Public Works & Utilities

General Facilities Charges (GFC)

Water and Wastewater General Facilities Charges (GFCs) are fees to recover an equitable share of the costs of infrastructure and capital improvements necessary for providing water and wastewater services to new or expanded developments. GFC fees ensure future customers pay for the capacity that existing customers have already provided for them.

General Facilities Charges are generally one-time fees paid when a new development connects to these existing utility systems, or when an existing development significantly increases its water or wastewater usage. They are designed to cover a proportionate share of the capital investment made to provide system capacity for those utility services. Additionally, the fee can be used to fund capital projects or related debt services. By assessing GFCs, funding for critical infrastructure improvements and expansions is made possible without placing an undue financial strain on existing customers. This approach supports sustainable growth and ensures that new developments contribute their fair share to the communal resources they utilize.

General Facilities Charges calculations include information on existing water and sewer facilities as well as future projects. To get to the GFCs, maintenance-related costs are subtracted as well as facilities that were donated to the City by developers. On the sewer side, stormwater-related facilities and projects are also subtracted out.

Here’s a look at the lists existing facilities and future projects before the ineligible costs were removed:

• Existing Sewer Facilities (PDF 817 KB)
• Future Sewer Projects (PDF 182 KB)
• Existing Water Facilities (PDF 595 KB)
• Future Water Projects (PDF 156 KB)

Water GFC Rates

Wastewater GFC Rates

* The 2027 figures are estimates only and will be modified according to the 2026 Engineering News-Record Index pursuant to SMC 13.03.0732.

Policy Documents

Current

• ADOPTED General Facilities Charge Fees Ordinance and Fee Schedule – Nov. 20, 2023 (PDF 11.8 MB)
• General Facilities Charges Fees Zone Map – May 22, 2023 (PDF 861 KB)

Archived

• DRAFT General Facilities Charge Fees Ordinance and Fee Schedule – March 10, 2023 (PDF 1.5 MB)
• DRAFT General Facilities Charges Ordinance – Feb. 28, 2023 (PDF 313 KB)
• Appendix A: Water GFC Schedule – March 1, 2023 (PDF 133 KB)
• Appendix A: Wastewater GFC Schedule – March 1, 2023 (PDF 54 KB)
• DRAFT General Facilities Charges Ordinance – Feb. 23, 2023 (PDF 328 KB)
• DRAFT General Facilities Charges Zone Map – Feb. 23, 2023 (PDF 408 KB)