Raleigh, North Carolina - City Development Fees
Raleigh | City | Research Triangle (Wake County, NC)
Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina and the county seat of Wake County, anchoring the Research Triangle. Development fees are administered by the City of Raleigh Planning and Development Department (building permits, plan review, rezoning, and open space fees), the Transportation Department (Thoroughfare Facility Fees), and Raleigh Water (water and sewer capital facility, tap, and meter fees). Raleigh is notable among North Carolina cities for levying Thoroughfare Facility Fees and Open Space Facility Fees, which its Development Fee Guide lists as special facility fees (Raleigh UDO Article 8.9). All amounts on this page are captured verbatim from the FY27 City of Raleigh Development Fee Guide (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027). Verify current amounts with the City of Raleigh before relying on them.
Updated 2026-11-04: FY2027 rates
Updated 2026-11-04: amounts on this page were replaced with the FY2027 Development Fee Guide (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027). Earlier figures were from the FY2026 guide. Most amounts on this page rose; the Master Plan Amendment fee ($968.00), the new residential electrical permit (49.00% of the building permit fee) and the 4-inch water meter installation fee ($3,900.00) went down. Water and Sewer Capital Facility fees did not change. The re-review fee is now shown with its correct unit (per trade per hour), and non-residential thoroughfare fees were added.
See corrections to report other errors.
On this page
Fee Summary
| Fee Type | Status | Top-Line Figure | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impact Fees (Open Space and Thoroughfare Facility Fees) | Confirmed | Open Space Facility Fees $1,175.00 to $1,916.00 per unit by zone/type; residential Thoroughfare Facility Fees $678.00 to $2,937.00 per unit by dwelling type/size; non-residential thoroughfare fees by land use | 2026-07-01 |
| Development Application and Building Permit Fees | Confirmed | General Use Rezoning $968.00 to Master Plan $4,840.00 per application; new residential building permit 0.38% of construction value; commercial tiered from 0.21%; 4% technology surcharge on listed fees | 2026-07-01 |
| Raleigh Water Connection Fees (WCF/SCF, tap, meter) | Confirmed | Water Capital Facility $1,447.00 to $36,175.00 per tap (5/8-inch to 4-inch meter); Sewer Capital Facility $2,223.00 to $55,575.00 per tap (5/8-inch to 4-inch meter); physical taps $5,155.00 to $6,032.00; meter install $290.00 to $3,900.00 (5/8-inch to 4-inch) | 2026-07-01 |
| Special District Fees | Not administered | The 57-page FY27 Development Fee Guide contains no special-district developer fee; Raleigh does not levy a developer-facing special district fee | - |
| Proffers | Not applicable | North Carolina does not authorize Virginia-style cash proffers | - |
Impact Fees - Open Space and Thoroughfare Facility Fees
Source: City of Raleigh Development Fee Guide, FY27 (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027; SHA-256 1f6ad9b4...), pages 13 and 39-40, captured verbatim. Raleigh charges Open Space Facility Fees (Raleigh UDO Article 8.9) and Thoroughfare Facility Fees (Raleigh UDO Article 8.9; Raleigh City Code Sec. 10-8004; Duncan Study nexus documentation), which the guide lists as special facility fees. At the state level, NC GS 160D-804(c) and (d) allow a city subdivision regulation to require funds in lieu of street construction and of recreation-area dedication. Both fees are assessed at permitting and updated annually each July 1.
Open Space Facility Fees (per dwelling unit)
| Zone and Dwelling Type | Amount per Unit (FY27) |
|---|---|
| Zone 1 & 2 - Single-family dwelling | $1,916.00 |
| Zone 1 & 2 - Multi-family dwelling | $1,391.00 |
| Zone 3 - Single-family dwelling | $1,615.00 |
| Zone 3 - Multi-family dwelling | $1,175.00 |
| Zone 4 - Single-family dwelling | $1,621.00 |
| Zone 4 - Multi-family dwelling | $1,190.00 |
Thoroughfare Facility Fees (per dwelling unit)
| Land Use / Dwelling Type | Amount per Unit (FY27) |
|---|---|
| Single-family dwelling less than 1,000 sq. ft. | $1,833.00 |
| Single-family dwelling 1,000-1,999 sq. ft. | $2,180.00 |
| Single-family dwelling 2,000-2,999 sq. ft. | $2,417.00 |
| Single-family dwelling 3,000-3,999 sq. ft. | $2,601.00 |
| Single-family dwelling 4,000-4,999 sq. ft. | $2,745.00 |
| Single-family dwelling 5,000 sq. ft. and above | $2,937.00 |
| Multi-family dwellings | $1,616.00 |
| Retirement community | $678.00 |
Thoroughfare Facility Fees (non-residential)
| Land Use | Amount (FY27) |
|---|---|
| Hotel/motel | $2,306.00 per room |
| Retail/Commercial | $3,924.62 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
| Retail uses that include sale of motor fuels (minimum per fueling position) | $8,717.33 per vehicle fueling station |
| Office | $2,992.25 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
| Industrial/manufacturing/agricultural | $1,891.38 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
| Warehouse | $1,087.54 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
| Mini-warehousing | $549.22 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
| Church/Synagogue/Mosque/Temple | $1,509.46 per 1,000 sq. ft. |
| Elementary, Middle and High Schools | $550.45 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
| College/university | $6,022.12 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
| Daycare facilities | $4,164.68 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
| Hospital/medical care facilities | $4,778.16 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
| Nursing Home/Group Quarters | $1,343.37 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
| Cemetery | $1,037.83 per acre |
| Golf course | $7,828.61 per hole |
| Public parks | $352.81 per acre |
| Stadiums/coliseums/race tracks | $135.79 per seat |
| General recreation/all other | $367.37 per parking space |
The guide also offers an alternative thoroughfare fee calculation based on a site-specific study (pages 41 and 50). Two further non-residential rows (passenger transportation facility, emergency service facility) are not yet listed here.
Authority: City of Raleigh Planning and Development Department (Open Space Facility Fees) and Transportation Department (Thoroughfare Facility Fees). Rate schedules are updated annually at the beginning of the fiscal year and published in the Development Fee Guide.
Development Application and Building Permit Fees
Source: City of Raleigh Development Fee Guide, FY27 (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027; SHA-256 1f6ad9b4...), pages 16-17 and 20-22, captured verbatim. Rezoning application fees are flat per-application charges; building permit fees are percentage-based on calculated construction value. Authority: Raleigh UDO Sec. 11.4.8 (Permit Fees).
Rezoning and Land-Use Application Fees
| Application Type | Fee (FY27) |
|---|---|
| General Use Rezoning Request | $968.00 per application |
| Conditional Use Rezoning Request | $1,936.00 per application |
| Text Change to Zoning Conditions | $1,936.00 per application |
| Master Plan (for Planned Development or Campus rezoning) | $4,840.00 per application |
| Comprehensive Plan Amendment | $968.00 per application |
| Master Plan Amendment (review without rezoning per UDO Sec 4.7.6) | $968.00 per application |
| Waiver of 24-Month Waiting Period (rezoning re-petition) | $292.00 per application |
| Annexation (general) | $935.00 per petition |
| Annexation (1 or 2 family lot, single lot less than 1 acre) | $468.00 per petition |
Building Permit, Plan Review, and Related Fees
| Permit / Review | Fee (FY27) |
|---|---|
| New Residential Building Permit | 0.38% of calculated construction value |
| New Residential Plan Review Fee | 57.00% of calculated building permit fee |
| New Residential Electrical Permit | 49.00% of calculated building permit fee |
| New Residential Mechanical Permit | 28.00% of calculated building permit fee |
| New Residential Plumbing Permit | 34.00% of calculated building permit fee |
| New Commercial Building Permit - Tier 1 ($0-$500,000 construction value) | 0.21% of construction value |
| New Commercial Building Permit - Tier 2 ($500,001-$10,000,000) | $1,050.00 base + 0.06% of construction value |
| New Commercial Building Permit - Tier 3 ($10,000,001 and above) | $7,250.00 base + 0.01% of construction value |
| Demolition Permit Fee | $150.00 per permit |
| Commercial and Residential Re-Review Fee (set at the minimum permit fee) | $139.00 per trade per hour |
| Express Site Permit Review | $1,078.00 per review per hour |
Technology surcharge: a 4% technology surcharge is added to the development fees listed in the guide's Technology Fee Reference Guide (pages 51-54). That list includes the rezoning, annexation, Master Plan, Comprehensive Plan Amendment, demolition and Express Site Permit Review fees above; the amounts in the tables are shown before the surcharge.
Raleigh Water Connection Fees
Source: City of Raleigh Development Fee Guide, FY27 (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027; SHA-256 1f6ad9b4...), pages 33-35, captured verbatim. Water and Sewer Capital Facility fees are unchanged from FY26. Water Capital Facility (WCF) fees under Raleigh City Code Sec. 8-2092.1 and Sewer Capital Facility (SCF) fees under Sec. 8-2092 are NC GS 162A Article 8 System Development Fees. Physical tap installation fees are under Sec. 8-2039 and water meter installation charges are under Sec. 8-2005.
Water and Sewer Capital Facility Fees (per tap, by meter size)
| Meter Size | Water Capital Facility (WCF) - Code 8-2092.1 | Sewer Capital Facility (SCF) - Code 8-2092 |
|---|---|---|
| 5/8-inch meter | $1,447.00 | $2,223.00 |
| 3/4-inch meter | $2,171.00 | $3,335.00 |
| 1-inch meter | $3,618.00 | $5,558.00 |
| 1.5-inch meter | $7,235.00 | $11,115.00 |
| 2-inch meter | $11,576.00 | $17,784.00 |
| 3-inch meter | $23,152.00 | $35,568.00 |
| 4-inch meter | $36,175.00 | $55,575.00 |
| 6-inch meter | $72,350.00 | $111,150.00 |
| 8-inch meter | $115,760.00 | $177,840.00 |
| 10-inch meter | $303,870.00 | $466,830.00 |
| 12-inch or greater meter | $383,455.00 | $589,095.00 |
| Sewer Capital Facilities Connection Fee (sewer-only, 4-inch service) | - | $2,223.00 per 4-inch sewer service connection |
Physical Tap Installation Fees (City-installed, Ordinance 8-2039)
| Tap | Amount (FY27) |
|---|---|
| Physical Water Tap - 3/4-inch water | $5,756.00 lump sum |
| Physical Water Tap - 1-inch water | $6,032.00 lump sum |
| Physical Sewer Tap - 4-inch sewer | $5,155.00 lump sum |
| Split Water Tap - 3/4-inch split water (new application) | $859.00 lump sum |
| Split Water Tap - 1-inch split water (new application) | $1,279.00 lump sum |
Water Meter Installation Fees (Code 8-2005)
| Meter Size | Amount (FY27) |
|---|---|
| 5/8-inch meter | $290.00 per meter |
| 1-inch meter | $420.00 per meter |
| 1.5-inch meter | $740.00 per meter |
| 2-inch meter | $860.00 per meter |
| 4-inch meter | $3,900.00 per meter |
| 6-inch meter | $5,950.00 per meter |
| 8-inch meter | $8,880.00 per meter |
Authority: Raleigh Water, which administers the municipal water and sewer utility serving Raleigh and six merger communities (Garner, Rolesville, Knightdale, Wake Forest, Wendell, and Zebulon). All FY27 amounts are published in the annual Development Fee Guide. The City does not install taps across divided roadways or streets 45 feet or wider (back of curb to back of curb).
Coverage Notes - What This Page Does Not Cover
The items below are disclosed rather than estimated or omitted silently. These items remain under limited-coverage review until the additive gaps noted below are captured from official, hash-verified sources.
Proffers
North Carolina does not authorize Virginia-style cash proffers (which arise under Virginia Code Sections 15.2-2303 and 15.2-2303.4 as part of conditional rezoning). NC GS 160D-702 permits conditions on rezonings (conditional zoning) but does not create a statutory framework for cash proffers as a development exaction. NC municipalities use developer contribution agreements and exaction fees (open space, thoroughfare) instead. There is no proffer schedule or cash proffer program in Raleigh's adopted fee schedule, UDO, or city code. Closed-search outcome: this fee family does not apply to this jurisdiction.
Special District Fees
The FY27 Development Fee Guide (57-page official fee schedule, July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027) contains no special-district developer fee. Raleigh does not levy a developer-facing special district fee as part of the development approval process. Closed-search outcome: this fee family is not administered by this jurisdiction.
Stormwater and remaining thoroughfare fee coverage (additive)
Two additive coverage items in the FY27 Development Fee Guide were not captured in full and are disclosed here rather than presented incompletely. Stormwater Control Permit Fees (a sub-category of development fees, e.g., a minimum fee plus a per-acre fee, and a Stormwater Control 2 fee for small residential lots) were not itemized in detail. Two non-residential thoroughfare rows on page 40 (passenger transportation facility, emergency service facility) are not yet listed; all other thoroughfare rows from pages 39-40 are shown above. These will be added when captured from the official, hash-verified fee guide.
Fee Authorities
| Authority | Fee Types | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| City of Raleigh - Planning and Development Department | Building permit fees, plan review, rezoning application fees, open space facility fees, stormwater permit fees | raleighnc.gov |
| City of Raleigh - Transportation Department | Thoroughfare Facility Fees | raleighnc.gov |
| City of Raleigh - Raleigh Water | Water and sewer capital facility fees, water and sewer tap fees, water meter installation | raleighnc.gov |
Sources
| Document | Agency | Accessed |
|---|---|---|
| Development Fee Guide - July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 (FY27), City of Raleigh (SHA-256 1f6ad9b4...) | City of Raleigh, NC - Planning and Development / Raleigh Water | 2026-11-04 |
| Raleigh Water Fee Schedule - FY24 to FY25 comparison (effective July 1, FY25; earlier cross-verification for WCF/SCF and code sections) (SHA-256 1864a4df...) | City of Raleigh - Raleigh Water | 2026-06-25 |
Last verified by ZoneFee: 2026-11-04. Fee schedules are subject to change. Verify current rates directly with the City of Raleigh (Planning and Development, Transportation) and Raleigh Water before relying on this data for any financial decision.
This page reflects fee data captured verbatim from the FY27 City of Raleigh Development Fee Guide (July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027; SHA-256 1f6ad9b4...). ZoneFee does not guarantee that fee amounts are current at the time you read this page. Fee schedules change annually each July 1. Raleigh's Stormwater Control Permit Fees and two non-residential Thoroughfare Facility Fee rows are disclosed as additive coverage gaps pending full capture from the official fee guide. North Carolina does not use Virginia-style cash proffers, and Raleigh does not levy a distinct city-administered special-district developer application fee. Verify all current rates directly with the City of Raleigh and Raleigh Water 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.