League City, Texas - City Development Fees
League City | City | Houston Metro Southeast / Bay Area / I-45 South corridor | Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX MSA | Primary county: Galveston (Harris overlap)
League City is the largest city in Galveston County, Texas, and a Houston-metro southeast suburb on the I-45 South / Bay Area corridor. The City of League City Planning & Development Department (Engineering) administers developer-side fees through the Fees and Permits landing, with rate schedules adopted by City Council ordinance. League City's development-side fee surface organizes around three live programs: Capital Recovery Fees (Texas Local Government Code Chapter 395) for Water and Wastewater and for Roadway, engineering / inspection / TIA fees (Ord 2024-03, effective February 1, 2024), and Planning Department application fees (Resolution No. 2026-143, effective August 1, 2026 with a second step on January 1, 2027). Department address: 500 W Walker, League City, TX 77573; Building 281-554-1429, Planning 281-554-1080.
Recent fee changes
2024 Roadway Capital Recovery Fee - Ordinance No. 2024-49, effective for plats recorded on/after April 1, 2025. Cost-per-service-unit by roadway service area: SA1 $1,172.00; SA2 $2,056.00; SA3 $1,671.00; SA4 $1,842.00 (citywide average $1,774.00 per vehicle-mile). The 2024 schedule supersedes the 2018 / 2021-32 schedule for plats recorded April 1, 2025 or later; plats recorded March 1, 2019 through March 31, 2025 pay the predecessor schedule; plats approved before March 1, 2019 pay no roadway CRF. The roadway CRF is calculated per Section 7.2 of the 2024 Roadway CRF Study (adopted as Exhibit A by Ord 2024-49) as service units (vehicle-miles, from the city's adopted land-use equivalency table) multiplied by the cost per service unit for the project's service area. Worked example from the Study: a single-family dwelling in Service Area 3 generates 3.81 vehicle-miles, multiplied by $1,671.00, equals $6,366.51.
Planning Department Fee Schedule - Resolution No. 2026-143 (adopted July 28, 2026). Planning application fees rose by 50% from August 1, 2026 and rise again (100% increase tier) on January 1, 2027. Both columns are shown in the Planning Department table below. Updated 2026-11-04: the building Permit Fee Schedule previously cited on this page is no longer posted, and its amounts were removed pending re-verification.
Fee summary
| Fee type | Status | Top-line figure | Effective date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Capital Recovery Fee | Confirmed | Single-Family / Mobile Home $14,825 combined ($9,074 water + $5,751 wastewater); townhome / condo / apt $11,860; commercial by meter size 3/4" $14,825 to 10" $1,136,587 | 2023-12-01 |
| 2024 Roadway Capital Recovery Fee | Confirmed | Cost per service unit (per vehicle-mile) by roadway service area: SA1 $1,172 / SA2 $2,056 / SA3 $1,671 / SA4 $1,842 (citywide avg $1,774); worked example SF home in SA3 = $6,366.51 | 2025-04-01 |
| Engineering Plan Review and Construction Inspection | Confirmed | Plan review $9,350 per review (initial submittal invoices two = $18,700); construction inspection $5,500 per month; TIA $300 / $800 / $1,000 (Level 1 / 2 / 3) | 2024-02-01 (Ord 2024-03) |
| Planning Department Application Fees (zoning, SUP, plats, variances, site plans) | Confirmed | Zoning map amendment $1,663 (from 2026-08-01) / $2,000 (from 2027-01-01); preliminary plat $762.50 + $15.50/lot / $1,000 + $20/lot; SUP $1,525 + $50/acre / $2,000 + $100/acre | 2026-08-01; step-up 2027-01-01 (Res. 2026-143) |
| Building Permit Fee Schedule | Pending | Pending re-verification against the current official schedule (the March 1, 2024 permit fee schedule previously cited is no longer posted) | - |
| Tap and Meter Fees (Service Connection Costs) | Confirmed | Residential water tap $225 (3/4") to $300 (2"); sewer tap $250; residential meters $270 to $805; commercial water tap $250 to $300; sewer tap $300; commercial meters $270 to $1,131 (incl. compound) | 2024-01-01 |
| Proffers | Not applicable | Texas jurisdictions do not use Virginia-style cash proffers (Va. Code 15.2-2303.4 framework) | - |
| Special District Fees (TIRZ / MUD / PID) | Not administered by this city | MUDs overlaying Galveston County (e.g., Bay Colony) and any PID/TIRZ are independent political subdivisions whose rates are set by their own boards; not consolidated on the City fee surface | - |
Capital Recovery Fees (Texas Local Government Code Chapter 395)
League City administers two live Capital Recovery Fee programs under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 395: the Water and Wastewater CRF (adopted rate start date 2023-12-01) and the 2024 Roadway CRF (Ordinance No. 2024-49, effective for plats recorded on/after 2025-04-01).
Water and Wastewater Capital Recovery Fee
Source: League City Water and Wastewater Capital Recovery Fee Current Rate chart, /DocumentCenter/View/25260 (SHA-256 26d86123...). Adopted rate start date 2023-12-01. Residential rates apply per dwelling unit; commercial rates apply by meter size and include both water and wastewater components.
Residential
| Dwelling unit type | Water | Wastewater | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Family / Mobile Home | $9,074.00 | $5,751.00 | $14,825.00 |
| Townhome / Condominium / Apartment (0.8 of SF rate) | $7,259.20 | $4,600.80 | $11,860.00 |
Commercial (combined water + wastewater, by meter size)
| Meter size | Combined CRF |
|---|---|
| 3/4" | $14,825.00 |
| 1" | $24,712.00 |
| 1.5" | $49,411.00 |
| 2" | $79,061.00 |
| 3" | $158,137.00 |
| 4" | $247,087.00 |
| 6" | $494,161.00 |
| 8" | $790,661.00 |
| 10" | $1,136,587.00 |
2024 Roadway Capital Recovery Fee (Ord 2024-49)
Source: 2024 League City Roadway Capital Recovery Fee Final Report (Freese and Nichols, September 3, 2024), /DocumentCenter/View/46423 (SHA-256 9f2dd541...), adopted in its entirety as Exhibit A by Ordinance No. 2024-49 (passed and adopted November 12, 2024; /DocumentCenter/View/46422 SHA-256 b8ef546d...). Assessed at final platting; paid at building permit. The roadway CRF for a project is calculated per Section 7.2 of the Study: development service units (vehicle-miles, from the city's adopted ITE-11th-edition land-use equivalency table) multiplied by the cost per service unit for the project's service area.
Cost per service unit, by roadway service area (Table 19, 2024 Credited Maximum Allowable)
| Service area | Cost per service unit | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Service Area 1 | $1,172.00 | per vehicle-mile |
| Service Area 2 | $2,056.00 | per vehicle-mile |
| Service Area 3 | $1,671.00 | per vehicle-mile |
| Service Area 4 | $1,842.00 | per vehicle-mile |
| Citywide average | $1,774.00 | per vehicle-mile |
Worked examples (from Section 7.2 of the Study)
| Project type | Service units | Service area | Roadway CRF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-Family Dwelling | 3.81 vehicle-miles | SA3 | $6,366.51 |
| 10,000 sf Office | 77.80 vehicle-miles | SA3 | $130,003.08 |
| 20,000 sf Retail Center | 83.60 vehicle-miles | SA3 | $139,695.60 |
| 100,000 sf Light Industrial | 351.00 vehicle-miles | SA3 | $586,521.00 |
Plats recorded on or after April 1, 2025 pay the 2024 schedule above. Plats recorded March 1, 2019 through March 31, 2025 pay the predecessor 2018 / Ord 2021-32 schedule. Plats approved before March 1, 2019 pay no roadway CRF. Ordinance 2019-01 established the original roadway impact fee; Ordinance 2021-32 updated it in 2021; Ordinance 2024-49 is the current update. There is no separate Mobility CRF distinct from the Roadway CRF.
Engineering, Inspection, Traffic Impact, and Planning Fees
Source: Ordinance No. 2024-03, /DocumentCenter/View/44508 (SHA-256 3daaf3b1...), effective February 1, 2024 (Section 9), for the plan review and construction inspection fees; League City Fees and Permits landing, leaguecitytx.gov/3285/Fees-Permits (SHA-256 559412b4...), for the traffic impact assessment review fees.
| Fee type | Amount | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan Review Fee | $9,350.00 | per plan review | Initial submittal invoices two reviews = $18,700; each subsequent submittal invoices an additional $9,350 |
| Construction Inspection Fee | $5,500.00 | per month | Assessed against developer-submitted construction schedule; due no later than the pre-construction meeting. Additional $5,500/month for each month beyond initial schedule, due before final acceptance. |
| Traffic Impact Assessment Review - Level 1 | $300.00 | per submittal | Due at time of submittal |
| Traffic Impact Assessment Review - Level 2 | $800.00 | per submittal | Due at time of submittal |
| Traffic Impact Assessment Review - Level 3 | $1,000.00 | per submittal | Due at time of submittal |
| Building permit, trade permit, and re-inspection fees | Pending re-verification against the current official schedule | - | The March 1, 2024 permit fee schedule previously cited here is no longer posted by the City |
Planning Department application fees
Source: League City Planning Department Fee Schedule, adopted July 28, 2026 under Resolution No. 2026-143, /DocumentCenter/View/2951 (SHA-256 e339a764...). The schedule sets two periods: a 50% fee increase beginning August 1, 2026 and a 100% fee increase beginning January 1, 2027.
| Application | Aug 1, 2026 - Dec 31, 2026 | From Jan 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| City Council Appeals | $663 | $1,000 |
| City Council Variances | $763 | $1,000 |
| Subdivision Variance (P&Z Variance / Buffer Yard Amendment) | $675 | $1,000 |
| ZBA Appeal | $663 | $1,000 |
| ZBA Variance | $663 | $1,000 |
| Preliminary Plat | $762.50 plus $15.50 per lot | $1,000 plus $20 per lot |
| Final Plat | $762.50 plus $14.50 per lot | $1,000 plus $20 per lot |
| Amended Plat | $662.50 plus $12.50 per lot | $800 plus $20 per lot |
| Replat | $662.50 plus $12.50 per lot | $800 plus $20 per lot |
| Minor Plat | $412.50 plus $10 per lot | $500 plus $20 per lot |
| Master Plan (Plat) | $1,525 | $2,000 |
| Plat Extension | $163 | $200 |
| PUD Zoning & Concept Plan | $4,075 plus $5 per acre | $5,000 plus $10 per acre |
| PUD Master Plan | $1,525 | $2,000 |
| Zoning Map Amendment | $1,663 | $2,000 |
| Zoning Verification Letter | $100 | $100 |
| SUP - All Other | $1,525 plus $50 per acre | $2,000 plus $100 per acre |
| SUP - Communication Towers | $1,525 plus $50 per acre | $2,000 plus $100 per acre |
| SUP - Excavations | $1,525 plus $55.50 per acre | $2,000 plus $100 per acre |
| Temporary Use Permit - P&Z Approval | $413 | $500 |
| Master Development Plan / Site Plan - less than 1 acre | $525 | $525 |
| Master Development Plan / Site Plan - 1 to 2.5 acres | $1,050 | $1,050 |
| Master Development Plan / Site Plan - 2.51 to 5 acres | $1,575 | $1,575 |
| Master Development Plan / Site Plan - 5.01 to 10 acres | $2,100 | $2,100 |
| Master Development Plan / Site Plan - 10.01 to 15 acres | $2,625 | $2,625 |
| Master Development Plan / Site Plan - over 15.01 acres | $2,625 plus $125 per acre | $2,625 plus $125 per acre |
Utility Tap and Meter Fees
Source: City of League City Service Connection Costs (Tap and Meter Fees), dated January 2024, /DocumentCenter/View/43912 on the tx-leaguecity5.civicplus.com mirror (SHA-256 eaafe2a4...). Effective 2024-01-01. Tap fees are distinct from the Water-Wastewater Capital Recovery Fee captured under impact_fees.
Residential
| Item | Size | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Water service tap | 3/4" | $225.00 |
| Water service tap | 1" | $250.00 |
| Water service tap | 1.5" | $275.00 |
| Water service tap | 2" | $300.00 |
| Sewer service tap | (standard) | $250.00 |
| Meter (3/4") | 3/4" | $270.00 |
| Meter (1") | 1" | $325.00 |
| Meter (1.5") | 1.5" | $620.00 |
| Meter (2") | 2" | $805.00 |
Commercial
| Item | Size | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Water service tap | 3/4" | $250.00 |
| Water service tap | 1" or larger | $300.00 |
| Sewer service tap | (standard) | $300.00 |
| Meter (3/4") | 3/4" | $270.00 |
| Meter (1") | 1" | $325.00 |
| Meter (1.5") | 1.5" | $584.26 |
| Meter (2") | 2" | $772.19 |
| Meter (1.5" compound) | 1.5" compound | $1,037.66 |
| Meter (2" compound) | 2" compound | $1,131.00 |
Meters larger than 2 inches are provided by the contractor.
What this page does not cover
Two fee families are documented as closed-search outcomes for League City after substitute-source enumeration:
- Proffers - not applicable. Cash proffers are a Virginia statutory construct under Va. Code 15.2-2303.4. Texas jurisdictions do not use cash proffers. League City's developer-side capital contribution occurs through the Ch. 395 Capital Recovery Fees (water-wastewater + roadway), tap and meter fees, and platting / permit fees, all captured above.
- Special district fees (PID / MUD / TIRZ) - not administered by the City of League City. The City does not publish a consolidated special-district development fee schedule. Four official League City URLs were probed (Fees-Permits landing, Planning, Budget, and the city site search) - none surfaced a city-administered special-district fee. MUDs overlaying the Bay Area and Galveston County area (e.g., Bay Colony) are independent political subdivisions whose rates are set by their own governing bodies; any PID or TIRZ is a project-specific tax / financing mechanism, not a city-administered developer fee. Special-district overlay charges, where they apply, are administered directly by the overlay district, not by the City.
Building permit, trade permit, and re-inspection fees are not shown: the March 1, 2024 permit fee schedule previously cited here is no longer posted by the City, and no current permit fee schedule has been captured yet. They are pending re-verification against the current official schedule.
Sources
City of League City Planning & Development Department (Engineering) - Fees and Permits landing - leaguecitytx.gov/3285/Fees-Permits - accessed 2026-05-20 · fetch · SHA-256 559412b4...
City of League City - Water and Wastewater Capital Recovery Fee Current Rate chart - leaguecitytx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/25260 - accessed 2026-05-24 · curl + pdfplumber · SHA-256 26d86123...
City of League City Engineering - 2024 League City Roadway Capital Recovery Fee Final Report (Freese and Nichols, September 3, 2024) - leaguecitytx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/46423 - accessed 2026-05-29 · curl + pdfplumber · SHA-256 9f2dd541...
City of League City Engineering - 2024 League City Roadway Capital Recovery Fee Letter and Ordinance No. 2024-49 - leaguecitytx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/46422 - accessed 2026-05-24 · curl + Stage 5 OCR · SHA-256 b8ef546d...
City of League City Utility Billing / Public Works - City of League City Service Connection Costs (Tap and Meter Fees), JAN 2024 - tx-leaguecity5.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/43912 - accessed 2026-05-27 · fetch + pdfplumber · SHA-256 eaafe2a4...
City of League City Engineering - Ordinance No. 2024-03, Engineering Services and Construction Inspection Fees (effective February 1, 2024) - leaguecitytx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/44508 - accessed 2026-11-04 · download + page images · SHA-256 3daaf3b1...
City of League City Planning Department - Planning Department Fee Schedule, adopted July 28, 2026 under Resolution No. 2026-143 - leaguecitytx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2951 - accessed 2026-11-04 · download + pdfplumber · SHA-256 e339a764...
City of League City Engineering - Mobility Capital Recovery Fee Ordinance No. 2019-01 (superseded; historical) - leaguecitytx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/20227 - accessed 2026-05-24 · curl · SHA-256 0c23a146...
Last verified
Verified Last reviewed 2026-11-04. Schema record at status verified with 4 of 5 fee families confirmed (impact_fees, zoning_fees, utility_tap_fees, proffers closed not-applicable) and special_district_fees closed not-administered after four official path probes.
Development fee schedules administered by the City of League City change over time. ZoneFee captured the schedules from the sources named above on the last-verified date. For binding fee amounts on a specific project, contact the City of League City Planning & Development Department directly via the official website.