Phoenix, AZ vs St. George, UT: Development Impact Fees Compared (2026)
A single-family home pays about $36,107 in Phoenix vs $33,173 in St. George — Phoenix is $2,934 (9%) higher. Every figure below is normalized per dwelling unit by category, with links to each jurisdiction’s official sources.
City
Phoenix, AZ
$36,107
Total per single-family home
impact + connection fees
$5,585
Impact / development fees
roads, parks, schools…
$30,522
Water & sewer connection
tap / capacity / SDC
$3,775
Per multifamily unit
total fees / unit
Impact / development fees
| Fee (local term) | Basis | Amount | Source · effective |
|---|---|---|---|
Fire / EMS Fire Protection Impact Fee — Northwest (Off-Project) service area used as the representative primary. Fire SFD fee varies by service area: $1,165 (Northeast/Paradise Ridge), $1,625 (Estrella/Laveen), $1,833 (Ahwatukee), and $0 in the established Balance of City. Phoenix System Development Fees under ARS 9-463.05 apply only in designated growth/service areas. VERIFIED: $1,282 matches Northwest (Off-Project) column of 2025 PDF. | per dwelling unit | $1,282 | City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department Jun 23, 2025High |
Police Police Impact Fee — Northwest (Off-Project). Police SFD fee is uniform at $348 across all active growth service areas; $0 in Balance of City (established core). VERIFIED: $348 matches; uniform $348 across all non-zero service areas confirmed in PDF. | per dwelling unit | $348 | City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department Jun 23, 2025High |
Parks & recreation Parks & Recreation Impact Fee — Northwest (Off-Project). Parks SFD fee varies: $1,474 (Northeast/Paradise Ridge), $2,082 (Estrella/Laveen), $1,094 (Ahwatukee), $0 in Balance of City. Each service area's parks fee funds only parks in that area. VERIFIED: $1,409 matches Northwest column; variation confirmed. | per dwelling unit | $1,409 | City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department Jun 23, 2025High |
Library Libraries Impact Fee — Northwest (Off-Project). Library SFD fee varies: $133 (Northeast/Paradise Ridge), $205 (Estrella/Laveen); $0 in Ahwatukee and Balance of City. VERIFIED: $216 matches Northwest column; variation confirmed. | per dwelling unit | $216 | City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department Jun 23, 2025High |
Transportation / roads Major Arterials (Roads) Impact Fee — Northwest (Off-Project). The Major Arterials (street/road) impact fee of $2,330/SFD applies ONLY in the four northern service areas (Northwest, Deer Valley, Northeast, Paradise Ridge). It is $0 in the Estrella, Laveen, Ahwatukee, and Balance of City areas. VERIFIED: $2,330 matches; $0 in all southern/central and Balance columns confirmed in PDF. | per dwelling unit | $2,330 | City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department Jun 23, 2025High |
Drainage / stormwater Storm Drainage Impact Fee — EXCLUDED from the Northwest primary total because Storm Drainage is $0 in the Northwest service area. Shown here as a representative SFD value from a service area where it applies. Storm Drainage SFD fee = $0 (Northwest/Deer Valley/Northeast), $3,094 (Paradise Ridge), $1,207 (Estrella), $1,401 (Laveen); $0 in Ahwatukee/Balance of City. For multifamily and non-residential it is charged per acre ($4,828-$12,376). VERIFIED: $1,207 matches Estrella columns; $0 in Northwest confirmed, so excludeFromTotal=true is correct (mutually-exclusive service-area swap). alternative · not added to total | per dwelling unit | $1,207 | City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department Jun 23, 2025High |
Water & sewer connection fees
| Fee (local term) | Basis | Amount | Source · effective |
|---|---|---|---|
Sewer connection (tap / SDC) Wastewater Collection System Development Fee — Northwest (Off-Project), base residential 'Single Family Unit - up to 1.0" meter' tier (covers the standard 3/4" residential meter). This is an additive SDF, separate from Wastewater Treatment. Varies by area: $5,127 (Northwest/Northeast/Paradise Ridge), $5,409 (Estrella South On-Project), $0 (Deer Valley, Estrella North, Laveen, Ahwatukee, Balance of City). 1.5" meter tier = $11,177. VERIFIED: $5,127 matches Northwest 'up to 1.0"' tier; 1.5" tier = $11,177 confirmed; using the up-to-1.0" tier (not the mutually-exclusive 1.5" tier) is the correct base residential row. | per dwelling unit | $5,127 | City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department Jun 23, 2025High |
Sewer connection (tap / SDC) Wastewater Treatment System Development Fee — Northwest (Off-Project), base residential 'up to 1.0" meter' tier. Additive SDF on top of Wastewater Collection. Varies by area: $3,753 (Northwest/Northeast/Paradise Ridge) vs $1,071 in most other areas (Deer Valley, Estrella, Laveen, Ahwatukee, Balance of City). 1.5" tier = $8,182. VERIFIED: $3,753 matches Northwest 'up to 1.0"' tier; $1,071 in other areas and $8,182 1.5" tier confirmed. | per dwelling unit | $3,753 | City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department Jun 23, 2025High |
Water connection (tap / SDC) Water Transmission System Development Fee — Northwest (Off-Project), base residential 'up to 1.0" meter' tier. Additive SDF. The four northern areas (Northwest, Deer Valley, Northeast, Paradise Ridge) carry the high $14,046 transmission fee; the southern/central areas (Estrella, Laveen, Ahwatukee) are $1,703; Balance of City is $0. 1.5" tier = $30,620. VERIFIED: $14,046 matches Northwest 'up to 1.0"' tier; $1,703 southern, $0 Balance, $30,620 1.5" tier all confirmed. | per dwelling unit | $14,046 | City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department Jun 23, 2025High |
Water connection (tap / SDC) Water Treatment System Development Fee — Northwest (Off-Project), base residential 'up to 1.0" meter' tier. Additive SDF. Uniform at $4,387/SFD across ALL service areas including Balance of City. 1.5" tier = $9,564. VERIFIED: $4,387 matches; uniform $4,387 across all 15 columns confirmed in PDF; 1.5" tier = $9,564 confirmed. | per dwelling unit | $4,387 | City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department Jun 23, 2025High |
Water connection (tap / SDC) Water Resources Acquisition Fee — Northwest (Off-Project), base residential 'up to 1.0" meter' tier. Separate ARS-authorized Water Resources Acquisition Fee (Phoenix City Code Ch. 30), additive on top of Water Transmission/Treatment. $2,009/SFD applies in all listed 'Off-Project' service areas; $0 in 'On-Project' columns (where the developer provides resources directly). 1.5" tier = $4,380. VERIFIED: $2,009 matches Northwest (Off-Project) 'up to 1.0"' tier; $0 in On-Project columns and $4,380 1.5" tier confirmed. | per dwelling unit | $2,009 | City of Phoenix Planning & Development Department Jun 23, 2025High |
Sewer connection (tap / SDC) Sewer Development Occupational Fee (DOF) — Sewer Development Occupational Fee, inside-city single-family = $600 (outside city $900; mobile home space $420; apartment/multifamily unit $360). Separate citywide capacity fee under Ord. G-2664/G-2665/G-2666/G-2667 (adopted Nov 1, 1984); applies in addition to the geographic impact fees and applies even in the established core (Balance of City) where impact fees are $0. Commercial/industrial DOF is by meter size. VERIFIED: quote 'Single-Family residential project: Water DOF $600 + Sewer DOF $600 = Total DOF $1200' appears verbatim on source 2; inside-city SF $600.00, outside $900.00, mobile home $420, apartment/dwelling unit $360 all confirmed; Sewer DOF = Water DOF confirmed. | per dwelling unit | $600 | City of Phoenix Water Services Department Nov 1, 1984Highdated 1984 |
Water connection (tap / SDC) Water Development Occupational Fee (DOF) — Water Development Occupational Fee, inside-city single-family = $600 (outside city $900). Separate citywide water-capacity fee, additive to impact fees and applies even in the established core where impact fees are $0. Multifamily/dwelling unit = $360, mobile home space = $420. VERIFIED: quote appears verbatim on source 2; inside-city SF Water DOF $600.00 confirmed. Note: source states DOF is based on meter size/type for commercial; the $600 figure is the published single-family residential value, not a specific 5/8"/3/4" disk breakdown (researcher's prior parenthetical about meter sizes is not separately itemized on the page, but the SF residential $600 value is explicit). | per dwelling unit | $600 | City of Phoenix Water Services Department Nov 1, 1984Highdated 1984 |
City
St. George, UT
$33,173
Total per single-family home
impact + connection fees
$12,172
Impact / development fees
roads, parks, schools…
$21,001
Water & sewer connection
tap / capacity / SDC
—
Per multifamily unit
total fees / unit
Impact / development fees
| Fee (local term) | Basis | Amount | Source · effective |
|---|---|---|---|
Parks & recreation Parks & Recreation Impact Fee — Per dwelling unit, single-family. Confirmed verbatim on 4/21/21 schedule. | per dwelling unit | $4,525 | City of St. George, Utah Apr 21, 2021Highdated 2021 |
Transportation / roads Transportation Impact Fee — Per dwelling unit, single-family. Confirmed verbatim. | per dwelling unit | $2,188 | City of St. George, Utah Apr 21, 2021Highdated 2021 |
Police Police Impact Fee (Residential) — Residential single-family per unit. Confirmed verbatim. | per dwelling unit | $95 | City of St. George, Utah Apr 21, 2021Highdated 2021 |
Fire / EMS Fire/EMS Impact Fee (Residential) — Residential single-family per unit (Fire/EMS column). Confirmed verbatim. | per dwelling unit | $320 | City of St. George, Utah Apr 21, 2021Highdated 2021 |
Drainage / stormwater Storm Drain (Drainage) Impact Fee (Residential) — Residential single-family per unit (Drainage column). Confirmed verbatim. | per dwelling unit | $781 | City of St. George, Utah Apr 21, 2021Highdated 2021 |
General government / capital Electrical (Power) Impact Fee - Residential single-phase 100 AMP — St. George is a municipal power provider; residential single-phase 100 AMP service (typical SF) used as representative. Additive. Confirmed verbatim. | per meter | $3,893 | City of St. George, Utah Apr 21, 2021Highdated 2021 |
General government / capital Electrical (Power) Impact Fee - Residential single-phase 200 AMP — 200 AMP residential single-phase tier, mutually exclusive with 100 AMP. Excluded. alternative · not added to total | per meter | $4,809 | City of St. George, Utah Apr 21, 2021Highdated 2021 |
General government / capital Power Meter Fee - Underground — Power meter fee, underground service. Additive. Confirmed verbatim. | per meter | $370 | City of St. George, Utah Apr 21, 2021Highdated 2021 |
Water & sewer connection fees
| Fee (local term) | Basis | Amount | Source · effective |
|---|---|---|---|
Water connection (tap / SDC) Culinary Water Impact Fee (City) - base 0.8" meter — City culinary water impact fee, smallest/base residential 0.8" meter. Separate from and additive to WCWCD regional water impact fee. | per meter | $1,996 | City of St. George, Utah Apr 21, 2021Highdated 2021 |
Water connection (tap / SDC) Culinary Water Impact Fee (City) - 1.0" meter — Larger meter tier, mutually exclusive with 0.8" base. Excluded. alternative · not added to total | per meter | $4,311 | City of St. George, Utah Apr 21, 2021Highdated 2021 |
Water connection (tap / SDC) Culinary Water Connection Fee (City) - 0.8" meter, water on lot — Additive water connection fee (on-lot), base 0.8" meter. If water not on lot it is $1,207. | per meter | $223 | City of St. George, Utah Apr 21, 2021Highdated 2021 |
Water connection (tap / SDC) Culinary Water Connection Fee (City) - 0.8" meter, water NOT on lot — Alternative to on-lot connection fee. Excluded (mutually exclusive with on-lot $223). alternative · not added to total | per meter | $1,207 | City of St. George, Utah Apr 21, 2021Highdated 2021 |
Sewer connection (tap / SDC) Local & Regional Wastewater Impact Fee (City) - base 0.8" meter — Total wastewater impact fee for base 0.8" meter = $137 local + $1,379 regional. Confirmed verbatim. | per meter | $1,516 | City of St. George, Utah Apr 21, 2021Highdated 2021 |
Sewer connection (tap / SDC) Local & Regional Wastewater Impact Fee (City) - 1.0" meter — Larger meter tier, mutually exclusive with 0.8" base. Excluded. alternative · not added to total | per meter | $3,274 | City of St. George, Utah Apr 21, 2021Highdated 2021 |
Water connection (tap / SDC) WCWCD Regional Water Impact Fee (separate district) — SEPARATE DISTRICT FEE: Washington County Water Conservancy District regional water impact fee, $17,266 per ERC for a 3/4"/5/8" residential meter. Confirmed verbatim on the WCWCD page. Paid by builders in St. George IN ADDITION to the city culinary water impact fee. Reduced fee available under Ultra Water Efficiency Standards (amount not published). Confidence medium and effectiveDate cleared because the district page publishes no specific effective date or resolution number. | per meter | $17,266 | Washington County Water Conservancy District —Medium |
What drives the difference
Phoenix’s $36,107 per single-family home is $2,934 (9%) above St. George’s $33,173. The largest single difference is in sewer connection (tap / sdc): Phoenix charges about $9,480 there versus $1,516 in St. George — a $7,964 swing that accounts for much of the overall gap. The two also differ in how much falls on water and sewer connection charges: $30,522 in Phoenix versus $21,001 in St. George.
Keep comparing
Phoenix vs St. George impact fees — FAQ
- Which has higher impact fees, Phoenix or St. George?
- Phoenix, AZ is higher. A single-family home pays about $36,107 per unit in Phoenix versus $33,173 in St. George, UT — $2,934 (9%) more, as of 2026.
- How much more does it cost to build a home in Phoenix than in St. George?
- About $2,934 more per single-family home — $36,107 in Phoenix, AZ versus $33,173 in St. George, UT, a difference of 9% in total development impact and connection fees.
- What's the difference between impact fees in Phoenix and St. George for a single-family home?
- Phoenix, AZ charges about $36,107 per single-family home ($5,585 impact + $30,522 water/sewer connection), while St. George, UT charges about $33,173 ($12,172 impact + $21,001 connection). Figures are normalized from official sources for 2026.