U.S. Utility Connection Fee Database

The Utility Cost Guide fee database contains individual utility fee line items from published primary documents. Coverage varies by place and service. Check the source and verification date for a record before using it in a project budget.

Current coverage

Use and download the data

Each row represents one published fee line item, with its charging basis and source. Filter the public fee API by jurisdiction, state, or service, or download the verified records as CSV or JSON. A fee may apply only to a specific meter size or customer class. Formula and per-unit rows are not automatically flat charges. See the methodology and reuse policy.

Field dictionary

Cite this dataset

Suggested citation: Utility Cost Guide, U.S. Utility Connection Fee Database, accessed <date>, https://utilitycostguide.com/fee-database/. Replace <date> with your access date and cite the original utility document for a specific fee.

How to read a fee row

Every row is one line from a utility’s published fee schedule, so a single connection usually involves several rows. Start with the fee name and service, then look at the columns that decide whether the row applies to you.

• Meter size. Many water and sewer fees rise with the size of the meter. A larger meter, for example one sized for fire sprinklers or irrigation, can change the charge. Match the row to the meter your plans call for, not to the cheapest one listed.
• Basis. This tells you how the charge is assessed: a flat amount per connection, a rate per unit such as a dwelling or a fixture, a rate per foot of frontage, or a published formula. A per-unit or formula row is not a total until you work it out for your project.
• Effective date. The date the source says the charge takes effect. Fee schedules are often tied to a fiscal year or a permit application date, so an older date is not necessarily wrong, but it is a reason to look for a newer schedule.
• Source and verified date. The source link points to the utility’s own document. The verified date is when the row was last compared with that document. If the effective date and the verified date are far apart, treat the row as a starting point.
• Confirm with utility. Some rows carry this flag. It means the source was unclear, the fee depends on project details, or the schedule may have changed. Call the utility before using the number in a budget.

What the fee types mean

Utilities use different words for similar charges, so the fee category column groups them into a few plain types.

• Tap fee: the charge for physically connecting your service pipe to the utility’s main, and sometimes for the crew and materials involved.
• Impact or capacity fee: a charge for your share of the treatment plant, pipes or wells the system needs in order to serve one more customer. It is often the largest public charge and is usually based on meter size or expected demand. The difference from a tap fee is explained in tap fee vs impact fee.
• Meter set fee: the charge for the meter, the box and the installation at the property line.
• Main extension: the cost of extending a utility main or line to reach your lot when it does not already run past it. It is frequently paid by the developer or owner, and some utilities have policies that refund part of it later.
• Permit and inspection fees: charges for the utility’s review of your plans and for inspecting the work before service is turned on.

Why the same city has several rows

A city rarely publishes a single number. Water and sewer are often billed separately, and some places have a different provider for each. Inside one service there may be separate rows for each meter size, for residential and commercial customers, for addresses inside and outside the city limits, and for tap, capacity and meter charges. Some cities also publish an older and a newer schedule side by side during a transition. Read the customer class, meter size and effective date before comparing two rows. If you only need a quick side-by-side of cities, use tap fees by city.

Using the data

The database is licensed under CC BY 4.0. You may copy, share and build on it, including for commercial work, as long as you give credit. A copy of the data is also kept on GitHub at github.com/veinpsycoo/us-utility-connection-fees. When you cite the database, use the suggested citation at the end of this page and include your access date. For a specific fee that affects money you will spend, cite the utility’s original document as well, since that document is the authority. The reuse policy covers the details, and the corrections page explains how to report an error.

How often it is updated

Utilities change their schedules on their own calendars. Many adjust fees at the start of a fiscal year or a quarter, and July 1, October 1 and January 1 are common effective dates. A record keeps its original effective date until a newer published schedule replaces it, and the verified date shows the last time it was compared with the source. Because a fee can change between checks, read the methodology to see how records are reviewed, and confirm the current amount with the utility before you sign a contract or pull a permit.