Tap fees are also commonly referred to as System Development fees. A Tap itself, also referred to as an Equivalent Residential Unit (EQR) is defined as the amount of water used by an average single family residence or its equivalent. This determination and definition is the basis of the Use Classification Schedule which has been adopted by the Town of Silverthorne as well as the neighboring entities of the Town of Dillon, the Dillon Valley Metro District and the Buffalo Mountain Metro District (which services the Wildernest area.) The number of taps owned is also used for the determination of regular water and sewer billings.

Payment of tap fees is due at the time of Building Permit issuance. Currently in 2010, tap fees cost $6200 for each water EQR and $5400 for each sewer EQR. Thus, a combined water and sewer tap would cost $11,600 in 2010. Tap fees are typically a one time initial fee, however additional taps may be assessed if a use for a particular property changes and necessitates that more are required.

A single family residence (SFR) typically requires one water EQR and one sewer EQR, however, beginning with building permits issued in 2007, all homes with more than 3 bedrooms or 3 bathrooms will be assessed an additional .1 EQR over 1 EQR.  For example, a residential building permit for a four bedroom and four bathroom home will be assessed 1.2 EQR. Additional EQRs may also be assessed depending on certain things such as accessory apartments, multiple kitchen facilities or other possible scenarios. Multi family residential projects such as condominium complexes intended for short term rentals have different EQR rates based on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms proposed. Commercial tap fees are generally based on the size of the project and the type of uses proposed for a particular business. There are many different fee rate categories for commercial projects. A comprehensive listing of EQR rates can be found within the Town of Silverthorne’s water and sewer Use Classification Schedule. Additional questions related to tap fees can be directed towards the Town Engineer at (970) 262-7354.

Can I sell half my lot?
It depends on your zoning district, and if you would have the required minimum lot size. Lot sizes are determined in the subdivision process. Please make an inquiry to the Planning Department to determine the regulations for your property.

What is the flood plain designation for my lot?
Most, if not all lending institutions require as a condition of loan or refinance approval that flood insurance be purchased for properties and/or structures which are located within the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) mapped floodplain (also referred to as the Special Flood Hazard Area). Prior to approving a loan or refinance, the lending institution will typically utilize a third party flood determination company to designate whether the property and/or structure appears to be within the FEMA mapped floodplain, and hence subject to flood insurance requirements. This determination is NOT made by the Town, but rather by a third party company working on behalf of the lender. For liability reasons, the Town cannot make actual determinations on whether a property or structure is located within or outside of a FEMA mapped floodplain.

When new projects or additions are proposed however, the Town will utilize FEMA mapping in order to check whether the project appears to be in the FEMA floodplain. If Town staff observes that the project appears to be in the floodplain, then the Town’s role is to ensure that both local and FEMA regulations requirements are satisfied prior to or as conditions of project approval. This often requires additional technical studies and steps which are done and paid for by the developer.

The Town keeps on file FEMA mappings and related studies for information and reference for the general public. This includes FEMA Flood Rate Insurance Maps (FIRM) and Flood Insurance Studies (FIS). Additional questions related to the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program), FEMA floodplain mapping, or requirements for construction within the floodplain may be directed to the Town Engineer at (970) 262-7354.

Do I need a building permit to...?
Most construction requires a building permit. Storage sheds larger than 120 square feet and fences higher than 6 feet require building permits, anything less doesn’t. Please contact us at 262-7360 for more details.

Are my development / building plans ready yet?
To understand this time frame, it’s helpful to understand the planning process. Community Development deals with project plan reviews and building plan reviews. Plans for a four-plex residential unit, subdivision, re-subdivision, annexation, rezoning, variance, conditional use, site plan review or commercial project must go through the project review process. Plans must be submitted for Planning Commission and Town Council review. Larger projects usually have a sketch, preliminary and final review phase before both the Commission and the Council; most projects only have one final review; smaller projects (under ½ acre) may be dealt with at staff level. Therefore, some project reviews may take a few weeks to complete, while others may take several months; it depends on the project’s size and scope.

Once the Town approves residential subdivisions and commercial projects, a building permit may be obtained through the building plan review process. At least two (2) sets of plans must be submitted with plan-check fees. Town Planning, Engineering and Building staff as well as the local Fire Department review the plans. Plan reviews will be completed based upon workload, and we will contact applicants when building permits are ready to be picked up or if we’ve identified any problems that need to be corrected. Building permit fees, impact fees, excise tax and water/sewer tap fees are paid when the building permit is issued. Please call us at 262-7360 for more details.