Document Recording Fee

The Longview Document Recording Fee Program is funded by the Cowlitz County Document Recording Fee Surcharge. This surcharge was initiated in 2002 by the Washington Legislature to provide additional funding resources for low-income housing through Substitute House Bill (SHB) 2060.

The City of Longview receives a percentage of funds on a formula bases annually. The application and allocation process runs concurrently with the HOME Program. 

Summary

Here is a summary of the Document Recording Fee Program:

  • It provides funding to increase the availability of housing affordable to low-income households (earning 50% or less of area median income) and encourages innovative demonstration projects to help meet low-income housing needs.
  • The permissible uses of these funds at the local level is limited to:
    • Acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of housing developments or individual units
    • Operation and maintenance costs of housing built with housing trust funds that require a supplement to the rental income to cover ongoing operating expenses
    • Rental assistance vouchers for housing units administered by a public housing authority operating an existing rental assistance voucher program
    • Operating costs for emergency shelters and licensed overnight youth shelters.
  • Funds may not be used for the construction of new housing if at any time the vacancy rate for available low-income housing within the county rises above 10%. (The vacancy rate for each county will be developed using a standard developed by the Washington State University Center for Real Estate Research.)
  • The funds are allocated according to an interlocal agreement between the county and the cities within, consistent with countywide and local housing needs and policies.
  • 60% of the revenue generated by the fee will stay in the county to address the housing needs of low-income persons (those earning 50% or less of the area median income).
  • Up to 5% of the monies collected can be kept by the auditor’s office to cover the administrative costs of collecting the fee.
  • 40% of the revenue generated will be passed on to the state to address the needs of the very low income (earning 30% or less of the county median income). At least 30% of these funds will be allocated to rural areas to develop very low-income housing. The state’s funds will also be used to restore state budget cuts in operating funds for local homeless shelters.

2023 Document Recording Fee Application Period

The City of Longview will begin accepting applications on May 1st, 2023 and will close the application process on May 31st, 2023 at 5PM.  Please complete the application and budget documents listed at the bottom of each program.

Please email completed applications to:

Kenny Robinson-Program Coordination Specialist
ATTN: HOME/CDBG Applications
Email Kenny.Robinson

Mailed or delivered applications will also be accepted.  Please mail or deliver to 
Longview City Hall
ATTN: Community and Economic Development
1525 Broadway Street
Longview, WA 98632

2023 Applications for Document Recording Fee Program

Application Assistance

For program questions or technical assistance please contact:
Kenny Robinson
Program Coordination Specialist
Email Kenny.Robinson
Phone: 360-442-5092