San Marcos, Texas - City Development Fees
City of San Marcos | Hays County (county seat) | Central Texas | Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown MSA | I-35 corridor
San Marcos is the county seat of Hays County and an incorporated home rule city subject to Texas Local Government Code Chapter 395 requirements for development fee assessment. The City of San Marcos administers water and wastewater impact fees, zoning and subdivision application fees, engineering and site review fees, watershed protection fees, and floodplain permits through its Planning & Development Services Department at 630 E Hopkins Street.
Recent Fee Changes
Updated 2026-11-04: the zoning, plat, site, watershed, engineering and fee-in-lieu amounts on this page were replaced with the City of San Marcos Development Fees schedule effective October 1, 2026 (linked by the city as Resolution 2026-168r); earlier figures were from Resolution 2025-185R (effective October 1, 2025). The Parkland Fee-in-Lieu line is no longer listed in the current schedule and was removed.
Water and wastewater impact fees changed on October 1, 2026. Ordinance 2026-29 (adopted September 1, 2026) replaced the Ordinance 2018-09 impact fees from October 1, 2026, with a second step after March 16, 2027. The ordinance's fee tables are scanned images, so the new amounts are shown as pending re-verification against Ordinance 2026-29 until they are confirmed.
On this page
Fee Summary
| Fee Type | Status | Top-Line Figure | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Impact Fee (per LUE) | Pending re-verification | Pending re-verification against Ordinance 2026-29 (scanned tables) | Oct. 1, 2026 (Ord. 2026-29) |
| Wastewater Impact Fee (per LUE) | Pending re-verification | Pending re-verification against Ordinance 2026-29 (scanned tables) | Oct. 1, 2026 (Ord. 2026-29) |
| Roadway / Transportation Impact Fee | Not surfaced on city .gov source | No roadway impact fee found in the official sources reviewed (Development Impact Fees page, Ordinance 2026-29, Development Fees schedule) | - |
| Zoning / Plat / Site / Watershed Application Fees | Confirmed | Zoning Change $1,082 + $150/acre; Plats $1,622 + $100/acre; Site $2,163 to $2,704 + $200/acre; WPP $2,163; Floodplain $52 to $271 | Oct. 1, 2026 (Development Fees schedule) |
| Utility Tap / Meter Installation Fees | Separate Utilities Department schedule | Not consolidated into the development fee schedule; SMTX Utilities maintains separate schedule | - |
| Proffers | Not applicable | Texas does not use proffer agreements | - |
| Special District Fees (city-administered) | Application charge only | Incentive Agreements (MUD/PID/TIRZ) $10,058 (under zoning fees) | Oct. 1, 2026 |
Water and Wastewater Impact Fees
San Marcos assesses water and wastewater impact fees under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 395, codified at San Marcos City Code Chapter 86 Article 5 Division 4. The fee is calculated per Living Unit Equivalent (LUE), with the LUE count set by calculated peak water flow in gallons per minute (gpm) under Schedule 1 of City Code Sec. 86.294.
Ordinance 2026-29 (passed on first reading August 5, 2026; adopted on second reading September 1, 2026) amended Schedule 1 with new water and wastewater impact fees effective and applicable October 1, 2026, and a second column of fees that applies after March 16, 2027. It replaces every Ordinance 2018-09 amount ZoneFee previously listed.
Water and Wastewater Impact Fees (Ordinance 2026-29 Schedule 1)
| Schedule Column | Water (per LUE) | Wastewater (per LUE) |
|---|---|---|
| Impact fee after 9/30/26 (in effect now) | Pending re-verification | Pending re-verification |
| Impact fee after 3/16/27 | Pending re-verification | Pending re-verification |
Pending re-verification against Ordinance 2026-29 (scanned tables). The ordinance's fee tables are published as scanned images, and ZoneFee does not publish amounts until they are confirmed against the official document. Confirm the applicable LUE count and current impact fee with City of San Marcos Utilities Engineering before relying on any figure. A roadway or transportation impact fee for San Marcos was not found in the official sources reviewed.
Zoning, Plat, Site, and Engineering Review Fees
Zoning, subdivision, engineering, site, and watershed fees are published in the City of San Marcos Development Fees schedule effective October 1, 2026 (linked by the city as Resolution 2026-168r; verified 2026-11-04). Administered by: City of San Marcos Planning & Development Services. The schedule covers Building, Engineering, Planning, Fire, and Neighborhood Enhancement (Environmental Health) fees.
Zoning and Land Use Fees
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Zoning Change / Regulating Plan | $1,082.00 + $150/acre, max $5,000 |
| Zoning Variance / Special Exception / Change in Status | $812.00 |
| Conditional Use Permit (all types) | $1,082.00 (50% for nonprofits) |
| Conditional Use Permit Renewal / Amendment | $812.00 (50% for nonprofits) |
| Amendment to Preferred Scenario Map | $1,082.00 + $150/acre, max $5,000 |
| Incentive Agreements (MUD, PID, TIRZ, etc.) | $10,058.00 |
| Development Agreements / Other Agreements | $2,704.00 + $200/acre, max $7,500 |
| Amendment to Development Agreement / PDD / Incentive Agreement | $2,163.00 + $100/acre, max $5,000 |
| Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Project | $1,082.00 + $100/acre, max $5,000 |
| Annexation | $1,947.00 |
| Zoning Verification Letter | $81.00 |
Subdivision and Plat Application Fees
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Subdivision Minor Plat / Amending Plat / Building-Across-Lot-Line Waiver | $812.00 + $100/acre, max $3,000 |
| Concept / Preliminary Plat | $1,622.00 + $100/acre, max $5,000 |
| Final Plat | $1,622.00 + $100/acre, max $5,000 |
| Replat (not administrative) | $812.00 + $50/acre, max $3,000 |
| Vacation of Previously Recorded Plat | $812.00 |
| Street or Alley Abandonment | $1,298.00 |
| Subdivision Variance Request | $812.00 |
Site, Engineering, and Watershed Protection Fees
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Site Preparation Permit | $2,163.00 + $200/acre, max $5,000 |
| Comprehensive Site Permit (includes WPP2 review) | $2,704.00 + $200/acre, max $5,000 |
| Small Site Permit (under 1,000 sf impervious cover) | $2,163.00 |
| Public Improvement Construction Plan (PICP) | $2,163.00 + $200/acre, max $5,000 |
| Comprehensive PICP (includes WPP2 review) | $2,704.00 + $200/acre, max $5,000 |
| Watershed Protection Plan Phase I (WPP1) | $2,163.00 |
| Watershed Protection Phase II (WPP2) | $1,622.00 + $100/acre, max $5,000 |
| Comprehensive Watershed Protection Plan Phase 2 | $2,163.00 + $150/acre, max $5,000 |
| Floodplain Permit (Single Family) | $52.00 |
| Floodplain Permit (Commercial) | $271.00 |
| CLOMR / LOMR (without approved CLOMR) | $4,002.00 |
| LOMR (with approved CLOMR) | $1,839.00 |
| LOMA | $595.00 |
| Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) | $1,298.00 |
| TIA Worksheet | $163.00 |
Procedural and Fee-in-Lieu Charges
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Technology Fee (applied to all permits) | $15.00 |
| Resubmittal Fee (after second) | $324.00 |
| Reinspection Fee | $271.00 |
| Sidewalk Fee-in-Lieu | $21.00 per square foot |
| Protected Trees Fee-in-Lieu | $190.00 per caliper inch |
| Heritage Tree Fee-in-Lieu | $379.00 per caliper inch |
| Water Quality Fee-in-Lieu | $0.40 per square foot |
| Detention Fee-in-Lieu | $10.00 per square foot or City-approved engineer estimate |
| Parking Fee-in-Lieu | $8,111.00 per space |
| Parkland Development Fee | $457.00 per unit |
Source: City of San Marcos Development Fees, effective October 1, 2026 (DocumentCenter View 47805, linked as Resolution 2026-168r), 7 pages. Building permit per-square-foot rates, fire fees, and Neighborhood Enhancement (Environmental Health) fees are present in the source document but omitted from this summary for brevity.
Utility Tap and Meter Installation Fees
The Development Fees schedule effective October 1, 2026 covers Building, Engineering, Planning, Fire, and Neighborhood Enhancement fees. It contains an "Out of City Utility Extension" $1,082 review fee and an "Out of City Utility Connection" $703 administrative fee, but these are administrative review/connection-permit charges, not water/wastewater tap or meter installation charges.
Water and wastewater tap and meter installation charges are administered by the City of San Marcos Utilities Department under a separate fee schedule that was not located on the city's fee schedule or Development Impact Fees pages in this source review. Within ZoneFee scope, the water/wastewater impact fees under Ordinance 2026-29 above (amounts pending re-verification) are the developer-cost-of-record at the connection point; one-time meter set or line tap charges may apply separately and require confirmation directly with City of San Marcos Utilities Engineering (512-393-8230 or planninginfo@sanmarcostx.gov).
Special Districts and County Overlap
San Marcos is the county seat of Hays County. The Development Fees schedule effective October 1, 2026 includes a city-level Incentive Agreements (MUD, PID, TIRZ, etc.) Application Fee of $10,058 captured under zoning fees above, but does not enumerate any sub-district WCID, MUD, or PID rate schedules adopted or republished by the City of San Marcos.
Specific Hays County WCID, MUD, or PID overlap with San Marcos city limits is not currently inventoried by ZoneFee. Within-district fees (if any) charged by overlapping WCIDs, MUDs, or PIDs are administered by each district board and are not on a verified San Marcos .gov source. Property owners or developers operating within a specifically-named special district should confirm applicable rates directly with the relevant district board or with Hays County.
Fee Authorities
| Authority | Fee Types | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| City of San Marcos Planning & Development Services | Zoning, plat, site, watershed, engineering review, floodplain, fee-in-lieu charges (Development Fees schedule effective October 1, 2026) | sanmarcostx.gov/3958/Planning-Development-Services |
| City of San Marcos - Development Impact Fees landing | Development fee schedule and water and wastewater impact fee ordinance access | sanmarcostx.gov/1334/Development-Impact-Fees |
| City of San Marcos Utilities Department | Water and wastewater tap and meter installation (separate department schedule, not consolidated) | sanmarcostx.gov |
Department contact: 630 E Hopkins, 2nd Floor, Building 3, San Marcos TX 78666. Phone 512-393-8230. Email planninginfo@sanmarcostx.gov. Permit Center: 512-805-2630 / Permitinfo@sanmarcostx.gov.
Sources
| Document | Agency | Accessed |
|---|---|---|
| Development Fees, effective October 1, 2026 (Resolution 2026-168r Development Fee Schedule; 7 pages) | City of San Marcos - City Council | 2026-11-04 |
| Ordinance 2026-29 Water and Wastewater Impact Fee Update (adopted September 1, 2026; fees effective October 1, 2026; tables are scanned images) | City of San Marcos - City Council | 2026-11-04 |
| Development Impact Fees landing page | City of San Marcos, TX | 2026-11-04 |
Last verified by ZoneFee: 2026-11-04. Fee schedules are subject to change. Verify current rates directly with the City of San Marcos before relying on this data for any financial decision.
This page reflects fee data sourced from official City of San Marcos 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. Water and wastewater impact fees are codified at San Marcos City Code Chapter 86 Article 5 Division 4; Ordinance 2026-29 set new amounts effective October 1, 2026, which ZoneFee shows as pending re-verification because the ordinance tables are scanned images. A roadway or transportation impact fee for San Marcos was not found in the official sources reviewed. Zoning, plat, site, watershed, engineering review, and fee-in-lieu charges are from the Development Fees schedule effective October 1, 2026. Water and wastewater tap and meter installation charges are administered by the City of San Marcos Utilities Department under a separate fee schedule not consolidated into the development fee schedule. Recurring monthly retail water and wastewater service rates are out of ZoneFee scope (recurring operating costs are not development fees). Within-district WCID, MUD, or PID fees are administered by each district board and are not on a verified San Marcos .gov source. Verify all current rates with City of San Marcos Planning & Development Services or Utilities Engineering 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.