Tucson Water Meter Fees and Pima County Sewer Connection Fee (2026)
In Tucson, two public agencies share the connection bill: Tucson Water, the city utility, supplies drinking water, and Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (RWRD) charges the sewer connection fee. For a new single-family home with a 5/8-inch meter on a street that does not need repaving, the published charges total $6,423: Tucson Water’s $1,740 service line and meter installation, its $240 CAP Water Resource Fee, and Pima County’s $4,443 sewer connection fee for fiscal 2026-27. The county fee is the biggest piece, and it rises every July 1 under a schedule already written into county code.
Official fees at a glance
The table below lists every Tucson and Pima County row we verified. Tucson Water’s installation rows are prices for physical work, with a lower amount when no pavement has to be replaced and a higher amount when it does. The CAP Water Resource Fee is a capacity-type charge that recovers the cost of Central Arizona Project water rights. The Pima County sewer connection fee is set by water meter size in Pima County Code 13.20.600, and the same amount applies to 5/8-, 3/4- and 1-inch meters. Two county rows appear because the table keeps the prior fiscal year for reference; the FY2026-27 row is the one in force.
| Service | Category | Fee | Meter | Amount | Basis | Effective | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sewer — Connection | ||||||||
| Sewer | Connection | Sewer Connection Fee - residential, 5/8", 3/4" or 1" water meter FY2027 rate | 5/8" | $4,443 | by meter size | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Sewer | Connection | Sewer Connection Fee - residential, 5/8", 3/4" or 1" water meter FY2026 rate | 5/8" | $4,314 | by meter size | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water — Capacity | ||||||||
| Water | Capacity | CAP Water Resource Fee | 1" | $600 | by meter size | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water | Capacity | CAP Water Resource Fee | 3/4" | $360 | by meter size | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water | Capacity | CAP Water Resource Fee | 5/8" | $240 | by meter size | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water — Meter Set | ||||||||
| Water | Meter Set | Meter installation on existing service line - Tucson Water installed meter | 5/8" | $560 | by meter size | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water — Tap | ||||||||
| Water | Tap | Service Line Connection plus Meter - installation with NO pavement replacement | 1" | $1,930–$2,890 | by meter size | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water | Tap | Service Line Connection plus Meter - installation with NO pavement replacement | 3/4" | $1,740–$2,690 | by meter size | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
| Water | Tap | Service Line Connection plus Meter - installation with NO pavement replacement | 5/8" | $1,740–$2,700 | by meter size | — | Official source | 2026-09-24 |
Worked example: a new single-family home
Assumptions: a detached home inside Tucson Water’s service area and on the Pima County sewer system, a new service line from the main, and the meter set by Tucson Water. The unknowns are meter size and whether the street must be cut and repaved.
Estimated official connection charges, Tucson, FY2026-27
| Charge | A: 5/8″, no paving | B: 3/4″, with paving | C: 1″, with paving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service line connection plus meter (Tucson Water) | $1,740 | $2,690 | $2,890 |
| CAP Water Resource Fee (Tucson Water) | $240 | $360 | $600 |
| Sewer connection fee (Pima County RWRD, FY2026-27) | $4,443 | $4,443 | $4,443 |
| Total | $6,423 | $7,493 | $7,933 |
If the lot already has a service line stubbed to it, Tucson Water only sets the meter: $560 for 5/8 inch, $550 for 3/4 inch and $630 for 1 inch, or $450–$500 when the developer has installed the meter box and bricks. A 5/8-inch meter on an existing line brings the total to $560 + $240 + $4,443 = $5,243.
Pavement is the swing factor on the water side. On the Tucson Water installation fee page, a 5/8-inch service with a meter costs $1,740 without pavement replacement and $2,700 with it, a $960 difference.
What these fees don’t include
The published charges end at the meter and the county’s sewer connection. The house side of the water meter, the private sewer line from the house to the public sewer, trenching, and the plumbing permit are separate. We also could not find the current amount of Tucson Water’s System Equity Fee, so it is not in the totals above; ask Tucson Water whether it applies to your meter. National estimates for the private work (methodology):
- Water line from the meter to the house: $30–$150 per foot, typical $50. At 50 feet, about $2,500.
- Sewer line to the public sewer: $50–$250 per foot, typical $100. At 50 feet, about $5,000.
- Trenching in normal soil: $4–$15 per foot, higher in rock.
- 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.
How and when you pay
The CAP Water Resource Fee is assessed when you apply for the meter, for any new connection to Tucson Water’s central potable system, according to the CAP Water Resource Fee page. The installation charge is paid to Tucson Water for its crews to connect the service and set the meter.
The sewer connection fee goes to Pima County before the city releases the building permit. Pima County Code 13.20.600 says it is based on water meter size and states that it is not a permit fee. The county’s fiscal year starts July 1, so the amount you pay depends on the date you pay it.
The City of Tucson’s own development impact fees cover roads, parks, police and fire. They are not water or sewer charges, and we did not record them here.
Changes to watch
Pima County sewer connection fee schedule, residential 5/8″ to 1″ meter (Pima County Code 13.20.600)
| County fiscal year | Period | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025-26 | Jul 1, 2025 – Jun 30, 2026 | $4,314 |
| FY2026-27 (current) | Jul 1, 2026 – Jun 30, 2027 | $4,443 |
| FY2027-28 | Jul 1, 2027 – Jun 30, 2028 | $4,576 |
| FY2028-29 | Jul 1, 2028 – Jun 30, 2029 | $4,714 |
- Paying before July 1, 2027 instead of after saves $133 on the sewer fee ($4,576 − $4,443).
- Tucson Water says its fiscal 2027–2030 miscellaneous fee study was adopted May 19, 2026, with the new installation fees effective July 6, 2026. The CAP fee page shows no effective date.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to connect to sewer in Tucson?
Pima County’s sewer connection fee for a home with a 5/8-, 3/4- or 1-inch water meter is $4,443 from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. It rises to $4,576 on July 1, 2027. The private sewer line from the house is extra.
What does Tucson Water charge for a new meter?
A new service line connection with a meter costs $1,740 for 5/8 or 3/4 inch and $1,930 for 1 inch without pavement replacement, and $2,690–$2,890 with it. Setting a meter on an existing service line is $550–$630.
What is the CAP Water Resource Fee in Tucson?
It is a fee charged at meter application for new connections to Tucson Water’s central system, recovering the cost of Central Arizona Project water rights. It is $240 for a 5/8-inch meter, $360 for 3/4 inch and $600 for 1 inch.
Does Tucson charge a water impact fee?
The city’s development impact fees cover roads, parks, police and fire, not water or sewer. Water-side costs come through Tucson Water’s installation charges and CAP fee, and sewer through the Pima County connection fee.
Who do I pay the sewer fee to in Tucson?
Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department. The fee must be paid before the City of Tucson releases the building permit.
Related pages
Arizona utility connection costs · Phoenix impact fees and tap costs · sewer connection cost · water meter installation cost · water service line cost · utility connection cost calculator
Sources
- Water Meter Installation Fees, Tucson Water. Checked Sep 24, 2026.
- CAP Water Resource Fee, Tucson Water. Checked Sep 24, 2026.
- Pima County Code 13.20.600, Fees (A. Sewer Connection Fee), Pima County. Checked Sep 24, 2026.