OUC, City of Orlando & Orange County Water and Sewer Connection Fees (2026)
Orlando splits utility service between agencies. Inside city limits, the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) provides water and the City of Orlando’s Water Reclamation Division provides sewer. In unincorporated Orange County, Orange County Utilities (OCU) usually provides both. For a new house inside the city with a 5/8-inch meter, no reclaimed water and OUC installing the complete service, the one-time charges are $2,325 (OUC system development charge) + $4,155 (OUC service connection) + $2,537.50 (city sewer impact fee) + $50 (sewer permit) = $9,067.50, or $12,017.50 if the city also has to build the sewer lateral (OUC tariff, January 2026). In unincorporated Orange County, capital charges alone are $2,790 for water and $5,270 for sewer, or $8,060. An Orlando mailing address does not tell you which agency serves the parcel, so confirm both providers for the exact address first.
Who serves your address
Providers and fee sources by area, as published by each agency.
| Area | Water | Sewer | Main one-time charges |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Orlando | OUC | City of Orlando Water Reclamation | OUC system development charge + connection charge; city sewer impact fee + permit |
| Unincorporated Orange County | Orange County Utilities | Orange County Utilities | Water and wastewater capital charges per ERC/ERU |
The city/county line is only the starting point. Water and sewer can come from different agencies, so call the utility you think serves the parcel before you rely on any number below.
Orlando connection fees at a glance
The first table covers the City of Orlando area: OUC’s water charges from its January 2026 tariff, and the city’s residential sewer connection fees. OUC charges a system development charge (SDC) for capacity, priced in ERCs of 275 gallons per day, plus a service connection charge. The connection charge depends on who builds the line. The city sewer page lists three amounts but gives no effective date.
| Service | Category | Fee | Meter | Amount | Basis | Effective | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General — Account Setup | ||||||||
| General | Account Setup | Initial / Transfer Connection Charge | — | $25 | flat fee | 2026-01-01 | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Sewer — Impact | ||||||||
| Sewer | Impact | Residential Sewer Impact Fee | — | $2,537.50 | flat fee | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Sewer — Permit | ||||||||
| Sewer | Permit | Residential Sewer Permit Fee | — | $50 | flat fee | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Sewer — Service Line | ||||||||
| Sewer | Service Line | Residential Sewer Lateral Construction | — | $2,950 | per lateral | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water — Capacity | ||||||||
| Water | Capacity | Water System Development Charge (SDC) - single-family, no reclaim | 1" | $4,627 | per dwelling unit (1.99 ERC) | 2026-01-01 | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water | Capacity | Water System Development Charge (SDC) - single-family, no reclaim | 5/8" | $2,325 | per dwelling unit (1.00 ERC) | 2026-01-01 | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water — Connection | ||||||||
| Water | Connection | Standard Metered Service Connection Charge - OUC installs complete service | 1" | $4,235 | by meter size | 2026-01-01 | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water | Connection | Standard Metered Service Connection Charge - OUC installs complete service | 5/8" | $4,155 | by meter size | 2026-01-01 | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water — Meter Set | ||||||||
| Water | Meter Set | Standard Metered Service Connection Charge - customer installs connection, OUC sets meter Customer installs connection; OUC sets meter | 1" | $530 | by meter size | 2026-01-01 | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water | Meter Set | Standard Metered Service Connection Charge - customer installs connection, OUC sets meter Customer installs connection; OUC sets meter | 5/8" | $460 | by meter size | 2026-01-01 | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
The second table covers Orange County Utilities. OCU charges capital charges per equivalent residential connection or unit (ERC/ERU), and one single-family home counts as one. County Code Sec. 37-5 applies these rates to plans submitted on or after April 1, 2025. We have not yet collected OCU’s meter or installation charges, so the table shows capacity only.
| Service | Category | Fee | Meter | Amount | Basis | Effective | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General — Inspection | ||||||||
| General | Inspection | Utilities inspection fee | — | See formula | 2.4% of construction cost | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Sewer — Capacity | ||||||||
| Sewer | Capacity | Wastewater Capital Charge | — | $5,270 | per ERU | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water — Capacity | ||||||||
| Water | Capacity | Water Capital Charge | — | $2,790 | per ERC | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
Worked example: a new home in Orlando
Assumptions: one detached house with a 5/8-inch potable meter, no fire sprinkler, the January 2026 OUC tariff, and the fees shown on the city and county pages as of September 24, 2026. The cases differ by jurisdiction, by who builds the water line and by whether the lot has reclaimed water for irrigation.
One-time official charges for one house (sources: OUC Water Tariff Book, Jan 2026; City of Orlando residential sewer connection; Orange County Utilities permitting fees).
| Charge | A. City, OUC installs service, no reclaim | B. City, builder installs line, reclaimed water | C. Unincorporated Orange County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water capacity | $2,325 (OUC SDC, 1 ERC) | $1,395 (OUC SDC with reclaim, 0.60 ERC) | $2,790 (OCU water capital charge) |
| Water connection / meter | $4,155 (OUC installs complete service) | $460 (OUC sets meter and box only) | not collected |
| Sewer capacity | $2,537.50 (city impact fee) | $2,537.50 | $5,270 (OCU wastewater capital charge) |
| Sewer permit | $50 | $50 | not collected |
| Total | $9,067.50 | $4,442.50 | $8,060 + meter/install |
The arithmetic: A is $2,325 + $4,155 + $2,537.50 + $50 = $9,067.50. B is $1,395 + $460 + $2,537.50 + $50 = $4,442.50. C is $2,790 + $5,270 = $8,060 before any OCU meter or tap charge. Three adjustments can apply:
- City sewer lateral. If the city has to construct the lateral, add $2,950. Case A becomes $12,017.50.
- Backflow device. When OUC installs the complete service with a backflow device, the connection charge is $4,600 instead of $4,155.
- Builder installs line, no reclaim. Case B without reclaimed water uses the full $2,325 SDC: $2,325 + $460 + $2,537.50 + $50 = $5,372.50. The $3,695 gap between that and case A ($4,155 − $460) is what OUC charges to build the line itself. Compare it with a contractor’s price for the same work.
Meter size matters at OUC too. A 1-inch meter without reclaim carries a $4,627 SDC (with reclaim, $1,511), and the full-service connection rises to $4,235.
What is not included in Orlando fees
OUC’s full-service charge covers the connection, service line, curb stop, meter and box. It does not cover piping from the meter to the house. On the sewer side, the city’s lateral charge applies only when the city builds it. Private work to plan for:
- Water service line from meter to house: $30 to $150 per foot, about $50 typical (national estimate).
- Sewer lateral on private property: $50 to $250 per foot, about $100 typical (national estimate).
- Trenching: $4 to $15 per foot in normal soil (national estimate).
- Plumbing permit: $100 to $1,300, about $300 typical (national estimate). In the city, a licensed plumber pulls it.
These ranges come from our national benchmark set. If the lot is on septic today, see septic vs. sewer cost. To add private work to the official fees:
Estimate utility connection costs
Estimates are planning figures, not quotes. Confirm fees and trench rules with your utility.
Paying Orlando fees: timing and process
- OUC (water, city): You choose between OUC installing the whole service ($4,155 for 5/8 inch) and your contractor installing the connection, service line and curb stop, with OUC setting only the meter and box ($460). The SDC applies either way. A $25 initial connection charge applies when service starts at a new location, and one charge covers any mix of OUC electric, water and chilled water.
- City sewer: A licensed plumber pulls the plumbing permit, and the city requires a condition assessment of the lateral. The $2,537.50 impact fee and $50 permit fee are listed on the city’s connection request page.
- Orange County Utilities: Water and wastewater capital charges are paid right before the vertical-construction building permit is issued. Reclaimed-water connections carry no capital charge.
Orlando fee changes to watch
OUC’s figures come from its tariff dated January 2026. OUC has published its tariff as dated editions, so check for a newer one before paying. Orange County’s capital charges apply to plans submitted on or after April 1, 2025, which means your plan submittal date, not your permit date, sets the rate. We have no dated schedule for the city sewer fees.
Common questions about Orlando fees
Who provides water and sewer in Orlando?
Inside city limits, OUC provides water and the City of Orlando’s Water Reclamation Division provides sewer. In unincorporated Orange County, Orange County Utilities typically provides both. Verify by parcel, since a mailing address can say Orlando outside city limits.
How much is the OUC water connection fee for a new house?
Under the January 2026 tariff, OUC charges $4,155 to install a complete 5/8-inch service, or $460 to set the meter when your contractor builds the line. The $2,325 system development charge is separate, or $1,395 if the lot has reclaimed water.
What is the City of Orlando sewer impact fee?
The city lists a residential sewer impact fee of $2,537.50 and a $50 permit fee. If the city must build the lateral, it charges $2,950. The page gives no effective date.
What are Orange County Utilities capital charges?
OCU charges $2,790 per ERC for water and $5,270 per ERU for wastewater, and a single-family home counts as one of each. They are due before the building permit and apply to plans submitted on or after April 1, 2025.
Does reclaimed water lower connection fees?
At OUC it does. A single-family home with reclaimed water at the premises is assessed 0.60 ERC, a $1,395 SDC instead of $2,325. At Orange County Utilities, reclaimed-water connections carry no capital charge.
Related guides for Orlando
North of Orlando, Ocala’s water and sewer impact fees depend on whether the city or the builder installs the service.
On the Atlantic side, Port St. Lucie gravity and low-pressure lot charges differ by sewer type and assessment area.
See the Florida utility connection costs hub and Tampa tap fees, or compare with Charleston and Charlotte. Related guides: tap fee vs. impact fee, water meter installation cost, sewer lateral cost and tap fees by city.
Official documents behind the Orlando figures
- Water Tariff Book (January 2026), Orlando Utilities Commission. Checked Sep 24, 2026.
- Request a Residential Sewer Connection, City of Orlando. No effective date shown. Checked Sep 24, 2026.
- Utilities Permitting Fees (County Code Sec. 37-5), Orange County Utilities. Checked Sep 24, 2026.
- National cost estimates: Utility Cost Guide benchmark methodology.