Wilmington, North Carolina - City Development Fees
Wilmington | City | Cape Fear Coast (New Hanover County, NC)
Wilmington is the county seat of New Hanover County and the anchor city of the Cape Fear coastal region and the Wilmington, NC MSA, a major port city at the eastern terminus of I-40. Development fees are administered by the City of Wilmington Planning and Development Department (site plan review, subdivision, rezoning, tree mitigation, and related planning and zoning application fees) and by the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA), the regional water and sewer utility serving the city and unincorporated New Hanover County. North Carolina has no broad municipal impact-fee enabling statute, so water and sewer capital recovery is levied by CFPUA as System Development Charges under NC General Statutes 162A Article 8 rather than as city impact fees. All amounts on this page are captured verbatim from the City of Wilmington FY26 Adopted Fee Schedule (adopted June 17, 2025, effective July 1, 2025) and the CFPUA Rates and Fees Schedule FY 25-26 (effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026). Verify current amounts with the City of Wilmington and CFPUA before relying on them.
On this page
Fee Summary
| Fee Type | Status | Top-Line Figure | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planning and Zoning Application Fees (City of Wilmington) | Confirmed | Site plan review from $250 + $20 per 1,000 sq ft of gross floor area; rezoning $400 to $800 + $20/acre outside the 1945 Corporate Limits; tree mitigation $175 per caliper inch | 2025-07-01 |
| CFPUA Water and Sewer Connection Fees (SDC, connection, meter set) | Confirmed | Water SDC $2,270.00 to $181,600.00 and Sewer SDC $3,465.00 to $277,200.00 by meter size; water service line connection $2,463.00 to $4,238.00; meter set $315.00 to $1,930.00 | 2025-07-01 |
| Impact Fees | Not administered | North Carolina has no broad municipal impact-fee enabling statute; the City of Wilmington FY26 Adopted Fee Schedule contains no impact fee chapter. Water and sewer capital recovery is captured as CFPUA System Development Charges under utility fees | - |
| Special District Fees (PID / TIRZ / MUD developer fee) | Not administered | The 54-page FY26 fee schedule contains no city-levied special-district, PID, or TIRZ developer application fee; not administered by this jurisdiction | - |
| Proffers | Not applicable | North Carolina does not authorize Virginia-style cash proffers; NC GS Chapter 160D provides no equivalent mechanism | - |
Planning and Zoning Application Fees
Source: City of Wilmington FY26 Adopted Fee Schedule, Chapter VI (Planning, Zoning, and Miscellaneous Fees and Permits), adopted by City Council June 17, 2025, effective July 1, 2025 (SHA-256 66cf69ef...), captured verbatim. Authority: Section 18-568 of the Wilmington City Code. Acreage for rezoning applications is rounded to the nearest quarter acre; site plan fees are per 1,000 sq ft of gross floor area above the base fee. Building construction permit and inspection fees are not part of this fee schedule and are administered separately.
Site Plan and Subdivision Fees
| Application Type | Fee (FY26) |
|---|---|
| Site Plan Review - 10,000 sq ft or less | $250 + $20 per 1,000 sq ft of gross floor area |
| Site Plan Review - 10,001 to 40,000 sq ft | $500 + $20 per 1,000 sq ft of gross floor area |
| Site Plan Review - greater than 40,000 sq ft | $1,000 + $20 per 1,000 sq ft of gross floor area |
| Site Plan Review - Mixed Use Development | $1,200 + $10 per 1,000 sq ft of gross floor area |
| Site Plan Review Re-review Fee | 1/2 of the applicable Site Plan Review fee |
| Landscaping Re-Review Fee | $125 |
| Traffic Impact Analysis fee | $250 |
| Site Plan Resubmittal Fee | $125 |
| Site Plan for projects in 1945 Corporate Limits | $100 |
| Subdivision Preliminary Plan | $100 |
| Subdivision Final Plat Review | $15 per lot |
| Design Adjustment Committee review | $500 |
| Public Hearing Mailed Notice Fee | $0.85 per mailed notice |
Rezoning, Special Use Permit, and Conditional Zoning Fees
| Application Type | Fee (FY26) |
|---|---|
| Rezoning / Special Use Permit / Conditional Zoning - R zones, HD, CEM, RO (outside 1945 limits) | $400 + $20/acre (R-20,R-15,R-10,R-7,R-5,R-3,HD,HD-O,HD-R,HD-MU,CEM,RO) |
| Rezoning / Special Use Permit / Conditional Zoning - CBD and UMX (outside 1945 limits) | $500 + $20/acre |
| Rezoning / Special Use Permit / Conditional Zoning - MH, MD, O&I (outside 1945 limits) | $600 + $20/acre (MH,MD-17,MD-10,O&I) |
| Rezoning / Special Use Permit / Conditional Zoning - Commercial/Industrial (outside 1945 limits) | $800 + $20/acre (CB,RB,CS,LI,IND,MX) |
| Rezoning - R zones inside 1945 Corporate Limits | $200 + $20/acre (R-15,R-10,R-7,R-5,R-3,HD,HD-O,HD-R,HD-MU) |
| Rezoning - MH, MD, O&I inside 1945 Corporate Limits | $400 + $20/acre |
| Rezoning - Commercial/Industrial inside 1945 Corporate Limits | $500 + $20/acre (CB,RB,CS,LI,IND) |
Other Land-Use and Appeal Fees
| Application Type | Fee (FY26) |
|---|---|
| Variance | $500 |
| Land Development Code (LDC) Amendment | $200 |
| Comprehensive Plan Amendment | $500 |
| Other Small Area Plan Amendments | $500 |
| Vested Right Application | $500 |
| Annexation | $500 plus applicable rezoning fee |
| Appeal to Building Appeals Board | $200 |
| Appeal of Administrative/Historic Preservation Commission decision to Board of Adjustment | $200 |
| Street Naming/Renaming | $250 |
| Street Closure | $250 plus advertising fees |
Development Agreement Application Fees
| District Family | Fee (FY26) |
|---|---|
| Development Agreement Application - R zones, HD, CEM, RO | $400 + $50/acre |
| Development Agreement Application - CBD and UMX | $500 + $50/acre |
| Development Agreement Application - MH, O&I, MD | $600 + $50/acre |
| Development Agreement Application - Commercial/Industrial | $800 + $50/acre |
Tree, Sign, and Miscellaneous Permit Fees
| Permit / Item | Fee (FY26) |
|---|---|
| Tree Mitigation Fee | $175 per caliper inch |
| Tree Preservation Permit - less than 1 acre | $25 |
| Tree Preservation Permit - 1 to 5 acres | $50 |
| Tree Preservation Permit - 5 to 10 acres | $100 |
| Tree Preservation Permit - greater than 10 acres | $150 |
| Sign Permit - permanent nonelectric | $0.50/sq ft, $50 minimum |
| Sign Permit - permanent electric | $1.00/sq ft, $50 minimum |
| Sign Permit - temporary | $30 |
| Sign Permit - 5 sq ft or less | No fee |
| Shipping containers permit | $50 |
| Temporary Use Permit - Small | $25 |
| Temporary Use Permit - Large | $50 |
| Zoning Determination Letters | $25 |
| Zoning Permits | $25 |
| Zoning Re-inspection | $25 |
| Home Occupation Permits | $200 |
| Historic Preservation Certificate of Appropriateness - no construction cost | $0 |
| Historic Preservation Certificate of Appropriateness - construction cost $1 to $10,000 | $25 |
| Historic Preservation Certificate of Appropriateness - construction cost $10,001 to $100,000 | $50 |
| Historic Preservation Certificate of Appropriateness - construction cost greater than $100,000 | $100 |
| Zoning Violations (Initial) | $100 |
Authority: City of Wilmington Planning and Development Department. All FY26 amounts are published in the City of Wilmington Adopted FY26 Fee Schedule, Chapter VI.
CFPUA Water and Sewer Connection Fees
Source: Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) Rates and Fees Schedule FY 25-26 (effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026; SHA-256 257255f4...), captured verbatim. System Development Charges (SDCs) are levied under NC General Statutes 162A Article 8, the North Carolina enabling statute for utility capital-recovery charges, and are codified in CFPUA Code Sec. 4-27(a). Water service connection fees are under Sec. 1-97(2)(a) and meter set fees under Sec. 1-97(2)(c). CFPUA is a regional public utility authority serving the City of Wilmington and unincorporated New Hanover County.
Water and Sewer System Development Charges (per meter size, Sec. 4-27(a))
| Meter Size | Water SDC (FY25-26) | Sewer SDC (FY25-26) |
|---|---|---|
| 5/8-inch meter | $2,270.00 (effective 7/1/2025; unchanged from FY24) | $3,465.00 |
| 1-inch meter | $5,675.00 | $8,663.00 |
| 1.5-inch meter | $11,350.00 | $17,325.00 |
| 2-inch meter | $18,160.00 | $27,720.00 |
| 3-inch meter | $36,320.00 | $55,440.00 |
| 4-inch meter | $56,750.00 | $86,625.00 |
| 6-inch meter | $113,500.00 | $173,250.00 |
| 8-inch meter | $181,600.00 | $277,200.00 |
Water Service Line Connection Fees (Sec. 1-97(2)(a))
| Service Size | Fee (FY25-26) |
|---|---|
| Water Service Line Connection Fee - 1-inch service | $2,463.00 (effective 7/1/2025; previously $2,239 in FY24) |
| Water Service Line Connection Fee - 1.5-inch service | $3,253.00 |
| Water Service Line Connection Fee - 2-inch service | $4,238.00 |
Sewer Service Connection Fees
| Service Size | Fee (FY25-26) |
|---|---|
| Sewer Service Connection Fee - 4-inch service | $2,928.00 |
| Sewer Service Connection Fee - 6-inch service | $4,062.00 |
| Sewer Service Connection Fee - 8-inch service | $5,658.00 |
| Sewer Service Connection Fee - 10-inch service | $8,292.00 |
Water Meter Set Fees (Sec. 1-97(2)(c))
| Meter Size | Fee (FY25-26) |
|---|---|
| Water Meter Set Fee - 5/8-inch (includes labor and materials) | $315.00 |
| Water Meter Set Fee - 1-inch (includes labor and materials) | $415.00 |
| Water Meter Set Fee - 1.5-inch | $1,704.00 |
| Water Meter Set Fee - 2-inch | $1,930.00 |
Authority: Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA), which administers the regional water and sewer utility for the City of Wilmington and unincorporated New Hanover County. All amounts are published in the CFPUA Rates and Fees Schedule FY 25-26.
Coverage Notes - What This Page Does Not Cover
The items below are disclosed rather than estimated or omitted silently. These items remain under limited-coverage review until the additive gaps noted below are captured from official, hash-verified sources.
Impact Fees
North Carolina does not have a broad municipal impact-fee enabling statute comparable to Texas Local Government Code Chapter 395 or Florida's framework. NC municipalities have limited authority to impose capital-recovery fees for transportation, parks, or schools outside specific enabling contexts. The City of Wilmington FY26 Adopted Fee Schedule (54 pages, downloaded and extracted in full) contains no chapter, section, or schedule titled Impact Fee, Capital Recovery Fee, or Transportation Impact Fee. Cape Fear Public Utility Authority System Development Charges for water and sewer capital recovery are levied under NC GS 162A Article 8 and are captured on this page under CFPUA utility fees. New Hanover County, not the city, administers school adequacy reviews. Closed-search outcome: this fee family is not administered by this jurisdiction.
Proffers
North Carolina jurisdictions do not use cash proffers. Proffers are a Virginia conditional-rezoning mechanism under VA Code 15.2-2303 and 15.2-2303.4, where applicants may voluntarily offer money or in-kind contributions as conditions of rezoning approval. North Carolina's zoning enabling statutes (GS Chapter 160D) provide no equivalent mechanism. Developer contributions in NC are captured under utility fees (CFPUA SDCs under NC GS 162A) and, where applicable, zoning fees. Closed-search outcome: this fee family does not apply to this jurisdiction.
Special District Fees
The City of Wilmington does not levy developer-facing special-district application or assessment fees as a city-administered fee family. CFPUA (the regional utility authority) SDCs are captured under utility fees; CFPUA is a utility authority, not a special district in the PID/MUD/TIRZ sense used by the ZoneFee special-district fee family. The New Hanover County Water and Sewer District exists for unincorporated county territory and does not apply within city limits. The City of Wilmington FY26 fee schedule (54 pages, fully extracted) contains no chapter for special assessment district or PID developer fees, and no Business Improvement District or Tax Increment Financing Zone developer-facing fee was found. Closed-search outcome: this fee family is not administered by this jurisdiction.
Building permit fees and CFPUA Development Capacity Fees (additive)
Two additive coverage items are disclosed here rather than presented incompletely. Building construction permit and inspection fees for the City of Wilmington are not part of the FY26 Adopted Fee Schedule (which covers planning and zoning application fees, stormwater, fire, police, and other municipal fees); those fees are administered under a separate building inspections program and are not captured on this page. Separately, CFPUA area-specific Development Capacity Fees (per-gallon-per-day cost-recovery charges for regional infrastructure such as the Chair Road Lift Station, Northwest Forcemain, and Forest Creek Outfall) are listed in the CFPUA FY25-26 schedule but are not itemized in the utility table above; they are area-specific surcharges that may or may not apply to a given project. Both will be added when captured from the official, hash-verified sources.
Fee Authorities
| Authority | Fee Types | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| City of Wilmington - Planning & Development | Site plan review, subdivision, rezoning, special use permit, conditional zoning, variance, LDC and comprehensive plan amendments, tree mitigation, sign permits, historic preservation, stormwater service fees | wilmingtonnc.gov |
| Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) | Water and sewer System Development Charges, water and sewer service connection fees, water meter set fees, plan review and construction inspection fees | cfpua.org |
Sources
| Document | Agency | Accessed |
|---|---|---|
| Cape Fear Public Utility Authority - Rates and Fees Schedule FY 25-26 (effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026) (SHA-256 257255f4...) | Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) | 2026-06-25 |
| City of Wilmington - Adopted FY26 Fee Schedule (adopted June 17, 2025; effective July 1, 2025) (SHA-256 66cf69ef...) | City of Wilmington, NC - Finance Department | 2026-06-25 |
Last verified by ZoneFee: 2026-06-25. Fee schedules are subject to change. Verify current rates directly with the City of Wilmington Planning and Development Department and the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) before relying on this data for any financial decision.
This page reflects fee data captured verbatim from the City of Wilmington FY26 Adopted Fee Schedule (adopted June 17, 2025; effective July 1, 2025; SHA-256 66cf69ef...) and the CFPUA Rates and Fees Schedule FY 25-26 (effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026; SHA-256 257255f4...). ZoneFee does not guarantee that fee amounts are current at the time you read this page. Fee schedules change annually. North Carolina has no broad municipal impact-fee enabling statute, so water and sewer capital recovery is levied by CFPUA as System Development Charges under NC GS 162A Article 8 rather than as city impact fees. North Carolina does not use Virginia-style cash proffers, and the City of Wilmington does not levy a distinct special-district developer application fee. Building construction permit fees and CFPUA area-specific Development Capacity Fees are disclosed as additive coverage gaps pending full capture. Verify all current rates directly with the City of Wilmington and CFPUA 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.