Mesa water and wastewater capacity fees: what changes July 1, 2026

On July 1, 2026, the City of Mesa starts assessing the “total full” (100%) level of its water and wastewater capacity fees for certain meter services—specifically, ¾-inch (0.75) and 1-inch meters. The amount for qualifying projects was set at 50% for the earlier phase-in period.

What Mesa’s water and wastewater capacity fees are

Mesa describes capacity fees as a one-time charge tied to a new or upsized connection to the city’s water and/or wastewater systems. The city says the fees are designed to recover the growth-related portion of the cost of constructing additional water and wastewater system capacity, and they are assessed to new customers needing service connections and to existing customers needing larger connections.

The key change on July 1, 2026: 50% to 100% for ¾-inch and 1-inch meters

Mesas capacity fees became effective January 1, 2026, with a six-month phase-in period on ¾-inch and 1-inch meters.

For ¾-inch and 1-inch meters, the ordinance sets the phase-in based on when Mesa receives a complete building permit application for the construction of the dwelling, building, or improvement:

• Complete building permit applications filed through June 30, 2026: Mesa assesses 50% of the Table 1 fee for these meter sizes.
• Complete building permit applications filed on or after July 1, 2026: Mesa assesses 100% of the Table 1 fee for these meter sizes.

Who pays (and what counts as the “right” timing)

The ordinance ties the fee to the permit and meter-connection process:

• Building permit applicants: “Any person who obtains a building permit” is required to pay the capacity fee when requesting a connection to Mesa’s water and/or wastewater systems.
• Meter connections: “Any person who requests a new or upsized water meter connection” is required to pay the capacity fee before Mesa installs the new or upsized meter connection.

For the July 1, 2026 switch (¾-inch and 1-inch meters), the fee level is based on the complete permit application date—but there’s a crucial timing safeguard:

• The applicant must obtain the resulting permit within 180 days of the permit application date.
• If the applicant does not obtain the resulting permit within 180 days, the ordinance says the capacity fee is instead based on the date the construction permit is issued.

The dollar amounts (Table 1) for ¾-inch and 1-inch meters

Mesa’s ordinance lists the fee amounts by meter size in Table 1:

• ¾-inch meter (0.75): Water $7,719 + Wastewater $1,809 = Total $9,528
• 1-inch meter: Water $12,864 + Wastewater $3,015 = Total $15,880

Under the phase-in, Mesa uses 50% of these totals for qualifying complete building permit applications filed through June 30, 2026, and 100% for qualifying applications filed on/after July 1, 2026.

Practical budgeting check before the July 1 deadline

If you’re a homeowner, renter-to-be, business owner, landlord, or contractor involved in a Mesa project that needs a new connection or an upsized connection on a ¾-inch or 1-inch meter, focus on these planning questions:

• Did you file a complete building permit application (as Mesa defines that in the process leading to a resulting permit)?
• Can you realistically obtain the resulting permit within 180 days of the permit application date, so the fee level tracks the earlier filing date?
• Is your complete filing date before July 1, 2026 (50% phase-in) or on/after July 1, 2026 (100% “total full” for these meter sizes)?

Because the ordinance’s timing rules control the assessment, the safest next step is to confirm your situation with the City of Mesa’s permitting/utility contact—and use the ordinance Table 1 numbers for your meter size when budgeting.

Sources

• City of Mesa — Water and Wastewater Capacity Fee
• City of Mesa — Ordinance No. 5970 (Intro Ord 5970 Capacity Fee) PDF

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