Skagit County Public Health is currently seeking feedback on proposed changes to its Schedule of Charges that, if adopted, would take effect January 1, 2027.
The Burlington Chamber originally shared the County’s announcement when it was released on September 10. Since then, something made us take a closer look.
We recently learned what the proposed changes could mean for one of our own Chamber members. Based on the fees affecting their business, an annual cost that was $730 this year could increase to $950 next year, an increase of approximately 30%.
That got our attention.
As we looked more closely at the proposed Schedule of Charges, it became clear that this conversation extends beyond restaurants and food-service businesses. Depending on the services a business or property uses, the proposal could also affect temporary food vendors, businesses using on-site sewage systems, wells and small water systems, certain development-related reviews, and other Environmental Health services.
Our goal is not to tell our members what position to take. We want to make sure businesses know what is being proposed, understand where they may be affected, and know how to participate while the public comment period is still open.
Why Are the Fees Being Changed?
According to Skagit County Public Health, the proposed changes are intended to more closely align fees with the cost of providing services and support the long-term sustainability of fee-supported programs.
The areas identified by the County for increased fees include:
- Retail Food Safety permitting and inspections
- On-Site Sewage
- Drinking Water permitting
- Hourly rates for miscellaneous Environmental Health services
Updates to some Vital Records charges are also included in the proposal.
Not every Public Health fee is proposed to increase.
A Few Examples of What Is Proposed
The full Schedule of Charges is 10 pages long, so rather than reproduce it here, we pulled out several examples that may help illustrate the scope of the proposal.
| Service | Current 2027 Charge | Proposed 2027 Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Health hourly charge | $135 | $195 |
| Annual Food Establishment Permit, Risk Level 3 | $675 | $950 |
| Temporary Food Establishment, single-event standard menu | $200 | $280 |
| On-Site Sewage new system design review | $640 | $825 |
| Group B Water System annual operating permit | $135 | $255 |
| Individual well file review with one field visit | $430 | $975 |
These are only examples. Businesses should review the full proposed schedule to determine which fees, if any, apply to their specific operations.
Food-service businesses may also see proposed changes to annual permits, catering and high-volume surcharges, commissary kitchens, temporary-event permits, plan reviews and certain reinspection fees.
For businesses or properties using septic or on-site sewage systems, proposed changes include permitting, design reviews, site evaluations, certifications and other services.
Some of the larger dollar increases in the proposal appear within drinking-water services, including well inspections, sanitary surveys and water-system evaluations.
Another Detail Businesses Should Know
The proposed schedule also includes an annual adjustment provision.
Under the proposal, fees established in the Schedule of Charges would be adjusted by 4.65% each January 1, rounded to the nearest dollar, to account for inflationary increases in the cost of providing services.
The Board of Health could instead adopt a revised Schedule of Charges when necessary to more accurately reflect actual service costs.
There Is Still Time to Provide Feedback
The County’s two community engagement sessions have concluded, but the public comment process remains open.
Written comments may be submitted through October 5, 2026.
Comments can be emailed to:
Comments may also be mailed to:
Skagit County Public Health – Environmental Health
301 Valley Mall Way, Suite 110
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
The Skagit County Board of Health will also hold a formal public hearing:
Monday, October 5, 2026
2:00–3:00 PM
Skagit County Administration Building
1800 Continental Place
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Virtual participation will also be available.
Take a Look at What Applies to Your Business
For many businesses, the most important next step is simply to review the proposed schedule and identify whether any of the services you use are included.
The Burlington Chamber has also retained the original September 10 Skagit County Public Health announcement, including information about the proposal and public participation:
https://go.burlington-chamber.com/SC091026PR
The complete proposed 2027 Schedule of Charges is available directly through Skagit County Public Health.
We encourage affected businesses to review the information, ask questions where clarification is needed, and decide for themselves whether they would like to submit feedback before the October 5 deadline.
Part of our role at the Burlington Chamber is helping connect our business community with information that may affect the way they operate. When something catches our attention, especially when we can see the potential impact on a local business, we want to make sure our members have the opportunity to take a closer look too.