Oklahoma City Water & Sewer Connection Fees (2026)
The City of Oklahoma City’s Utilities Department provides water and sewer at a typical address inside the city, and the development charges are paid to the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust. For a new single-family home with a 5/8-inch or 3/4-inch meter and two full bathrooms, the published city charges come to $1,283.28: a $1,000 water system development charge, a $48.28 meter, a $35 inspection, and a sewer system impact charge of $100 plus $50 for each of two equivalent bath units. The one local rule that changes the total is the sewer charge, which is counted by plumbing fixtures, so a house with more bathrooms pays more even with the same meter.
Oklahoma City connection fees at a glance
The table lists every Oklahoma City row in our database with its source. The development charges, inspection fee, calibration fee, service installation charges and account charge come from Chapter 60 of the Oklahoma City Municipal Code (the General Schedule of Fees), Title 55. The meter prices come from the Utilities Department’s Impact Fee Schedule on okc.gov; we did not find them in the Code, and the page gives no effective date. Rows marked as not typical, such as the $425 City-installed service and the $45 calibration fee, apply only in special cases.
| Service | Category | Fee | Meter | Amount | Basis | Effective | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sewer — Impact | ||||||||
| Sewer | Impact | Sewer system impact charge (per equivalent bath unit) | — | $50 | per unit | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Sewer | Impact | Sewer system impact charge (sanitary sewer line connection) | — | $100 | flat fee | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water — Account Setup | ||||||||
| Water | Account Setup | Customer account origination charge | — | $25 | flat fee | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water — Connection | ||||||||
| Water | Connection | Service installation charge (City installs complete service), 1-inch, inside City | 1" | $465 | by meter size | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water | Connection | Service installation charge (City installs complete service), 3/4-inch, inside City | 3/4" | $425 | by meter size | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water — Impact | ||||||||
| Water | Impact | Water System Development Charge | 1" | $1,670 | by meter size | 2016-10-01 | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water | Impact | Water System Development Charge | 3/4" | $1,000 | by meter size | 2016-10-01 | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water | Impact | Water System Development Charge | 5/8" | $1,000 | by meter size | 2016-10-01 | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water — Inspection | ||||||||
| Water | Inspection | Service line and meter inspection fee (regular hours) | — | $35 | flat fee | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water — Meter | ||||||||
| Water | Meter | Meter Fee | 1" | $98.07 | by meter size | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water | Meter | Meter Fee | 3/4" | $48.28 | by meter size | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water | Meter | Meter Fee | 5/8" | $48.28 | by meter size | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water — Other | ||||||||
| Water | Other | Meter calibration fee | — | $45 | flat fee | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
Worked example for a single-family home in Oklahoma City
The water system development charge is a base rate times a meter multiplier. Municipal Code Section 60-55-30 sets the rate at $1,000 for permits issued from October 1, 2016 on, and Section 60-55-17 (last amended November 18, 2025) gives a multiplier of 1.00 for 5/8-inch and 3/4-inch meters and 1.67 for a 1-inch meter, which is $1,670. The meter prices and the $35 inspection are listed together on the city’s Builders & Contractors impact fee schedule.
The sewer charge under Section 60-55-31 is $100 per sanitary sewer connection plus $50 per equivalent bath unit “or portion thereof.” The Code’s Table I counts a toilet as 1/2 unit, a sink or lavatory as 1/8 and a tub, shower or spa as 1/4. A full bathroom with a toilet, lavatory and tub is 7/8 of a unit. Two full baths plus a kitchen sink add up to 1-7/8 units, which rounds up to 2 units ($100). Add a half bath (toilet and lavatory, 5/8) and the house reaches 2-1/2, which rounds up to 3 units ($150). Your plumber’s fixture count on the permit decides this, so check it before you budget.
Published City of Oklahoma City charges for one new single-family home (contractor’s work not included).
| Case | Water development charge | Meter | Inspection | Sewer connection | Bath units | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/8″ or 3/4″ meter, 2 full baths (2 units) | $1,000.00 | $48.28 | $35.00 | $100.00 | $100.00 | $1,283.28 |
| 5/8″ or 3/4″ meter, 2-1/2 baths (3 units) | $1,000.00 | $48.28 | $35.00 | $100.00 | $150.00 | $1,333.28 |
| 1″ meter, 3-1/2 baths (4 units) | $1,670.00 | $98.07 | $35.00 | $100.00 | $200.00 | $2,103.07 |
The fourth case counts 3-1/2 baths as three full baths (2-5/8 units) plus a half bath (5/8) plus a kitchen sink (1/8), or 3-3/8 units, rounded up to 4. Opening the water account adds $25 (Section 60-55-37), plus any security deposit the Utilities Director requires by policy. Paying the development or sewer charges by card adds a 2.7% service fee.
Section 60-55-29 charges $35 per inspection “of each service line and each meter installation.” The city’s schedule lists one $35 inspection per meter, which we used. If the city inspects the service line and the meter separately, expect a second $35 ($1,318.28 in the first case); ask the New Meter Sales Desk when you buy the meter.
What Oklahoma City’s fees don’t cover
For new meter installations, the city’s Builders & Contractors page sends owners to a list of approved contractors, pre-qualified at Class D (Water Pipeline) or higher, and says each contractor sets its own installation price. That price, and everything else below, is on top of the city’s charges:
- Meter installation and water service line. The contractor’s price for the meter setting and the line from the main to the house. National estimate $30–$150 per foot, typically about $50, with trenching in normal soil included. See water service line cost and water meter installation cost.
- Sewer service line. From the house to the public sewer. National estimate $50–$250 per foot, typically about $100, trenching included. See sewer lateral cost.
- Street cuts and hard digging. National estimate $1,000–$10,000 per street crossing; rock or clay raises trenching costs (see utility trenching cost).
- A water service tap fee, on some lots. Section 55-76 of the Code says a water service tap fee is owed before connecting to the city’s mains, calculated under Policy A of the city’s 1977 Water Main Extension Policy for approach and boundary mains. We did not find a published amount; ask the Utilities Engineering Help Desk, (405) 297-2666, which the city lists for water and sewer line locations, whether your lot is on such a main.
- Building and plumbing permits from Development Services, which are separate from the utility charges.
- Electric service. We could not read a primary line extension document from the electric utility, so no electric figure is included here; ask your provider.
National figures are estimates from our benchmark set. The calculator below loads Oklahoma City’s official fees; add your contractor’s quote to it:
Estimate utility connection costs
Estimates are planning figures, not quotes. Confirm fees and trench rules with your utility.
Paying Oklahoma City fees: timing and process
Section 55-69 of the Code requires anyone connecting to the water or sewer system to apply, get the permits and pay the system development charges before connecting. The water charge is due when the plumbing permit is applied for or before the water connection is made, whichever comes first. Both charges are paid to the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust, and the Code limits their use to new construction and improvements to the water and sewer systems.
To start, the owner or contractor fills out the city’s New Meter and Water Service Installation Form and emails it to buildingpermitapplication@okc.gov. Meter sales go through the New Meter Sales Desk at (405) 297-2953, and meter scheduling and inspections through newserviceinspections@okc.gov. Meters of 1-1/2 inches and larger are bought from a plumbing wholesale house instead of the City and carry a calibration fee.
When a licensed plumbing contractor installs the service, Section 55-75(b) says the City’s charge is the meter, the inspection and the meter setting charge, plus any work the City does.
Oklahoma City fee changes to watch
- Stable base rate. The $1,000 water development charge rate has applied since October 1, 2016, after a phase-in from $100 that began with a 2014 ordinance. We found no scheduled increase in the Code.
- November 2025 amendments. Ordinance 27978 (November 18, 2025) amended the meter multiplier and sewer impact sections; the amounts on this page are from the current text, which includes the 2.7% card service fee.
- Meter prices. The $48.28 and $98.07 meter prices appear only on the city’s web schedule, with no date. They can change without an ordinance, so confirm with the New Meter Sales Desk.
How Oklahoma City compares
Oklahoma City’s published connection charges are low next to the two cities below, because its main fee, the water development charge, has stayed at $1,000 for a standard meter. In Kansas City, Missouri, KC Water charges $858.00 for a 3/4-inch tap on an iron main with meter, permit and sewer inspection, and we found no development charge there. In Fort Worth, water and wastewater impact fees alone are $5,504 for a 5/8 x 3/4-inch meter permitted through September 30, 2026 and $5,828 from October 1, 2026, more than four times Oklahoma City’s $1,283.28 total.
Oklahoma City tap fee FAQ
How much does Oklahoma City charge to connect a new house to water and sewer?
For a 5/8-inch or 3/4-inch meter and two full baths, the published charges total $1,283.28: $1,000 water system development charge, $48.28 meter, $35 inspection and a $200 sewer system impact charge ($100 plus two bath units at $50). A third bath unit adds $50.
Does Oklahoma City have a water impact fee?
Yes. The city calls it the water system development charge and lists it on its web page as an impact fee. It is $1,000 for a 5/8-inch or 3/4-inch meter and $1,670 for a 1-inch meter, under Municipal Code Sections 60-55-17 and 60-55-30.
How is the sewer connection charge calculated?
It is $100 per connection plus $50 per equivalent bath unit, with partial units rounded up. A toilet counts 1/2 unit, a sink or lavatory 1/8 and a tub, shower or spa 1/4, so a full bathroom is 7/8 of a unit.
Who installs the water meter in Oklahoma City?
The city directs new meter installations to its list of approved contractors, pre-qualified at Class D (Water Pipeline) or higher, and each contractor sets its own price. The Code also lists a $425 charge when the City installs a complete 3/4-inch service itself inside city limits ($565 outside).
When are the Oklahoma City development charges paid?
Before connecting. The water charge is due when the plumbing permit is applied for or before the water connection, whichever comes first, and both charges are paid to the Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust.
The other large Oklahoma city we track is covered in Tulsa’s water and sewer connection fees.
Related: water tap fees · sewer tap fees · tap fee vs. impact fee · water meter installation cost · Kansas City fees · Fort Worth fees · utility connection cost calculator
Sources for Oklahoma City figures
- Oklahoma City Municipal Code, Chapter 60 (General Schedule of Fees), Title 55 Utilities, Sections 60-55-17, 60-55-27, 60-55-29, 60-55-30, 60-55-31, 60-55-33 and 60-55-37, City of Oklahoma City via Municode (checked Sep 24, 2026)
- Oklahoma City Municipal Code, Chapter 55 Utilities, Sections 55-52, 55-67, 55-69, 55-75 and 55-76, City of Oklahoma City via Municode (checked Sep 24, 2026)
- Builders & Contractors: New Water Meter Installations and Impact Fee Schedule, City of Oklahoma City (checked Sep 24, 2026)