Recreational buoy permit fees for Bainbridge Island will increase to $450 in May.

Through the month of April, however, islanders can apply for a buoy permit for $200 before the price goes up.

The price hike is part of the city’s programmatic buoy system established two years ago. When the program was founded, the permit cost was set to $200 and scheduled to go up in May 2012.

The city’s planning department implemented the reduced $200 permit price to encourage buoy owners to register their buoys with the city.

Since the program’s implementation, 296 nonconforming buoys and 126 applications have been reviewed by the city.

“This project has been a huge success on many levels,” said Kathy Cook, director of Planning and Community Development for Bainbridge Island.

“The time spent up-front on educating the public about the regulations and the process has resulted in a high compliance level,” she said. “I’m glad we have the bulk of the work done, with the existing buoys now permitted or documented as non-conforming.”