Utility Cost Guide
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Independent U.S. utility cost research

What does it cost to connect a property to utilities?

Official tap, impact and meter fees from U.S. utilities, national cost benchmarks for the pipe and wire you build yourself, and a calculator that labels where every number comes from.

Estimate utility connection costs

Estimates are planning figures, not quotes. Confirm fees and trench rules with your utility.

Location and property
Services and site work

Many codes require horizontal separation between water and sewer. This estimate assumes separate water and sewer trenches unless you select a shared run where your utility allows it.

Quoted fees and comparison assumptions

Tools and guides

Utility connection cost calculator

Water, sewer, power and gas in one estimate, using official local fees where we have them.

Tap fees by city

Official water and sewer connection charges for a new home, compared city by city.

Cost to bring utilities to land

The full cost stack for a vacant lot, with three worked scenarios.

Cost to run power to property

Overhead vs underground, free footage allowances and transformers.

Septic vs city sewer

Upfront and 20-year cost comparison, with a break-even calculator.

Well vs city water

What a private well costs over 20 years against connecting to the main.

See all calculators

Local tap and impact fees

Each city page lists the utility's published fees with the source document and the date we checked it.

Latest articles

Electrical Panel Upgrade Cost: Who Charges for a 200-Amp Service?

A main panel replacement has a $3,500 survey median; an existing home's 200-amp service upgrade may also involve a local permit and utility costs.

Well Drilling Cost: Depth, Equipment, Permits and Testing

A complete private well system has a $5,000–$25,000 national estimate; depth and the items included in a driller's quote shape the actual bill.

Which US Cities Charge the Most to Connect Water and Sewer? A 2026 Ranking

A ranked, sourced comparison of what 94 US cities charge to connect water and sewer to a new home in 2026, from $155 to $80,212.

Utility Easements for a New Home: When You Need One and What It Costs

When a utility needs an easement on your lot, how wide it is under real utility standards, who pays for survey and recording, and what you can't build on it.

How to Find Out Who Provides Water and Sewer to an Address

The city on a mailing address does not decide the water utility. The official maps, state records and seller disclosures that do.

Utility Deposits for a New Home: How Much and How to Get Them Waived

Water, sewer, electric and gas deposits from 12 utilities, the state rules that cap them, and the letters and credit checks that make them go away.

All articles

Fee database coverage

34states
123cities and counties
1728verified fee rows

Most recent verification: October 21, 2026. Every fee links to the official document it came from.

Browse or download the fee database · How we verify fees