Parker, Colorado - Town Development Fees
Town of Parker | Home-rule Town | Douglas County | Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO MSA | Parker Road / E-470 corridor
Parker is a fast-growing home-rule Town in Douglas County, southeast of Denver on the Parker Road and E-470 corridor, within the Colorado Front Range. It is distinctive in the ZoneFee inventory because its growth-infrastructure funding runs through a voter-approved Development Excise Tax (Municipal Code Chapter 4.07), collected once at building-permit issuance, rather than a conventional Colorado C.R.S. 29-20-104.5 development impact fee - a different mechanism from neighboring Castle Rock, which stacks a formal impact fee on top of its system development fees. The Town's fee estimator uses a Development Excise Tax of $17,778 per single-family detached home (the Municipal Code prints a base amount of $10,178). The Town also publishes a consolidated Development-Related User Fee Schedule for planning, subdivision, site plan, building-permit-review, and engineering fees, and charges a Metropolitan District Service Plan review fee. The Town charges no water or sewer tap fee; tap fees are paid directly to the Parker Water and Sanitation District, Cottonwood, or Stonegate district depending on location. Town amounts below are drawn from the Development-Related User Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2026), the Town's fee estimator worksheets, and the codified Municipal Code Chapter 4.07. Verify current amounts with the Town of Parker before relying on them.
Updated 2026-11-04
Updated 2026-11-04: Town development review, engineering and service plan fees were replaced with the Development-Related User Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2026. The Development Excise Tax now shows the amounts in the Town's fee estimator worksheets next to the codified base amounts, and the water and sewer section now names all three districts that collect tap fees in Parker and lists Parker Water and Sanitation District's 2026 fees.
Earlier figures were from the January 1, 2025 schedule and the codified excise tax base amounts only. See corrections to report other errors.
On this page
Fee Summary
| Fee Type | Status | Top-Line Figure | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impact Fees (Development Excise Tax - Municipal Code Ch. 4.07) | Confirmed | Town fee estimator: $17,778 per single-family detached dwelling / $11,068 per duplex, townhouse or condominium unit / $9,724 per apartment unit / $0.68 per sq ft of new commercial building. Municipal Code base amounts: $10,178 / $6,337 / $5,567 per dwelling; $0.25 per sq ft. Collected once at building permit | Not stated on the estimators (files cover June 1, 2026 - May 31, 2027) |
| Zoning and Development Review Fees | Confirmed | New Planned Development $11,661; Straight Rezoning $818; New Annexation Application & Agreement $1,064; Variance $322; tiered subdivision plat and site plan fees; parallel Engineering / Public Works land-use, study, construction-plan-review, grading, and right-of-way permit fees | 2026-01-01 |
| Special District Fees (Colorado Title 32 metropolitan district) | Confirmed | Metropolitan District Service Plan review $1,215; Service Plan Amendment $607; Intergovernmental Agreement $557; Cherry Creek fee $60 per new home (Town fee estimator) | 2026-01-01 |
| Utility Tap Fees | Not administered | The Town charges no water or sewer tap fee (only a $431 engineering utility-plans review fee). Tap fees are paid directly to Parker Water and Sanitation District, Cottonwood, or Stonegate district depending on location. Parker Water and Sanitation District 2026, 3/4-inch meter: water SDF $21,050, sewer SDF $10,420, water resources SDF $18,690. Cottonwood and Stonegate amounts not captured | - |
| Proffers | Not applicable | Colorado has no proffer regime; Colorado exactions run through the development excise tax, subdivision improvement agreements, and annexation and development agreements | - |
Development Excise Tax
Sources: the Town of Parker residential and commercial fee estimator worksheets (DocumentCenter files titled Effective June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027) and Town of Parker Municipal Code Chapter 4.07 (Development Excise Tax, Municode version May 7, 2026). Parker does not levy a separate Colorado C.R.S. 29-20-104.5 development impact fee. Instead, a voter-approved Development Excise Tax is collected on one occasion only, at building-permit issuance - the Building Official may not issue a building permit until the applicable tax is paid in full. The Development Excise Tax Fund covers the same categories a conventional impact fee funds: major streets and transportation, parks and recreation, municipal and administrative facilities, law enforcement, and payments to South Metro Fire Rescue for public safety services.
Amounts in the Town fee estimators
| Development type | Development Excise Tax (Town fee estimator) |
|---|---|
| Single-family detached dwelling | $17,778 per dwelling unit |
| Duplex or townhouse (attached dwelling) | $11,068 per dwelling unit |
| Condominium or townhome unit | $11,068 per unit |
| Apartment unit | $9,724 per apartment unit |
| All new commercial (nonresidential) buildings | $0.68 per square foot |
Base amounts printed in Municipal Code Chapter 4.07
| Development type | Development Excise Tax (codified base amount) |
|---|---|
| Single-family dwelling | $10,178.00 |
| Attached dwelling | $6,337.00 |
| Apartment building dwelling unit | $5,567.00 |
| Nonresidential development | $0.25 per square foot of usable space |
The Town's fee estimators use the higher amounts in the first table; the Municipal Code still prints the base amounts in the second. Under Section 4.07.070 the tax is recomputed each year by the percentage change in the Colorado Construction Cost Index set by CDOT (or an equivalent), unless the Town Council waives that year's increase. Neither document states that the estimator amounts replace the codified amounts, and the estimators do not state an effective date for the excise amounts, so confirm the amount due with the Town Building Division. A per-dwelling credit is available under Section 4.07.035 for developer-constructed recreational facilities, trails, and community parks. Authority: Town of Parker (collected by the Building Division at permit issuance).
Development Review and Zoning Fees
Source: Town of Parker Development-Related User Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026 (DocumentCenter/View/30643). Parker is a home-rule Town; its land-use entitlement, subdivision, site-plan, building-permit-review, and engineering / construction-plan-review fees all run through this single consolidated schedule.
Community Development - Planning Division
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| New Annexation Application & Agreement | $1,064 |
| Rezoning - Straight | $818 |
| New Planned Development | $11,661 |
| Planned Development Amendment | $3,595 |
| Variance | $322 |
| Use by Special Review - General | $2,532 |
| Use by Special Review - Wireless Communication Facilities | $665 |
| Use by Special Review - Utilities | $253 |
| Sign Permit - New | $93 |
| Planned Sign Program | $253 |
Subdivision and platting (by acreage tier)
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Framework Plan - Subdivision | $2,461 (0-10 ac) / $3,283 (10-100 ac) / $4,105 (over 100 ac) |
| Preliminary Plan | $3,447 (0-10 ac) / $4,596 (10-100 ac) / $5,745 (over 100 ac) |
| Final Plat | $1,152 (0-10 ac) / $1,539 (10-100 ac) / $1,925 (over 100 ac) |
| Minor Development Plat | $1,437 (0-10 ac) / $1,915 (10-100 ac) / $2,393 (over 100 ac) |
| Replat | $392 |
| Initial Condo Plat / Condo Plat | $1,139 / $2,279 |
| Subdivision / Development Agreement | $716 (Amendment $463) |
| Plat Correction / Extension or Waiver | $63 / $132 |
Site plan review
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential Site Plan | $3,841 (1-2 buildings) / $7,682 (2-5) / $9,604 (5-10) / $11,523 (over 10 buildings) |
| Nonresidential Site Plan | $525 (1-2 buildings) / $1,051 (2-5) / $1,317 (5-10) / $1,576 (over 10 buildings) |
| Site Plan Amendment | $582 |
Engineering / Public Works
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Land Use - Annexation review | $772 |
| Land Use - Zoning review | $811 |
| Land Use - Zoning / PD Amendment review | $659 |
| Subdivision Improvement Agreement / Development Agreement | $1,025 each |
| Right-of-Way Dedication or Vacation | $494 |
| Drainage Report | $709 (0-5 ac) / $2,089 (5-25 ac) / $4,748 (25-50 ac) / $7,292 (over 50 ac) |
| Traffic Impact Study | $886 (0-5 ac) / $1,684 (5-25 ac) / $3,533 (25-50 ac) / $5,254 (over 50 ac) |
| Construction Plan Review - Street / Storm | $1,165 (0-5 ac) / $2,684 (5-25 ac) / $5,456 (25-50 ac) / $7,964 (over 50 ac) |
| Grading / CBMP Plans review | $621 (0-5 ac) to $2,304 (over 50 ac) |
| Utility Plans review | $431 |
| Grading Permit (Application / Administration) | $1,300 (0-5 ac) / $1,500 (5-25 ac) / $2,000 (25-50 ac) / $2,500 + $25/acre (over 50 ac) |
| Right-of-Way Use Permit | $400 + Traffic Control Plan Review $300 |
Building permit fees themselves are valuation-based per the Town's separate Fee / Valuation Schedule; the amounts above capture the planning, inspection, and engineering review components. Authority: Town of Parker Community Development Department and Engineering / Public Works Department.
Metropolitan District Service Plan Fee
Source: Town of Parker Development-Related User Fee Schedule (Engineering / Public Works - Agreements), effective January 1, 2026. Unlike some Colorado jurisdictions, the Town of Parker does charge a developer-side fee to review the formation or amendment of a Colorado C.R.S. Title 32 metropolitan district service plan - the standard financing vehicle for new Douglas County subdivision infrastructure.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan District Service Plan review | $1,215 |
| Service Plan Amendment | $607 |
| Intergovernmental Agreement | $557 |
| Cherry Creek fee (Town residential fee estimator; collected with the building permit) | $60 per new home |
Authority: Town of Parker Engineering / Public Works Department. This fee is for the Town's review of the service plan; the metropolitan district, once formed, levies its own assessments and fees through its own board. The commercial fee estimator computes a Cherry Creek fee by building area; no commercial rate is shown as a constant.
Water and Sewer Tap Fees (Separate Districts)
The Town of Parker charges no water or sewer tap fee. Per the Town's residential fee estimator, water district fees are paid directly to one of three separate districts depending on the property's location: Parker Water and Sanitation District, Cottonwood, or Stonegate water and sanitation district. The table below shows Parker Water and Sanitation District fees from its District Rate and Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2026; they apply only inside that district's service area. Cottonwood and Stonegate district amounts were not captured; contact those districts directly.
| Meter size | Water System Development Fee | Sewer System Development Fee | Water Resources System Development Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/4 inch | $21,050 | $10,420 | $18,690 |
| 1 inch | $42,100 | $20,840 | $37,380 |
| 1 1/2 inch | $84,200 | $41,680 | $74,760 |
| 2 inch | $147,350 | $72,940 | $130,830 |
| 3 inch | $336,800 | $166,720 | $299,040 |
| Other Parker Water and Sanitation District fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Tolls | $27,500.00 per SFE |
| Inclusion Fee | $5,000.00 per acre |
| Engineering Plan Review and Inspection - water and sewer main construction | $3.00 per linear foot, minimum $3,600.00 |
| Meter Set Fee - 3/4 inch / 1 inch | $602.00 / $736.00 |
Authority: Parker Water and Sanitation District, a separate Colorado C.R.S. Title 32 special district with its own board. No 2027 district tap fee schedule was found as of 2026-11-04.
Coverage Notes - What This Page Does Not Cover
Per ZoneFee's Partial-Verified Publication Standard, the items below were either closed by official-source review as not administered, or deferred to the cited source rather than estimated or omitted silently. These items remain under limited-coverage review until these gaps are closed.
Annual adjustment of the Development Excise Tax
The amounts the Town uses now are published in its fee estimators (single-family $17,778; duplex, townhouse or condominium unit $11,068; apartment $9,724; commercial $0.68 per square foot). The Municipal Code still prints the base amounts ($10,178 / $6,337 / $5,567 per dwelling and $0.25 per square foot), and Section 4.07.070 provides for annual recomputation by the Colorado Construction Cost Index unless the Town Council waives the increase. The estimators do not state an effective date for the excise amounts, so ZoneFee shows both sets, labelled.
Utility Tap Fees
The Town of Parker does not levy water or sewer tap or connection fees; its 2026 development fee schedule contains no water or sewer tap fee, only a $431 engineering utility-plans review fee, and the Town's fee estimator says water district fees are paid directly to the Parker, Cottonwood, or Stonegate water and sanitation district depending on location. Closed-search outcome: this fee family is not administered by the Town. Parker Water and Sanitation District's 2026 fees are listed above; Cottonwood and Stonegate district amounts were not captured.
Proffers
Colorado has no proffer regime. Cash proffers are a Virginia and Maryland conditional-zoning instrument (Virginia Code Section 15.2-2303.4) with no Colorado counterpart. Colorado developer exactions run through the C.R.S. Title 29 home-rule development excise tax (captured in the Development Excise Tax section above), subdivision improvement agreements, and annexation and development agreements (captured under Development Review and Zoning Fees). Closed-search outcome: this fee family does not apply to this jurisdiction.
Fee Authorities
| Authority | Fee Types | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| Town of Parker - Community Development Department (Planning and Building Divisions) and Engineering / Public Works Department | Development Excise Tax; zoning, planned development, annexation, variance, subdivision, site plan, and building-permit-review fees; engineering land-use, study, construction-plan-review, grading, and right-of-way permit fees; metropolitan district service plan review fees | parkerco.gov |
| Parker Water and Sanitation District (separate C.R.S. Title 32 special district) | Water and sewer tap, connection, and system development fees inside its service area (administered by the District, not the Town) | pwsd.org |
| Cottonwood and Stonegate water and sanitation districts (separate districts) | Water and sewer tap fees for the parts of Parker they serve (amounts not captured by ZoneFee) | - |
Sources
| Document | Agency | Accessed |
|---|---|---|
| Development-Related User Fee Schedule and Administrative Code Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2026; SHA-256 e7e452fe...) | Town of Parker Community Development / Engineering | 2026-11-04 |
| New Single Family Dwelling fee estimator (file titled Effective June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027; SHA-256 3992387f...) | Town of Parker Building Division | 2026-11-04 |
| Commercial fee estimate (file titled Effective June 1, 2026 thru May 31, 2027; SHA-256 0fda3363...) | Town of Parker Building Division | 2026-11-04 |
| District Rate and Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026 (SHA-256 ad3c1ae8...) | Parker Water and Sanitation District | 2026-11-04 |
| Municipal Code Chapter 4.07 - Development Excise Tax (Municode version May 7, 2026) | Town of Parker (Municipal Code) | 2026-07-31 |
Last verified by ZoneFee: 2026-11-04. Fee schedules are subject to change. Verify current rates directly with the Town of Parker (Community Development and Engineering / Public Works) and, for water and sewer, the district that serves the property (Parker Water and Sanitation, Cottonwood, or Stonegate) before relying on this data for any financial decision.
This page reflects fee data sourced from the Town of Parker Development-Related User Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2026), the Town fee estimator worksheets, the codified Municipal Code Chapter 4.07 (Development Excise Tax, Municode version May 7, 2026), and the Parker Water and Sanitation District Rate and Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2026), as of the last-verified date above. ZoneFee does not guarantee that fee amounts are current at the time you read this page. Fee schedules change. Parker funds growth infrastructure through a Development Excise Tax collected at building permit; the Town fee estimators use higher amounts than the codified base amounts. Water and sewer tap fees are paid to the Parker Water and Sanitation, Cottonwood, or Stonegate district depending on location, and Colorado jurisdictions do not use Virginia-style cash proffers. Verify all current rates directly with the Town of Parker before relying on this data for land acquisition, project budgeting, or any financial decision. This page is for research and due-diligence reference only - it is not legal or financial advice.