The Department of Commerce’s Building Green Cities Guidebook: Incentivizing Low Impact Development (LID) Beyond Permit Requirements presents six ways that local governments can incentivize developers to voluntarily incorporate LID on projects in urban growth centers. Relying on input from interviews, social marketing research, and a project advisory committee, Commerce assesses perceived barriers and motivators for developers in implementing LID. The guidebook includes tools and outreach materials that cities can use to encourage developers to go beyond existing stormwater requirements—including fact sheets for best management practices and a variety of incentive programs. The incentive types explored in the guidebook include: fee discounts, awards and recognition, grants, land use and permitting, expedited process, and rebate and cost-share programs. The guidebook also includes a Western Washington Incentives Matrix that highlights current incentive programs throughout the region.
The guidebook can be found on Commerce’s website.