Denton, Texas - City Development Fees
City of Denton | Denton County | North Texas / DFW Metroplex | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington MSA
Denton is an incorporated home rule city and the county seat of Denton County, subject to Texas Local Government Code Chapter 395 requirements for development fee assessment. The City of Denton administers roadway, water, and wastewater impact fees through its Water Utilities Department, and zoning and platting fees through Development Services.
Recent Fee Changes
Roadway impact fees updated effective January 1, 2025 (Ordinance 2024-1125, amending prior Ordinance 2016-189). Lots platted on or after January 1, 2025 are subject to higher collection rates. Codified at Denton City Code Chapter 25, Article VI.
Zoning and development application fees updated July 3, 2025 (Ordinance 25-708, approved May 6, 2025). The current Development Fees schedule covers zoning, platting, site design, and related application fees.
Water and wastewater impact fees updated for 2025 per the city's Water and Wastewater Impact Fee Update study (Kimley-Horn, June 2025). Adoption was planned for August 15, 2025. The updated rates are shown below as maximum assessable fees per the city's official published study document.
On this page
Fee Summary
| Fee Type | Status | Top-Line Figure | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roadway Impact Fee | Confirmed | Post-2025 plat: Residential $796.80/SU | Non-Res $398.40/SU (5 service areas, identical rates) | Jan. 1, 2025 (Ord. 2024-1125) |
| Water Impact Fee | Confirmed | SA-1A $1,820/LUE | SA-1B $10,745/LUE | SA-2 $12,139/LUE (maximum assessable) | Aug. 2025 (2025 Study) |
| Wastewater Impact Fee | Confirmed | Pecan Creek $11,615/LUE | Hickory Creek $12,791/LUE | Clear Creek $17,916/LUE (maximum assessable) | Aug. 2025 (2025 Study) |
| Zoning / Planning Application Fees | Confirmed | Zoning Change: $8,884; Planned Development (up to 25 ac): $14,399 + $38/ac | Jul. 3, 2025 (Ord. 25-708) |
| Utility Tap / Connection Fee | Not confirmed | 2018 tap/meter fee schedule found; currency not confirmed | — |
| Proffers | Not applicable | Texas does not use proffer agreements | — |
| Special District / MUD Fees | Not inventoried | See special districts note below | — |
Impact Fees
Denton assesses roadway, water, and wastewater impact fees under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 395. All three programs were updated in 2024-2025. Impact fees are assessed at the time of plat approval (roadway) or utility service connection (water/wastewater).
Roadway Impact Fees (Ordinance 2024-1125)
Administered by: City of Denton. Effective date for new plat rates: January 1, 2025. Codified at Denton City Code Chapter 25, Article VI "Roadway Impact Fees" (Sections 25-252 through 25-275). Ordinance 2024-1125 amends prior Ordinance 2016-189.
Denton uses five service areas (A, B, C, D, E) with identical collection rates across all service areas. Rates apply per service unit (SU). The applicable SU equivalency for each land use type is defined in the Land Use / Vehicle-Mile Equivalency Table (LUVMET) included with the rate schedule.
Note: The collection rates below are from Schedule 2 (Collection Rate Per Service Unit) in the official fee chart. Schedule 1 (Maximum Assessable) rates are in the adopting ordinance but were not extracted due to CID encoding; the amounts below are what developers are charged.
Roadway Impact Fee Collection Rates (All 5 Service Areas)
| Development Type | Plat Date | Rate per Service Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Residential | Pre-2025 platted | $408.16 |
| Non-Residential | Pre-2025 platted | $306.12 |
| Residential | Post-2025 platted (on/after Jan. 1, 2025) | $796.80 |
| Non-Residential | Post-2025 platted (on/after Jan. 1, 2025) | $398.40 |
Source: City of Denton Roadway Impact Fee Chart (Schedule 2 - Collection Rate Per Service Unit); cityofdenton.com/DocumentCenter/View/556. Adopting ordinance: cityofdenton.com/DocumentCenter/View/4398 (Ordinance 2024-1125, 168 pp.). TLGC Chapter 395 authority. Contact City of Denton Development Services (940-349-8541) to confirm applicable service area and SU equivalency for a specific land use.
Water and Wastewater Impact Fees (2025 Study)
Administered by: City of Denton Water Utilities Department. The 2025 impact fee program update was prepared by Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. (Water and Wastewater Impact Fee Update, June 2025). The City of Denton's Development Fees page identifies this study as the adopted Water/Wastewater Impact Fee ordinance document. Adoption was planned for August 15, 2025 following a public hearing on August 5, 2025.
The service unit for water and wastewater impact fees is based on meter size. The base service unit is a 5/8-inch x 3/4-inch meter (the smallest meter issued for a new residential unit in Denton). Fees below are the maximum assessable per LUE (Living Unit Equivalent / service unit) per the 2025 study. Separate collection rate charts were not posted on the city's Development Fees page as of this page's last review date.
Water Impact Fees by Service Area (Maximum Assessable per LUE)
| Service Area | Maximum Fee per LUE |
|---|---|
| Service Area 1A | $1,820 |
| Service Area 1B | $10,745 |
| Service Area 2 | $12,139 |
Wastewater Impact Fees by Service Area (Maximum Assessable per LUE)
| Service Area | Maximum Fee per LUE |
|---|---|
| Pecan Creek Service Area | $11,615 |
| Hickory Creek Service Area | $12,791 |
| Clear Creek Service Area | $17,916 |
Source: City of Denton Water and Wastewater Impact Fee Update (Kimley-Horn, June 2025), Executive Summary Table; cityofdenton.com/DocumentCenter/View/557. Contact the City of Denton Water Utilities Department for service area maps and to confirm the applicable service area for a specific parcel.
Zoning and Planning Application Fees
Zoning, platting, and development application fees are administered by City of Denton Development Services (401 N. Elm St., Denton, TX; 940-349-8541; development@cityofdenton.com). The current schedule is effective July 3, 2025, per Ordinance 25-708 (approved May 6, 2025). All fees are due at the time of application unless otherwise noted.
Zoning Applications
| Application Type | Filing Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Change of Zoning Request | $8,884 | — |
| Change of Zoning - Residential Single Lot Non-Conformity | $1,140 | — |
| Planned Development (up to 25 acres) | $14,399 + $38/acre over 25 | — |
| Planned Development Overlay (up to 25 acres) | $8,884 + $38/acre over 25 | — |
| Planned Development Minor Amendment | $2,442 | — |
| Planned Development Major Amendment | $6,926 | — |
| Specific Use Permit (SUP) | $8,695 | — |
| SUP not requiring Tier 1/Tier 2 review (per DDC 7.2) | $601 | — |
| Specific Use Permit Amendment | $2,060 | — |
| Specific Use Permit Extension | $1,428 | — |
| Comprehensive Plan Map Amendment | $8,884 | — |
| Zoning Verification Letter | $101 | $34 each additional request |
| Annexation - City-Initiated | $0 | — |
| Annexation - Voluntary Petition | $6,496 | — |
| Master Planned Community Amendment (0-5 acres) | $1,601 | — |
| Master Planned Community Amendment (5-25 acres) | $2,101 | — |
| Master Planned Community Amendment (26-50 acres) | $3,101 | — |
| Master Planned Community Amendment (over 50 acres) | $4,101 + $10/acre | — |
| Vested Rights Determination | $1,871 | — |
Variances and Alternative Procedures
| Application Type | Filing Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zoning Board of Adjustments Variance (Non-Subdivision) | $540 | — |
| Subdivision Variance Request | $790 | — |
| Tree Preservation Relief | $2,323 | — |
| SF/MD Tree Preservation Relief | $0 | — |
| Tree Mitigation | $200/caliper inch | — |
Platting Fees
| Application Type | Filing Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Plat (1-10 lots) | $7,568 | — |
| Preliminary Plat (11-50 lots) | $12,257 | — |
| Preliminary Plat (51-100 lots) | $15,984 | — |
| Preliminary Plat (over 100 lots) | $17,311 | — |
| Final / Development Plat (1-10 lots) | $7,708 | — |
| Final / Development Plat (11-50 lots) | $12,467 | — |
| Final / Development Plat (51-100 lots) | $16,264 | — |
| Final / Development Plat (over 100 lots) | $17,662 | — |
| Final Replat (1-10 lots) | $6,693 | — |
| Final Replat (11-50 lots) | $7,427 | — |
| Final Replat (51-100 lots) | $8,824 | — |
| Final Replat (over 100 lots) | $10,222 | — |
| Amending Final Plat | $1,428 | — |
| Minor Plat / Replat - Residential | $721 | — |
| Minor Plat / Replat - Non-Residential or ETJ | $1,748 | — |
| Plat Extension | $1,428 | — |
| Plat Vacation | $1,428 | — |
| Conveyance Plat | $1,428 | — |
| Municipal Utility District Application (up to 25 acres) | $14,210 + $38/acre over 25 | — |
Source: City of Denton Development Fees PDF (Ordinance 25-708, approved May 6, 2025; effective July 3, 2025); cityofdenton.com/DocumentCenter/View/428/Development-Fees-PDF. Fees are due at time of application.
Special Districts and MUDs
Denton contains Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) within and adjacent to its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). The city's Development Fees schedule includes a MUD application fee ($14,210 up to 25 acres + $38/acre over 25), reflecting the administrative process for MUD formations affecting Denton's planning jurisdiction. Public Improvement Districts (PIDs) may also operate in Denton for neighborhood-level infrastructure or amenity assessments.
ZoneFee has not inventoried individual MUD or PID fee schedules for Denton. MUD and PID assessments vary by district and are separate from the city-assessed development fees on this page. Contact the relevant district directly and verify current boundaries with Denton County or City of Denton Development Services for specific parcels.
Fee Authorities
| Authority | Fee Types | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| City of Denton Water Utilities Department | Roadway, water, and wastewater impact fees | cityofdenton.com/267/Development-Fees |
| City of Denton Development Services | Zoning, platting, site design, and other development application fees | cityofdenton.com/267/Development-Fees |
Sources
| Document | Agency | Accessed |
|---|---|---|
| Roadway Impact Fee Chart (Schedule 2 - Collection Rates) | City of Denton | 2026-05-02 |
| Roadway Impact Fees Ordinance (Ordinance 2024-1125) | City of Denton | 2026-05-02 |
| Water and Wastewater Impact Fee Update (Kimley-Horn, June 2025) | City of Denton Water Utilities / Kimley-Horn | 2026-05-02 |
| Development Fees PDF (Ordinance 25-708, effective July 3, 2025) | City of Denton Development Services | 2026-04-27 |
| Development Fees landing page (fee document index) | City of Denton | 2026-05-02 |
Last verified by ZoneFee: 2026-05-02. Fee schedules are subject to change. Verify current rates directly with the City of Denton before relying on this data for any financial decision.
This page reflects fee data sourced from official City of Denton documents 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. Roadway impact fees are from Ordinance 2024-1125 (effective January 2025); water/wastewater impact fees are from the June 2025 Kimley-Horn study published by the city. Utility tap and connection fees are not confirmed on this page due to currency concerns with the available source. Verify all current rates with City of Denton Development Services or Water Utilities 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.