The city of Renton is changing an ordinance to encourage businesses to occupy vacant commercial spaces.

The Renton City Council had the first reading to amend Title IV in their code to change the rules around vacant structures. The change in the code removes deductions to impact fees for vacant structures or buildings. The amended section is found in Section 4-1-190.G of the Renton Municipal Code.

Impact fees are collected from any applicant seeking development approval from the city for any development activity that requires the issuance of a building permit, or a permit for a change of demand to offset the additional demand on public facilities, such as transportation, fire facilities, and school districts.

Currently, the deductions apply to a structure or building that has been vacant for less than three years. The impact for those vacant buildings are the current fees, minus any impact fees paid for the property’s prior use. If no impact fee was paid previously, the impact fees are reduced by an amount equal to the current impact fee rate for the prior use. Vacancies of three years or more do not receive a deduction.

However, dwelling units are eligible for impact fee deductions, regardless of the duration the unit has been vacant.

The change to the ordinance will remove all of the language on deductions from the code. It will also remove language that says an existing structure or building could be deemed vacant only after it had first been occupied or, for commercial uses, had a business license.

When determining if a property owner is charged impact fees for change in use or tenancy for a vacant building, the code says “vacant buildings shall be assessed as if in the most recent legally established use as shown on a locally owned business license or development permit documents.”

“Vacant commercial buildings contribute blight to their surroundings and are often a target of vandalism and other unlawful or deleterious behaviors,” the ordinance reads. “Encouraging businesses to occupy vacant commercial spaces is in the best interest of public safety, welfare, and the well-being of the community.”

The changes were referred to the council by the Planning Commission, which had a public hearing on July 2 to hear from parties in support or opposition to the change. The Planning Commission approved the changes on Aug. 11.

The second reading of the ordinance will be at the Oct. 6 Renton City Council meeting.