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
Resolution 2025-185R Development Fees effective October 1, 2025 (City Council adoption September 16, 2025). Resolution 2025-185R covers Building, Engineering, Planning, Fire, and Neighborhood Enhancement (Environmental Health) fees. The 7-page document is the canonical reference for current zoning, plat, site, watershed, and engineering review fees.
Water and wastewater impact fees adopted by Ordinance 2018-09 (effective April 30, 2018; codified at San Marcos City Code Chapter 86 Article 5 Division 4). Texas Local Government Code Chapter 395 requires a 5-year update cycle for impact fee programs.
Fee Summary
| Fee Type | Status | Top-Line Figure | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Impact Fee (5/8 inch base) | Confirmed | $3,801 per LUE (Schedule 1 LUE-by-gpm table) | Apr. 30, 2018 (Ord. 2018-09) |
| Wastewater Impact Fee (5/8 inch base) | Confirmed | $2,684 per LUE (Schedule 1 LUE-by-gpm table) | Apr. 30, 2018 (Ord. 2018-09) |
| Roadway / Transportation Impact Fee | Not surfaced on city .gov source | Not located on /1032/Impact-Fees or in Resolution 2025-185R | - |
| Zoning / Plat / Site / Watershed Application Fees | Confirmed | Zoning Change $1,050 + $150/acre; Plats $1,575 + $100/acre; Site $2,100 to $2,625 + $200/acre; WPP $2,100; Floodplain $50 to $263 | Oct. 1, 2025 (Res. 2025-185R) |
| Utility Tap / Meter Installation Fees | Separate Utilities Department schedule | Not consolidated into Resolution 2025-185R; 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) $9,765 (under zoning fees) | Oct. 1, 2025 |
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 and adopted by Ordinance 2018-09 (effective April 30, 2018). The fee is calculated on a per-Living-Unit-Equivalent (LUE) basis with the LUE count determined by gallons-per-minute (gpm) capacity demand. Schedule 1 of the Ordinance publishes the LUE-by-gpm conversion table.
Water and Wastewater Impact Fees by gpm Tier (Ordinance 2018-09 Schedule 1)
| gpm Tier | LUE Equivalent | Water | Wastewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 10 gpm (5/8 inch base) | 1.0 LUE | $3,801.00 | $2,684.00 |
| 10 to 15 gpm | 2.0 LUE | $7,602.00 | $5,368.00 |
| 15 to 25 gpm | 4.0 LUE | $15,204.00 | $10,736.00 |
| 25 to 50 gpm | 6.0 LUE | $22,806.00 | $16,104.00 |
| 50 to 80 gpm | 8.5 LUE | $32,308.50 | $22,814.00 |
| 80 to 160 gpm | 32.5 LUE | $123,532.50 | $87,230.00 |
| 500 gpm and over | 150.0 LUE | $570,150.00 | $402,600.00 |
The full LUE-by-gpm table in Schedule 1 includes additional intermediate tiers; representative tiers are extracted above. A separate roadway/transportation impact fee program for San Marcos was not surfaced on the city's Impact Fees landing page or in Resolution 2025-185R during this verification pass. Contact City of San Marcos Utilities Engineering to confirm the applicable LUE count for a specific project.
Zoning, Plat, Site, and Engineering Review Fees
Zoning, subdivision, engineering, site, and watershed fees are published in Resolution 2025-185R Development Fees (City Council adoption September 16, 2025; effective October 1, 2025). Administered by: City of San Marcos Planning & Development Services. Resolution 2025-185R covers Building, Engineering, Planning, Fire, and Neighborhood Enhancement (Environmental Health) fees.
Zoning and Land Use Fees
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Zoning Change / Regulating Plan | $1,050.00 + $150/acre, max $5,000 |
| Zoning Variance / Special Exception / Change in Status | $788.00 |
| Conditional Use Permit (all types) | $1,050.00 (50% for nonprofits) |
| Conditional Use Permit Renewal / Amendment | $788.00 (50% for nonprofits) |
| Amendment to Preferred Scenario Map | $1,050.00 + $150/acre, max $5,000 |
| Incentive Agreements (MUD, PID, TIRZ, etc.) | $9,765.00 |
| Development Agreements / Other Agreements | $2,625.00 + $200/acre, max $7,500 |
| Amendment to Development Agreement / PDD / Incentive Agreement | $2,100.00 + $100/acre, max $5,000 |
| Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Project | $1,050.00 + $100/acre, max $5,000 |
| Annexation | $1,890.00 |
| Zoning Verification Letter | $79.00 |
Subdivision and Plat Application Fees
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Subdivision Minor Plat / Amending Plat / Building-Across-Lot-Line Waiver | $788.00 + $100/acre, max $3,000 |
| Concept / Preliminary Plat | $1,575.00 + $100/acre, max $5,000 |
| Final Plat | $1,575.00 + $100/acre, max $5,000 |
| Replat (not administrative) | $788.00 + $50/acre, max $3,000 |
| Vacation of Previously Recorded Plat | $788.00 |
| Street or Alley Abandonment | $1,260.00 |
| Subdivision Variance Request | $788.00 |
Site, Engineering, and Watershed Protection Fees
| Application Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Site Preparation Permit | $2,100.00 + $200/acre, max $5,000 |
| Comprehensive Site Permit (includes WPP2 review) | $2,625.00 + $200/acre, max $5,000 |
| Small Site Permit (under 1,000 sf impervious cover) | $2,100.00 |
| Public Improvement Construction Plan (PICP) | $2,100.00 + $200/acre, max $5,000 |
| Comprehensive PICP (includes WPP2 review) | $2,625.00 + $200/acre, max $5,000 |
| Watershed Protection Plan Phase I (WPP1) | $2,100.00 |
| Watershed Protection Phase II (WPP2) | $1,575.00 + $100/acre, max $5,000 |
| Comprehensive Watershed Protection Plan Phase 2 | $2,100.00 + $150/acre, max $5,000 |
| Floodplain Permit (Single Family) | $50.00 |
| Floodplain Permit (Commercial) | $263.00 |
| CLOMR / LOMR (without approved CLOMR) | $3,885.00 |
| LOMR (with approved CLOMR) | $1,785.00 |
| LOMA | $578.00 |
| Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) | $1,260.00 |
| TIA Worksheet | $158.00 |
Procedural and Fee-in-Lieu Charges
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Technology Fee (applied to all permits) | $15.00 |
| Resubmittal Fee (after second) | $315.00 |
| Reinspection Fee | $263.00 |
| Sidewalk Fee-in-Lieu | $20.00 per square foot |
| Protected Trees Fee-in-Lieu | $184.00 per caliper inch |
| Heritage Tree Fee-in-Lieu | $368.00 per caliper inch |
| Water Quality Fee-in-Lieu | $0.37 per square foot |
| Detention Fee-in-Lieu | $10.00 per square foot or City-approved engineer estimate |
| Parking Fee-in-Lieu | $7,875.00 per space |
| Parkland Development Fee | $444.00 per unit |
| Parkland Fee-in-Lieu | $317.00 per unit |
Source: City of San Marcos Resolution 2025-185R Development Fees (DocumentCenter View 44874), 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
Resolution 2025-185R covers Building, Engineering, Planning, Fire, and Neighborhood Enhancement fees. It contains an "Out of City Utility Extension" $1,050 review fee and an "Out of City Utility Connection" $683 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 canonical Fee Schedule landing page or via the Impact Fees page during this verification pass. Within ZoneFee scope, the water/wastewater impact fees from Ordinance 2018-09 above 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. Resolution 2025-185R includes a city-level Incentive Agreements (MUD, PID, TIRZ, etc.) Application Fee of $9,765 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 (Resolution 2025-185R) | sanmarcostx.gov/3958/Planning-Development-Services |
| City of San Marcos - Fee Schedule landing | Canonical Resolution 2025-185R Development Fees access | sanmarcostx.gov/1334/Fee-Schedule |
| City of San Marcos - Impact Fees landing | Water and wastewater impact fees (Ordinance 2018-09; codified Chapter 86 Art. 5 Div. 4) | sanmarcostx.gov/1032/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 |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution 2025-185R Development Fees (effective October 1, 2025; 7 pages) | City of San Marcos - City Council | 2026-05-05 |
| Ordinance 2018-09 Impact Fee Update (water / wastewater; effective April 30, 2018; 61 pages) | City of San Marcos - City Council | 2026-05-05 |
| Fee Schedule landing page | City of San Marcos, TX | 2026-05-05 |
| Impact Fees landing page | City of San Marcos, TX | 2026-05-05 |
Last verified by ZoneFee: 2026-05-05. 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 and adopted by Ordinance 2018-09 (effective April 30, 2018); Texas Local Government Code Chapter 395 requires a 5-year update cycle. A separate roadway/transportation impact fee program for San Marcos was not surfaced on the city's Impact Fees page or in Resolution 2025-185R during this verification pass. Zoning, plat, site, watershed, engineering review, and fee-in-lieu charges are from Resolution 2025-185R Development Fees (City Council adoption September 16, 2025; effective October 1, 2025). 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 Resolution 2025-185R. 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.