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.

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.

Official 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.

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.

Worked example: a new single-family home

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).

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 these fees don’t include

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:

How and when you pay

• 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.

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.

Frequently asked questions

Related pages

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.

Sources

• 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.