West Linn City Council to revise sewer SDCs—what it means for new growth

West Linn City Council used its July 14, 2026 agenda to correct how the city applied its sanitary sewer System Development Charge (SDC) fee schedule during the annual Master Fees & Charges update that took effect July 1. The fix is described in city staff materials as restoring the Oct. 1, 2025 sewer SDC rates that Council previously approved, with the correction applied retroactively to July 1, 2026.

The action is packaged as Agenda Bill 2026-07-14-02, adopting Resolution 2026-07 and updating the city’s Master Fees & Charges document for the sewer SDC section.

What are sewer SDCs—and what this does not change

Clackamas County’s WES describes System Development Charges as one-time charges assessed when customers connect to the system to help pay for the sanitary sewer infrastructure required to meet growth-related needs.

WES also explains that SDCs are paid when property owners request new or expanded sewer service connections through the permitting process. That timing is the key point for residents: this correction is about growth/connection-related costs for new or expanded service—not a change to existing residents’ monthly sewer bills.

Timeline and the issue city staff identified

In the Agenda Bill 2026-07-14-02 memo, staff says Council approved revised sanitary sewer system development charges effective Oct. 1, 2025.

But during the annual update to West Linn’s Master Fees & Charges effective July 1, 2026, staff says the sewer SDC rates were inadvertently adjusted using a fee schedule that was in effect before the Oct. 1, 2025 rates. Staff characterizes the recommended remedy as an administrative correction that would restore the Council-approved Oct. 1, 2025 rates, with the correction made effective retroactively to July 1, 2026.

What West Linn City Council did on July 14

On July 14, 2026, the City Council agenda lists Agenda Bill 2026-07-14-02 as an item to adopt Resolution 2026-07, revising fees and charges “as shown in Attachment A” and updating the Master Fees & Charges document related to sewer SDCs.

The resolution text says it was passed and adopted on July 14, 2026.

Where residents can check the numbers

West Linn keeps a centralized Master Fees & Charges document. The city’s Fees & Charges page says this document consolidates city fees and charges and is periodically amended by City Council resolution.

To find the current sewer SDC schedule, use the city’s Fees & Charges page link to the current Master Fees & Charges document, then look for the section covering Systems Development Charges (SDCs) (including the sewer SDC subsection).

What changes for housing and development costs (and what doesn’t)

Because SDCs are assessed when a property requests new or expanded sewer connections, updates—especially corrections that apply retroactively—can affect the upfront cost side of how new projects are priced and scheduled.

But this agenda item is not presented as a change to existing customers’ ongoing utility bills. It’s aimed at making sure the city’s July 1, 2026 Master Fees & Charges update reflects the sewer SDC rates Council approved for Oct. 1, 2025, using a retroactive effective date back to July 1, 2026.

Sources

• Agenda Bill 2026-07-14-02 memo + Resolution 2026-07
• West Linn Fees & Charges landing page
• Clackamas WES: What SDCs are (one-time charges when customers connect)