View list of 300 North Carolina utilities' fees

The EFC has conducted a survey of initial, one-time fees for new residential customers of North Carolina water and sewer utilities. Generally, utilities charge three types of fees in North Carolina: tap fees, impact fees and special assessments. This survey focuses on tap fee and impact fee amounts and the bases that are used to calculate these fees for 325 water and/or sewer utilities throughout the State in 2005.

Tap Fees
The tap fee is intended to recover costs associated with service line installation. In the case of water connections, costs may include the tap, pipe material and installation, water meter, meter box and other associated costs.

Out of 325 utilities surveyed, 307 reported charging a tap fee in the event of new connection for water service. Most utilities (76%) charge between $300 and $900 for their water tap fee.
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Impact Fees
The impact fee is intended to recover costs associated with system capacity development. Water system capacity features include source water supply and collection, treatment facilities, storage, pumps and distribution. Sewer system capacity features include collection systems and mains as well as treatment and discharge facilities. Impact fees go by many names including System Development Charges, Connection Fees, Tap-on charges, Acreage Fees, Capacity Development, Facilities Charge and the list goes on. These names say very little about how the impact fee is charged or how it is used.

In a survey of 325 utilities that provide water service, 129 reported having a water impact fee.
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See the full report: One-time Fees for Residential Water and Sewer Connections in North Carolina

Click to view an excel file that lists tap and impact fees for almost 300 NC water and sewer systems

Other Links:

Statewide Water & Sewer Rate Survey and Analysis