Spokane Water and Sewer General Facilities Charges and Tap Fees (2026)
The City of Spokane’s Public Works utilities provide water and wastewater service inside the city, and both charge a general facilities charge (GFC) on every new connection. For a new single-family home with a 5/8-inch meter, the published 2026 charges we could verify come to $8,642: a $3,475 water GFC, a $4,887 wastewater GFC, a $65 water tap and meter application fee, and $215 for the side sewer permit. The most important local caveat is meter size. Both GFCs are priced by meter size, so the same house with a 1-inch meter pays $21,184, and that total still does not include the city’s charge for the tap and meter themselves.
Official Spokane fees in one table
Every row below comes from the Spokane Municipal Code (SMC). The two GFC tables are in SMC 13.04.2044 (water) and SMC 13.03.0734 (wastewater), Each schedule says its 2026 rates took effect January 1, 2026; the ordinances that adopted them took effect January 18, 2026. Both are a single citywide price for each meter size, with no zones. The permit fees are in SMC 8.02.0371 and 8.02.037, effective January 22, 2025. The sewer tapping permit and the reinspection fee are listed as other published fees because a typical new home on a lot with an existing side sewer stub does not pay them.
| Service | Category | Fee | Meter | Amount | Basis | Effective | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sewer — Capacity | ||||||||
| Sewer | Capacity | Wastewater General Facilities Charge (GFC), 1" water meter | 1" | $12,216 | by meter size | 2026-01-01 | Official source | 2026-09-25 |
| Sewer | Capacity | Wastewater General Facilities Charge (GFC), 3/4" water meter | 3/4" | $7,330 | by meter size | 2026-01-01 | Official source | 2026-09-25 |
| Sewer | Capacity | Wastewater General Facilities Charge (GFC), 5/8" water meter | 5/8" | $4,887 | by meter size | 2026-01-01 | Official source | 2026-09-25 |
| Sewer — Inspection | ||||||||
| Sewer | Inspection | Side sewer permit - inspection | — | $150 | flat fee | 2025-01-22 | Official source | 2026-09-25 |
| Sewer | Inspection | Side sewer reinspection | — | $50 | flat fee | 2025-01-22 | Official source | 2026-09-25 |
| Sewer — Permit | ||||||||
| Sewer | Permit | Sewer tapping permit | — | $100 | flat fee | 2025-01-22 | Official source | 2026-09-25 |
| Sewer | Permit | Side sewer permit - application | — | $65 | flat fee | 2025-01-22 | Official source | 2026-09-25 |
| Water — Capacity | ||||||||
| Water | Capacity | Water General Facilities Charge (GFC), 1" meter | 1" | $8,688 | by meter size | 2026-01-01 | Official source | 2026-09-25 |
| Water | Capacity | Water General Facilities Charge (GFC), 3/4" meter | 3/4" | $5,213 | by meter size | 2026-01-01 | Official source | 2026-09-25 |
| Water | Capacity | Water General Facilities Charge (GFC), 5/8" meter | 5/8" | $3,475 | by meter size | 2026-01-01 | Official source | 2026-09-25 |
| Water — Permit | ||||||||
| Water | Permit | Water tapping permit / water meter application fee | — | $65 | flat fee | 2025-01-22 | Official source | 2026-09-25 |
Worked example: a new home in Spokane
Assumptions: a detached home inside Spokane city limits on a vacant lot with no existing water service, one domestic meter, a side sewer run to an existing stub, and no fire sprinkler meter. Spokane sizes residential meters by fixture-unit count under the Uniform Plumbing Code, so the meter is set by the plumbing design, not by the owner. Four cases:
Estimated City of Spokane connection charges, 2026 (GFCs: SMC 13.04.2044 and 13.03.0734; permits: SMC 8.02.0371 and 8.02.037)
| Charge | A: 5/8″ | B: 3/4″ | C: 3/4″ water, 5/8″ sewer basis | D: 1″ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water GFC | $3,475 | $5,213 | $5,213 | $8,688 |
| Wastewater GFC | $4,887 | $7,330 | $4,887 | $12,216 |
| Water tap / meter application | $65 | $65 | $65 | $65 |
| Side sewer permit (application $65 + inspection $150) | $215 | $215 | $215 | $215 |
| Total | $8,642 | $12,823 | $10,380 | $21,184 |
Case C shows a Spokane detail. The water GFC is based on the meter size for domestic and irrigation use, while the wastewater GFC is based on the meter the building would need without irrigation or fire flow (SMC 13.03.0732). If a lawn system is the only reason a home needs a 3/4-inch meter, the sewer charge can stay at the 5/8-inch rate. That saves $2,443 compared with case B ($7,330 − $4,887).
Going from 5/8 inch to 1 inch adds $5,213 to the water GFC and $7,329 to the wastewater GFC, $12,542 in all. That gap is larger than the whole 5/8-inch total, so confirm the meter size with your plumber before you set a budget.
What Spokane’s fees don’t cover
The GFCs pay for system capacity. The permits cover city review and inspection. Neither pays for the work on your lot. The water line from the meter box to the house, the side sewer from the house to the public sewer, excavation, and the plumbing permit are separate costs. National estimates (methodology), which include trenching:
- Water line from meter to house: $30–$150 per foot, typical $50. Spokane puts new 5/8-, 3/4- and 1-inch residential meters in a box within three feet of the property line, so the run is roughly the house setback. At 30 feet, about $1,500.
- Side sewer: $50–$250 per foot, typical $100. At 50 feet, about $5,000.
- Street cut or bore, if a new sewer tap is needed across the street: $1,000–$10,000, typical $4,000. In that case Spokane also charges a $100 sewer tapping permit.
- Plumbing permit: $100–$1,300, typical $300.
Estimate utility connection costs
Estimates are planning figures, not quotes. Confirm fees and trench rules with your utility.
When you pay Spokane connection fees
The water GFC is collected at connection, when you apply for a building permit, or at another time the Public Works director chooses (SMC 13.04.2040). The wastewater GFC is due in full when you apply for the connection. The water tapping permit and water meter application each carry a $65 fee, but you pay only one $65 fee if you file both together. A small-tap permit is valid for 12 months; after that it expires and a new permit is required.
Existing service counts as a credit. If a lot already has a meter, Spokane charges only the difference between the old and new meter sizes, and added demand that doesn’t require a larger meter pays no water GFC. Each additional city meter on the same parcel pays its own GFC, and so do new units, including accessory dwelling units, that are added to a master-meter account. Spokane’s stated policy is not to waive GFCs. Any reduction, such as for permanent affordable housing, has to come from grant or general-fund money under Public Rule 5200-23-01.
New meters are sold with the meter box as one unit. If a public main does not yet reach the property, the director may allow a “long connection.” The owner then pays for the extra installation plus a non-refundable charge the city sets, and must sign waivers for future local improvement districts and main extensions.
Upcoming changes in Spokane
- Both GFC tables rise every January 1 by the Engineering News-Record construction cost index, measured October to October. The city says it will publish the new charges in a public rule by January 1 each year, so expect 2027 rates at the start of the year.
- The code calls for a full GFC study every three to five years. The current structure took effect March 5, 2024. According to the council’s findings, the charges had not been updated in more than 20 years before that.
- The permit fees in SMC 8.02 date from January 2025. The small tap and meter fee schedule is reissued each year.
How Spokane compares with Seattle
Spokane’s capacity charges are higher than Seattle’s at the same meter size. At 3/4 inch, Spokane’s two GFCs total $12,543 ($5,213 + $7,330). Seattle Public Utilities’ 2026 water and wastewater system development charges total $9,500. Seattle’s installation cost is easier to predict, though: SPU publishes a $4,800 water service installation and a $330 meter, which brings its 3/4-inch total to $14,630 before the drainage charge. Spokane’s tap and meter charges come on top of $12,823. Spokane also publishes a 5/8-inch rate, which many smaller homes can use. The Seattle figures we verified start at 3/4 inch. See the Seattle tap fee page for SPU’s full breakdown.
Spokane tap fee FAQ
How much are water and sewer hookup fees in Spokane?
For a new home with a 5/8-inch meter, the 2026 GFCs are $3,475 for water and $4,887 for wastewater, $8,362 together. Add $65 for the water tap and meter application and $215 for the side sewer permit. The city’s tap and meter charge comes on top of that.
What is a general facilities charge in Spokane?
It is a one-time charge on new or upsized connections that pays for water and sewer system capacity. Spokane charges one citywide price for each meter size, and both tables rise every January 1 with a construction cost index.
Does a bigger meter really cost that much more?
Yes. Going from 5/8 inch to 1 inch raises the combined GFCs from $8,362 to $20,904. Your plumber’s fixture-unit count sets the size, so check it early.
Do I pay a GFC for an ADU in Spokane?
Often, yes. An ADU with its own city meter pays a GFC for that meter’s size. So does an ADU added to a master-meter account, unless the charge was paid when the master meter was bought. If the ADU shares an ordinary meter that doesn’t need to be upsized, SMC 13.04.2040 says no water GFC is due. Ask the city to confirm how your setup is treated.
Can Spokane waive the GFC?
The city’s policy is not to waive GFCs. Some projects, such as permanent affordable housing, may have the charge offset with grant or general-fund money under Public Rule 5200-23-01. The city applies that offset. It does not waive the charge.
Do I need a sewer tapping permit?
Only if a new tap has to be made on the public sewer. That permit is $100, plus any special connection charges. If the lot already has a side sewer stub, you pay the $215 side sewer permit instead.
Where to go next from Spokane
tap fees by city · Seattle SDCs · Portland SDCs · water meter installation cost · sewer lateral cost · utility connection cost calculator
Sources for Spokane figures
- SMC 13.04.2044, Appendix A: Water General Facilities Charge Schedule, City of Spokane. Checked Sep 25, 2026.
- SMC 13.04.2042, Water General Facilities Charge: Schedule of Charges, City of Spokane. Checked Sep 25, 2026.
- SMC 13.04.2040, Water GFC General Provision: Long Connections, City of Spokane. Checked Sep 25, 2026.
- SMC 13.03.0734, Appendix A: Wastewater General Facilities Charge Schedule, City of Spokane. Checked Sep 25, 2026.
- SMC 13.03.0732, Wastewater GFC: Schedule of Charges, City of Spokane. Checked Sep 25, 2026.
- SMC 13.04.2026, Small Taps and Meters: Additional, City of Spokane. Checked Sep 25, 2026.
- SMC 8.02.0371, Water Code fees and SMC 8.02.037, Sewer Code fees, City of Spokane. Checked Sep 25, 2026.