COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ PLANNING DEPARTMENT REFUND POLICY

All refunds will be made to the party who made the payment. Refunds will be by check when the payment was by cash or check. Refunds on Echecks will be credited back to the originating account. Refunds on credit/debit card transactions will be credited back to the card.

REFUNDS/CORRECTIONS OF FEES


Any application and capital improvement fees may, at the discretion of the Planning Director, be waived, reduced or refunded for applications resulting from an administrative error.

The Santa Cruz County Auditor-Controller Treasurer-Tax Collector is authorized to allow or reject claims for refunds of fees paid in accordance with the following terms:

1.    When the fee paid was erroneously computed resulting in the paying of unnecessarily high fee.

2.    When it is determined that the application for which the fee was paid was unnecessary to accomplish the purposes for which the application was made.

3.    When an application is withdrawn prior to application approval or denial. The remaining unearned portion of the fee may be refunded based upon the schedule below. Fees for specific reviews or approvals that have been completed prior to withdrawal or denial are nonrefundable.

4.    The Auditor/Controller may also audit and allow claims for refunds of fees in accordance with the provisions of the County Code when such claims have been approved by the Planning Director. (Res. 75-78)

PERCENT OF APPLICATION FEES TO BE REFUNDED UPON APPLICATION WITHDRAWAL

REFUND SCHEDULE % REFUND WITHDRAWAL % REFUND ABANDONMENT
*Application Withdrawal:
   Within 10 working days of submittal 75 75
   Prior to Project staff initial review/site visit 50 50
   Prior to applicant/public noticing 40 40
   Prior to public hearing/decision making review 20 20
   After hearing/decision No Refund
   Project Denial No Refund
*Intake and appeal fees are non-refundable.

Amounts to be refunded will be offset by any outstanding amounts due to the County for any Planning services or accrued Code Enforcement costs.

JURISDICTIONAL APPEALS

Jurisdictional appeals from the Planning Commission or other advisory bodies that do not result in the scheduling of a public hearing to consider the appeal shall be refunded 50% of the appeal fee.