Celina, TX vs Star, ID: Development Impact Fees Compared (2026)
A single-family home pays about $36,743 in Celina vs $32,492 in Star — Celina is $4,251 (13%) higher. Every figure below is normalized per dwelling unit by category, with links to each jurisdiction’s official sources.
City
Celina, TX
$36,743
Total per single-family home
impact + connection fees
$15,540
Impact / development fees
roads, parks, schools…
$21,203
Water & sewer connection
tap / capacity / SDC
—
Per multifamily unit
total fees / unit
Impact / development fees
| Fee (local term) | Basis | Amount | Source · effective |
|---|---|---|---|
Transportation / roads Roadway Impact Fee — Roadway impact fee per Texas LGC Ch. 395. VERIFIED 2026-06-17: Estimator Worksheet row 15 (Single-Family Detached Housing, 4.6 veh-mi, $3,043.48/veh-mi) and row 32 ROADWAY IMPACT FEE COST: 14000. The estimator's per-service-area collection-rate table (LUE Table 2025 Study, cells T5:U11) confirms $3,043.48/veh-mi is the UNIFORM adopted collection rate for Service Areas 1, 2, 3, 4, AND 5, so the 'SA1-5' grouping is correct; 4.60 x $3,043.48 = $14,000.008 (rounddown 14,000). Jan 2025 RIF Study (Kimley-Horn) confirms 4.60 veh-mi/SFD and lists the higher MAXIMUM assessable fee ($18,359 SA1 to $18,382 SA5; max per-veh-mi $3,048-$3,996); the city collects at the reduced $3,043.48 rate. The collection rate and $14,000 figure are NOT in the RIF study itself — they come from the adopted estimator. Applies to plats dated on/after 3/12/2025. | per dwelling unit | $14,000 | City of Celina, Texas Mar 12, 2025High |
Transportation / roads Roadway Impact Fee (Service Area 6) — Mutually-exclusive service-area variant. VERIFIED 2026-06-17: Estimator LUE Table 2025 Study cell U10 confirms SA6 collection rate $1,934.78/veh-mi. 4.6 x $1,934.78 = $8,899.99 (rounds to ~$8,900). Correctly excluded; Service Areas 1-5 row ($14,000) is the representative primary. RIF max assessable for SA6 is $8,906/SF home. alternative · not added to total | per dwelling unit | $8,900 | City of Celina, Texas Mar 12, 2025High |
Transportation / roads Roadway Impact Fee (Service Area 7) — Mutually-exclusive service-area variant. VERIFIED 2026-06-17: Estimator LUE Table 2025 Study cell U11 confirms SA7 collection rate $1,565.22/veh-mi. 4.6 x $1,565.22 = $7,200.01 (rounddown 7,200). Correctly excluded; Service Areas 1-5 row is the representative primary. RIF study max assessable for SA7 is $7,277/SF home. alternative · not added to total | per dwelling unit | $7,200 | City of Celina, Texas Mar 12, 2025High |
Parks & recreation Park Improvement Fee (Single-Family) — Park improvement fee on new 1 & 2 family dwellings. VERIFIED 2026-06-17 verbatim in Master Fee Chart Nov 2025 residential building permit section (Park Improvement $1,500 per unit). NOTE: Texas LGC Ch. 395 does NOT authorize park impact fees; this is a parkland-dedication/development exaction levied under the city's subdivision/zoning authority, not a Ch. 395 impact fee. Builder pays it regardless. | per dwelling unit | $1,500 | City of Celina, Texas Nov 11, 2025High |
Public safety Outdoor Warning Device Fee (Single-Family) — Outdoor warning (storm-siren) device fee charged per new single-family dwelling at building permit. VERIFIED 2026-06-17 verbatim in Master Fee Chart Nov 2025 (Outdoor Warning Device $40 per unit (SF); $14/unit for multi-family). Permit-time exaction, not a Ch. 395 impact fee. | per dwelling unit | $40 | City of Celina, Texas Nov 11, 2025High |
General government / capital Civil/Site Development Permit Fee (Residential, per lot) — Site development (civil) permit fee billed per residential lot at the subdivision/civil stage, typically paid by the developer rather than per home permit. VERIFIED 2026-06-17 verbatim in Master Fee Chart Nov 2025 Site Development Fees (Civil Permit) section (Civil Permit Fee - Residential $601 (per lot)). Correctly excluded from the per-dwelling-unit impact-fee total to avoid mixing process fees with capacity fees. alternative · not added to total | per dwelling unit | $601 | City of Celina, Texas Nov 11, 2025High |
Water & sewer connection fees
| Fee (local term) | Basis | Amount | Source · effective |
|---|---|---|---|
Water connection (tap / SDC) Water Impact Fee — Water impact fee per Texas LGC Ch. 395, for the standard 1-inch residential meter (1.0 service unit). VERIFIED 2026-06-17: confirmed verbatim in the 2025 Impact Fee Estimator 'Water-Sewer 2025' tab (Single-Family, 1", Displacement, SUE 1, Water Impact Fee 6815) and main Worksheet row 38. Independently corroborated by July 2025 W&W Impact Fee Report (Freese & Nichols) Tables ES-2 and 4-4: Maximum Water Impact Fee per SU $13,631, 50% credit, Maximum Allowable Water Impact Fee = $6,815. Replaced the 2021 rate of $4,400 (1-inch). | per dwelling unit | $6,815 | City of Celina, Texas Mar 12, 2025High |
Water connection (tap / SDC) Water Impact Fee (3/4" meter variant) — Mutually-exclusive meter-size variant. VERIFIED 2026-06-17: 'Water-Sewer 2025' tab shows Single-Family 3/4" Displacement SUE 0.625 Water Impact Fee 4259 (= 6815 x 0.625 = 4259.4). City standardized residential to 1-inch meters, so the 1-inch row is the representative primary; this 3/4-inch row is correctly excluded from the total. (Note: W&W report Table 4-1 displays 3/4" SUE as 0.6 rounded, but the operative adopted estimator uses 0.625.) alternative · not added to total | per dwelling unit | $4,259 | City of Celina, Texas Mar 12, 2025High |
Sewer connection (tap / SDC) Wastewater (Sewer) Impact Fee — Wastewater impact fee per Texas LGC Ch. 395, standard 1-inch residential meter (1.0 service unit). VERIFIED 2026-06-17: confirmed in the 2025 Impact Fee Estimator 'Water-Sewer 2025' tab (sewer column = 10233; row total 17048 = 6815 + 10233) and Worksheet row 38. Corroborated by W&W Impact Fee Report Tables ES-3 and 4-5: Maximum Wastewater Impact Fee per SU $20,467, 50% credit, Maximum Allowable Wastewater Impact Fee = $10,233. (The W&W report's narrative ES paragraph contains a typo '$10,496' but all controlling tables state $10,233.) Replaced the 2021 rate of $5,200 (1-inch). | per dwelling unit | $10,233 | City of Celina, Texas Mar 12, 2025High |
Sewer connection (tap / SDC) Wastewater (Sewer) Impact Fee (3/4" meter variant) — Mutually-exclusive meter-size variant (0.625 SU). VERIFIED 2026-06-17: 'Water-Sewer 2025' tab shows 6395 (= 10233 x 0.625 = 6395.6). Correctly excluded; the 1-inch standard meter row is the representative primary. alternative · not added to total | per dwelling unit | $6,395 | City of Celina, Texas Mar 12, 2025High |
Water connection (tap / SDC) Water Connection / Access (Tap) Fee - 1" — Water tap/connection ('access') fee for a 1-inch service (standard residential), separate from and additive to the water impact fee. VERIFIED 2026-06-17 verbatim in Master Fee Chart Nov 2025 (Water/Wastewater Connection Fees, Water: 1" Access $2,175). A separate boring fee of $1,200 may apply. This is the physical tap installation charge, not the Ch. 395 capacity/impact fee. | per meter | $2,175 | City of Celina, Texas Nov 11, 2025High |
Water connection (tap / SDC) Water Meter Fee - 1" — Water meter fee for the 1-inch minimum residential meter. VERIFIED 2026-06-17 verbatim in Master Fee Chart Nov 2025 (Meter Fees: 1" $480 (minimum meter size); 3/4" $415 existing meters only). Additive to tap and impact fees. | per meter | $480 | City of Celina, Texas Nov 11, 2025High |
Sewer connection (tap / SDC) Sewer Connection (Tap) Fee - 4" — Sewer tap/connection fee for a standard residential 4-inch service lateral, separate from and additive to the wastewater impact fee. VERIFIED 2026-06-17 verbatim in Master Fee Chart Nov 2025 (Sewer: 4" Tap $1,500; Boring Fee $1,000). A separate sewer boring fee of $1,000 may apply. | per meter | $1,500 | City of Celina, Texas Nov 11, 2025High |
City
Star, ID
$32,492
Total per single-family home
impact + connection fees
$21,042
Impact / development fees
roads, parks, schools…
$11,450
Water & sewer connection
tap / capacity / SDC
—
Per multifamily unit
total fees / unit
Impact / development fees
| Fee (local term) | Basis | Amount | Source · effective |
|---|---|---|---|
Transportation / roads ACHD Transportation Impact Fee (Single Family Detached) — VERIFIED. Transportation/road impact fee levied by the Ada County Highway District (ACHD), a SEPARATE district, collected at the City of Star building permit. ACHD Ordinance No. 254, effective March 1, 2026 ($5,803/single-family home), single service area model. Confirmed on the City of Star fee page (verbatim) and corroborated by ACHD's adoption notice (Meridian-hosted PDF: 'Single Family : $5803.00') and KIVI/KTVB reporting. | per dwelling unit | $5,803 | City of Star, Idaho Mar 1, 2026High |
Transportation / roads Highway District No. 4 (Canyon County) Impact Fee — VERIFIED on City of Star fee page. MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE alternative to the ACHD transportation fee. Star straddles the Ada/Canyon county line; parcels in the Canyon County portion pay Highway District No. 4 ($5,050) INSTEAD OF the ACHD fee ($5,803). ACHD (Ada County) treated as representative/primary; this Canyon County variant excludeFromTotal=true (correct). alternative · not added to total | per dwelling unit | $5,050 | City of Star, Idaho —High |
Fire / EMS Star Fire Impact Fee — VERIFIED on City of Star fee page (verbatim). Fire impact fee levied by the City of Star, per dwelling unit. | per dwelling unit | $2,152 | City of Star, Idaho —High |
Parks & recreation Star Parks Impact Fee — VERIFIED on City of Star fee page (verbatim). Parks/recreation impact fee levied by the City of Star, per dwelling unit. | per dwelling unit | $4,696 | City of Star, Idaho —High |
Police Star Police Impact Fee — VERIFIED on City of Star fee page (verbatim). Police impact fee levied by the City of Star, per dwelling unit. | per dwelling unit | $681 | City of Star, Idaho —High |
Police Public Safety Mitigation Fee - Police — VERIFIED on City of Star fee page (verbatim). Police 'Public Safety Mitigation Fee' charged by the City of Star in addition to the Police Impact Fee. Additive mitigation/exaction (per dwelling unit). | per dwelling unit | $3,360 | City of Star, Idaho —High |
Fire / EMS Public Safety Mitigation Fee - Fire — VERIFIED on City of Star fee page (verbatim). Fire 'Public Safety Mitigation Fee' charged by the City of Star in addition to the Fire Impact Fee. Additive mitigation/exaction (per dwelling unit). | per dwelling unit | $3,600 | City of Star, Idaho —High |
General government / capital Ada County Impact Fees (Jail, EMS, Coroner) — VERIFIED on City of Star fee page (verbatim). Ada County (SEPARATE county government) impact fee covering Jail, EMS, and Coroner capital facilities, collected at the City of Star permit, per single-family dwelling unit. | per dwelling unit | $750 | City of Star, Idaho —High |
Water & sewer connection fees
| Fee (local term) | Basis | Amount | Source · effective |
|---|---|---|---|
Water connection (tap / SDC) Water Connection Fee (per EDU) — VERIFIED in Star Sewer & Water District Residential Permit Application PDF (Revised 3/31/2026): 'Water Connection Fee Amt. Paid $2,000.00 PER EDU ... $2,000.00'. Water connection/capacity fee charged by the SWD (SEPARATE special district providing all water/sewer in Star); 1 SFD = 1 EDU. | per meter | $2,000 | Star Sewer & Water District Mar 31, 2026High |
Water connection (tap / SDC) Water Meter Lease Fee (3/4" meter) — VERIFIED in SWD Residential Permit Application PDF (Revised 3/31/2026): 'Water Meter Lease Fee Amt. Paid ¾" Meter ... $950.00'. One-time water meter (lease) fee for the standard residential 3/4" meter (representative meter size), additive to the water connection fee. | per meter | $950 | Star Sewer & Water District Mar 31, 2026High |
Sewer connection (tap / SDC) Sewer Connection Fee (per EDU) — VERIFIED in SWD Residential Permit Application PDF (Revised 3/31/2026): 'Sewer Connection Fee Amt Paid $8,500.00 PER EDU ... $8,500.00'. Sewer connection/capacity fee, $8,500 per EDU (1 SFD = 1 EDU). PDF total water+meter+sewer = $11,450.00 ($2,000 + $950 + $8,500), confirmed. | per meter | $8,500 | Star Sewer & Water District Mar 31, 2026High |
What drives the difference
Celina’s $36,743 per single-family home is $4,251 (13%) above Star’s $32,492. The largest single difference is in transportation / roads: Celina charges about $14,000 there versus $5,803 in Star — a $8,197 swing that accounts for much of the overall gap. The two also differ in how much falls on water and sewer connection charges: $21,203 in Celina versus $11,450 in Star.
Keep comparing
Celina vs Star impact fees — FAQ
- Which has higher impact fees, Celina or Star?
- Celina, TX is higher. A single-family home pays about $36,743 per unit in Celina versus $32,492 in Star, ID — $4,251 (13%) more, as of 2026.
- How much more does it cost to build a home in Celina than in Star?
- About $4,251 more per single-family home — $36,743 in Celina, TX versus $32,492 in Star, ID, a difference of 13% in total development impact and connection fees.
- What's the difference between impact fees in Celina and Star for a single-family home?
- Celina, TX charges about $36,743 per single-family home ($15,540 impact + $21,203 water/sewer connection), while Star, ID charges about $32,492 ($21,042 impact + $11,450 connection). Figures are normalized from official sources for 2026.