition to Kirkland's SCFC on all newly connected sewer customers. NOT a one-time lump sum: $77.99/RCE/MONTH, billed quarterly for 15 years. A medium single-family house (1,500-2,999 sq ft) = 1.0 RCE = $77.99/month (~$936/yr; ~$14,038 nominal over 15 years before any early-payoff/interest discount). Excluded from the one-time SDC total because it is a financed monthly charge, not a connection lump sum. A builder/buyer should budget for it separately. VERIFIED verbatim via WebFetch of source 5 (billed quarterly for 15 years). alternative · not added to total | $77.99 | King County Wastewater Treatment Division Jan 1, 2026High |
City
Star, ID
$32,492
Total per single-family home
impact + connection fees
$21,042
Impact / development fees
roads, parks, schools…
$11,450
Water & sewer connection
tap / capacity / SDC
—
Per multifamily unit
total fees / unit
Impact / development fees
| Fee (local term) | Basis | Amount | Source · effective |
|---|---|---|---|
Transportation / roads ACHD Transportation Impact Fee (Single Family Detached) — VERIFIED. Transportation/road impact fee levied by the Ada County Highway District (ACHD), a SEPARATE district, collected at the City of Star building permit. ACHD Ordinance No. 254, effective March 1, 2026 ($5,803/single-family home), single service area model. Confirmed on the City of Star fee page (verbatim) and corroborated by ACHD's adoption notice (Meridian-hosted PDF: 'Single Family : $5803.00') and KIVI/KTVB reporting. | per dwelling unit | $5,803 | City of Star, Idaho Mar 1, 2026High |
Transportation / roads Highway District No. 4 (Canyon County) Impact Fee — VERIFIED on City of Star fee page. MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE alternative to the ACHD transportation fee. Star straddles the Ada/Canyon county line; parcels in the Canyon County portion pay Highway District No. 4 ($5,050) INSTEAD OF the ACHD fee ($5,803). ACHD (Ada County) treated as representative/primary; this Canyon County variant excludeFromTotal=true (correct). alternative · not added to total | per dwelling unit | $5,050 | City of Star, Idaho —High |
Fire / EMS Star Fire Impact Fee — VERIFIED on City of Star fee page (verbatim). Fire impact fee levied by the City of Star, per dwelling unit. | per dwelling unit | $2,152 | City of Star, Idaho —High |
Parks & recreation Star Parks Impact Fee — VERIFIED on City of Star fee page (verbatim). Parks/recreation impact fee levied by the City of Star, per dwelling unit. | per dwelling unit | $4,696 | City of Star, Idaho —High |
Police Star Police Impact Fee — VERIFIED on City of Star fee page (verbatim). Police impact fee levied by the City of Star, per dwelling unit. | per dwelling unit | $681 | City of Star, Idaho —High |
Police Public Safety Mitigation Fee - Police — VERIFIED on City of Star fee page (verbatim). Police 'Public Safety Mitigation Fee' charged by the City of Star in addition to the Police Impact Fee. Additive mitigation/exaction (per dwelling unit). | per dwelling unit | $3,360 | City of Star, Idaho —High |
Fire / EMS Public Safety Mitigation Fee - Fire — VERIFIED on City of Star fee page (verbatim). Fire 'Public Safety Mitigation Fee' charged by the City of Star in addition to the Fire Impact Fee. Additive mitigation/exaction (per dwelling unit). | per dwelling unit | $3,600 | City of Star, Idaho —High |
General government / capital Ada County Impact Fees (Jail, EMS, Coroner) — VERIFIED on City of Star fee page (verbatim). Ada County (SEPARATE county government) impact fee covering Jail, EMS, and Coroner capital facilities, collected at the City of Star permit, per single-family dwelling unit. | per dwelling unit | $750 | City of Star, Idaho —High |
Water & sewer connection fees
| Fee (local term) | Basis | Amount | Source · effective |
|---|---|---|---|
Water connection (tap / SDC) Water Connection Fee (per EDU) — VERIFIED in Star Sewer & Water District Residential Permit Application PDF (Revised 3/31/2026): 'Water Connection Fee Amt. Paid $2,000.00 PER EDU ... $2,000.00'. Water connection/capacity fee charged by the SWD (SEPARATE special district providing all water/sewer in Star); 1 SFD = 1 EDU. | per meter | $2,000 | Star Sewer & Water District Mar 31, 2026High |
Water connection (tap / SDC) Water Meter Lease Fee (3/4" meter) — VERIFIED in SWD Residential Permit Application PDF (Revised 3/31/2026): 'Water Meter Lease Fee Amt. Paid ¾" Meter ... $950.00'. One-time water meter (lease) fee for the standard residential 3/4" meter (representative meter size), additive to the water connection fee. | per meter | $950 | Star Sewer & Water District Mar 31, 2026High |
Sewer connection (tap / SDC) Sewer Connection Fee (per EDU) — VERIFIED in SWD Residential Permit Application PDF (Revised 3/31/2026): 'Sewer Connection Fee Amt Paid $8,500.00 PER EDU ... $8,500.00'. Sewer connection/capacity fee, $8,500 per EDU (1 SFD = 1 EDU). PDF total water+meter+sewer = $11,450.00 ($2,000 + $950 + $8,500), confirmed. | per meter | $8,500 | Star Sewer & Water District Mar 31, 2026High |
What drives the difference
Kirkland’s $47,431 per single-family home is $14,939 (46%) above Star’s $32,492. The largest single difference is in water connection (tap / sdc): Kirkland charges about $14,125 there versus $2,950 in Star — a $11,175 swing that accounts for much of the overall gap. The two also differ in how much falls on water and sewer connection charges: $19,249 in Kirkland versus $11,450 in Star.
Keep comparing
Kirkland vs Star impact fees — FAQ
- Which has higher impact fees, Kirkland or Star?
- Kirkland, WA is higher. A single-family home pays about $47,431 per unit in Kirkland versus $32,492 in Star, ID — $14,939 (46%) more, as of 2026.
- How much more does it cost to build a home in Kirkland than in Star?
- About $14,939 more per single-family home — $47,431 in Kirkland, WA versus $32,492 in Star, ID, a difference of 46% in total development impact and connection fees.
- What's the difference between impact fees in Kirkland and Star for a single-family home?
- Kirkland, WA charges about $47,431 per single-family home ($28,182 impact + $19,249 water/sewer connection), while Star, ID charges about $32,492 ($21,042 impact + $11,450 connection). Figures are normalized from official sources for 2026.