Portland Water Bureau and BES System Development Charges (SDCs) for New Homes (2026)

Last reviewed: September 24, 2026By Utility Cost Guide research team

In Portland, water comes from the Portland Water Bureau and sewer and stormwater service from Portland Environmental Services (BES). A new single-family home that needs a new water service and a 5/8-inch meter pays roughly $21,000 in fiscal 2026-27 charges under our middle assumptions: a $5,483 water system development charge (SDC), an $8,464 service installation, and sewer and stormwater SDCs of about $7,000 that depend on the home’s plumbing fixtures and roof and paving area. The big caveat runs the other way: permits for new housing units issued between August 15, 2025 and September 30, 2028 may be exempt from SDCs under certain conditions, which could remove most of that bill.

Official fees at a glance

The table lists every Portland row we verified for fiscal 2026-27 (effective July 1, 2026). The Water Bureau rows split into two kinds. The water SDC is a one-time capacity charge by meter size for a new or larger meter. The service installation rows are what the Water Bureau charges to install a 1-inch service with a meter of 1 inch or smaller, with or without paving. The BES rows are formulas: the sanitary SDC is priced per drainage fixture unit (DFU), with homes paying 60% of the Tier 1 rate, and the stormwater SDC is priced per 1,000 sq ft of new impervious area.

Service	Category	Fee	Meter	Amount	Basis	Effective	Source	Verified
Sewer — Impact
Sewer	Impact	Sanitary SDC - Tier 1 occupancies	—	$623	per fixture unit	2026-07-01	Official source	2026-09-24
Stormwater — Impact
Stormwater	Impact	Stormwater SDC	—	$580	per sq ft	2026-07-01	Official source	2026-09-24
Water — Connection
Water	Connection	1" service activation with a 1" or smaller meter	1"	$523	flat fee	2026-07-01	Official source	2026-09-24
Water — Impact
Water	Impact	System Development Charge (by meter size)	1"	$13,707	by meter size	2026-07-01	Official source	2026-09-24
Water	Impact	System Development Charge (by meter size)	3/4"	$8,224	by meter size	2026-07-01	Official source	2026-09-24
Water	Impact	System Development Charge (by meter size)	5/8"	$5,483	by meter size	2026-07-01	Official source	2026-09-24
Water — Permit
Water	Permit	Water Service installation processing (permit or voluntary request, field revision)	—	$234	flat fee	2026-07-01	Official source	2026-09-24
Water — Tap
Water	Tap	1" service with a 1" or smaller meter, no paving required No paving required (first listed)	1"	$8,464	flat fee	2026-07-01	Official source	2026-09-24
Water	Tap	1" service with a 1" or smaller meter, with paving Paving restoration required	1"	$9,701	flat fee	2026-07-01	Official source	2026-09-24

Worked example: a new single-family home

The BES sanitary SDC for a home is net new DFUs × 60% × $623, or $373.80 per DFU, according to the BES full list of rates and charges. The DFU count comes from the plumbing plan (each toilet, sink, tub and so on carries a fixture-unit value), and we do not have a typical count for a Portland house, so the cases below use assumed DFU counts and impervious areas. They are illustrations; your plans set the real numbers.

Estimated Portland charges, FY2026-27, no SDC exemption (assumed DFU and impervious area)

Charge	A: 5/8″ meter, new service, no paving, 15 DFU, 2,500 sq ft impervious	B: 1″ meter, new service, with paving, 25 DFU, 3,500 sq ft impervious	C: 5/8″ meter, service installed with a main extension, 15 DFU, 2,500 sq ft
Water SDC (Water Bureau)	$5,483	$13,707	$5,483
1″ service installation with meter (Water Bureau)	$8,464	$9,701	$4,469
Sanitary SDC: DFU × 0.6 × $623 (BES)	$5,607	$9,345	$5,607
Stormwater SDC: $580 per 1,000 sq ft (BES)	$1,450	$2,030	$1,450
Total	$21,004	$34,783	$17,009

The arithmetic for case A: 15 × 0.6 × $623 = $5,607, and 2.5 × $580 = $1,450. The meter size drives the water SDC hard: $5,483 for 5/8 inch, $8,224 for 3/4 inch and $13,707 for 1 inch, so a 1-inch meter adds $8,224 over the 5/8-inch case on that line alone. If the SDC exemption applied to all three SDCs, case A would fall to the $8,464 installation charge. The Water Bureau also lists a $234 service installation processing charge for permits, voluntary requests and field revisions; we left it out because it may not apply to every job.

Portland’s SDCs are charged on net new demand: the sanitary SDC counts net new DFUs, the stormwater SDC counts the net increase in impervious area, and the water SDC applies to new or larger meters. Replacing a house on a lot that already has a service and fixtures can cost much less than building on a vacant lot.

What these fees don’t include

The Water Bureau’s installation charge covers the new service and meter. The line from the meter to the house, the private sewer line, trenching and the plumbing permit are separate. National estimates (methodology), some of them built from Portland data:

Plumbing permit: our national typical figure of $300 comes from Portland’s 2025 permit fees for exterior lines (sewer $171 plus water service $130); a whole-house permit for a new three-bath home was $1,321.
Water line from meter to house: $30–$150 per foot, typical $50. At 40 feet, about $2,000.
Sewer line to the main: $50–$250 per foot, typical $100. At 60 feet, about $6,000.
Trenching in normal soil: $4–$15 per foot.

Estimate utility connection costs

Estimates are planning figures, not quotes. Confirm fees and trench rules with your utility.

Location and property State City or utility Property situation Distance from main or pole to building (feet) Meter size Soil or terrain Existing tap Electric service route

Services and site work Water Sewer Electric Gas Road or driveway crossing needed Share one trench where allowed Utility confirms water and sewer may share a trench Pad-mounted transformer needed

Many codes require horizontal separation between water and sewer. This estimate assumes separate water and sewer trenches unless you select a shared run where your utility allows it.

Quoted fees and comparison assumptions Water quoted fee ($) Sewer quoted fee ($) Electric quoted fee ($) Gas quoted fee ($) Estimated monthly city utility bill ($) Well depth (feet) Septic pumping interval (years) Replacement horizon (years)

How and when you pay

The SDC exemption is tied to the permit issue date, so ask the permit center when each SDC is invoiced on your permit. The Water Bureau prices its own installation of new services in its fee ordinance, the FY 2026-2027 Water System Rates, Charges, and Fees (Ordinance 192183, Exhibit A). When a lot already has an idle 1-inch service, the bureau charges $523 to activate it instead of the $8,464–$9,701 for a new installation. In a new subdivision where services go in with the main extension, the installation is $4,469.

The exemption window matters for timing. BES states that permits for new housing units issued from August 15, 2025 through September 30, 2028 may be exempt from SDCs under certain conditions. Ask the permit center which SDCs the exemption covers for your project and what conditions apply before you rely on it.

Changes to watch

Water Bureau and BES charges are set by fiscal year. The FY2026-27 amounts took effect July 1, 2026; re-check for FY2027-28 amounts after mid-2027.
The housing SDC exemption window ends September 30, 2028. A permit issued after that date would pay full SDCs unless the city extends it.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the water SDC in Portland?

For fiscal 2026-27 the Portland Water Bureau SDC is $5,483 for a 5/8-inch meter, $8,224 for 3/4 inch and $13,707 for 1 inch. It is charged once for a new or larger meter.

How is the Portland sewer SDC calculated for a house?

BES charges $623 per drainage fixture unit at the Tier 1 rate, and homes pay 60% of that: net new DFUs × 0.6 × $623. A plan with 15 net new DFUs would pay $5,607.

Are new homes in Portland exempt from SDCs?

Possibly. BES says permits for new housing units issued between August 15, 2025 and September 30, 2028 may be exempt from SDCs under certain conditions. Confirm eligibility and which charges it covers with the city before budgeting.

What does the Portland Water Bureau charge to install a new service?

For fiscal 2026-27, a new 1-inch service with a meter of 1 inch or smaller costs $8,464 without paving and $9,701 with paving, or $4,469 when installed with a main extension. Activating an existing 1-inch service is $523.

Does Portland charge a stormwater fee on new homes?

Yes. BES charges a stormwater SDC of $580 per 1,000 sq ft of net new impervious area, such as roofs and driveways. A home adding 2,500 sq ft would pay $1,450.

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Sources

FY 2026-2027 Water System Rates, Charges, and Fees Ordinance, Exhibit A (Ord. 192183), City of Portland Water Bureau. Checked Sep 24, 2026.
Full List of Environmental Services Rates and Charges (FY 2026-2027), Portland Environmental Services. Checked Sep 24, 2026.