At a glance

  • Developers are required to provide land or pay fees for parks as part of the approval process for new residential subdivisions in Carlsbad.
  • Park land dedication is when a developer sets aside a portion of their property for public parks or recreational spaces as part of a residential subdivision project.
  • Park in-lieu fees are imposed on developers who choose not to include park space within their residential subdivision projects.
  • Instead of setting aside land for parks, developers can pay these fees to support the construction of new public parks or park improvement projects.
  • Carlsbad last increased the park in-lieu fees in 2005, and the existing fees do not accurately reflect the fair market value of undeveloped property in the city.
  • The city is proposing increases to the park in-lieu fees paid by developers of residential subdivisions.
  • A study was recently completed to analyze the current fair market value of vacant land in Carlsbad and recommend updates to the park in-lieu fees.
  • The study results and proposed increase in park land in-lieu fees will be presented at a public hearing during the City Council meeting on April 23, 2024.
  • Staff will recommend the City Council consider phasing in the proposed park land in-lieu fees increase over three years.

Park in-lieu fee study

The city recently completed a study on park land dedication and in-lieu fees. This study determined how much park land acreage developers need to set aside in new residential subdivisions or how much they should pay instead of dedicating park land, as allowed by the Quimby Act.

The Park Land Dedication and In-Lieu Fee Study is available for public review and will be presented at a public hearing on April 23, 2024. The public can submit comments and questions about the study to Kyle Lancaster, Director of Parks & Recreation, at kyle.lancaster@carlsbadca.gov or 442-339-2941. 

Public hearing

Staff will present the study results and proposed increases to park land in-lieu fees at a public hearing scheduled for the City Council meeting on April 23, 2024.

City Council meeting
Tuesday, April 23, 2024, 5 p.m.
City Council Chamber
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive 

The public can provide comments in person or via email to clerk@carlsbadca.gov. The City Council web page provides more information on how to participate in the meeting.

Background

In 1975, the State of California introduced the Quimby Act (Government Code Section 66477), which allows local governments like Carlsbad to ensure that new residential areas include enough space for parks. This law gives cities the authority to require property developers to either set aside land for parks within their residential projects or pay fees to support park development.

To implement the Quimby Act, Carlsbad established the "Dedication of Land for Recreational Facilities" chapter in its Municipal Code (Chapter 20.44). This chapter outlines rules for developers regarding park land dedication or fee payments in residential areas. It aims to ensure that for every 1,000 residents, there are three acres of local park and recreational spaces.

Developers must either dedicate land for parks or pay fees based on the number of housing units in their subdivisions. The City Council determines whether land dedication, in-lieu fee payments or a combination of both is needed for a particular residential development project. This decision considers factors such as the general plan's park and recreation element, topography and the availability of suitable park sites.

Existing and proposed park in-lieu fees

Development type

Northeast park
district

Northwest park
district

Southeast park
district

Southwest park
district

 Existing

 Mobile home

$3,696 

$4,934 

$3,696 

$3,696 

 Proposed

 Residential <800 sq ft

$6,020 

$6,020 

$6,020 

$6,020 

 Existing

 Attached residential (more than 4 units)

$4,635 

$6,190 

$4,635 

$4,635 

 Proposed

 Residential 800 – 1,300 sq ft

$9,850 

$9,850 

$9,850 

$9,850 

 Existing

 Attached residential (4 units or less)

$4,804 

$6,414 

$4,804 

$4,804 

 Proposed

 Residential >1,300 – 2,000 sq ft

$13,681 

$13,681 

$13,681 

$13,681 

 Existing

 Single-family detached and duplex

$5,728 

$7,649 

$5,728 

$5,728 

 Proposed

 Residential >2,000 – 2,500 sq ft

$18,059 

$18,059 

$18,059 

$18,059 

 Existing

 Single-family detached and duplex

$5,728 

$7,649 

$5,728 

$5,728 

 Proposed

 Residential >2,500 sq ft

$20,795 

$20,795 

$20,795 

$20,795 


Potential phase-in of proposed park in-lieu fees

Since the fees have not been increased since 2005, the difference in the existing and the proposed park land-in-lieu fees is notable. Staff will therefore be recommending the City Council consider phasing in the proposed increase to the park land in-lieu fees over a three-year period – i.e., annually applying approximately one-third of the difference between the existing in-lieu fees and the proposed in-lieu fees over fiscal years 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27.

 NORTHEAST, SOUTHEAST AND SOUTHWEST PARK DISTRICTS

Development type

Park
in-lieu
fee

1/3 increase
FY 2024-25

2/3 increase
FY 2025-26

3/3 increase
FY 2026-27

 Existing

 Mobile home

$3,696 

 

 

 

 Proposed

 Residential <800 sq ft

$6,020 

$4,471 

$5,246 

$6,020 

 Existing

 Attached residential (more than 4 units)

$4,635 

 

 

 

 Proposed

 Residential 800 – 1,300 sq ft

$9,850 

$6,373 

$8,111 

$9,850 

 Existing

 Attached residential (4 units or less)

$4,804 

 

 

 

 Proposed

 Residential >1,300 – 2,000 sq ft

$13,681 

$7,763 

$10,722 

$13,681 

 Existing

 Single-family detached and duplex

$5,728 

 

 

 

 Proposed

 Residential >2,000 – 2,500 sq ft

$18,059 

$9,838 

$13,948 

$18,059 

 Existing

 Single-family detached and duplex

$5,728 

 

 

 

 Proposed

 Residential >2,500 sq ft

$20,795 

$10,750 

$15,772 

$20,795 

 

NORTHWEST PARK DISTRICT

Development type

Park
in-lieu
fee

1/3 increase
FY 2024-25

2/3 increase
FY 2025-26

3/3 increase
FY 2026-27

 Existing

 Mobile home

$4,934 

 

 

 

 Proposed

 Residential <800 sq ft

$6,020 

$5,296 

$5,658 

$6,020 

 Existing

 Attached residential (more than 4 units)

$6,190 

 

 

 

 Proposed

 Residential 800 – 1,300 sq ft

$9,850 

$7,410 

$8,630 

$9,850 

 Existing

 Attached residential (4 units or less)

$6,414 

 

 

 

 Proposed

 Residential >1,300 – 2,000 sq ft

$13,681 

$8,836 

$11,259 

$13,681 

 Existing

 Single-family detached and duplex

$7,649 

 

 

 

 Proposed

 Residential >2,000 – 2,500 sq ft

$18,059 

$11,119 

$14,589 

$18,059 

 Existing

 Single-family detached and duplex

$7,649 

 

 

 

 Proposed

 Residential >2,500 sq ft

$20,795 

$12,031 

$16,413 

$20,795 


Going forward, staff will review the park land dedication requirement annually, including any changes in the latest federal census data. Additionally, staff will recommend that at the end of fiscal year 2026-27, and every three years after that, the city reevaluate the per acre park land value and recalculate the in-lieu fees as appropriate. Staff would then bring any proposed changes to the park land in-lieu fees to the City Council for consideration.