Chesapeake, Virginia - City Development Fees
Chesapeake | Independent city | Hampton Roads (South Hampton Roads, Tidewater region) | Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA | FIPS 5116000
Chesapeake is an independent city in the South Hampton Roads region of Tidewater Virginia, bordered by Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and North Carolina. Its development-side fees come from two city sources: the Planning Department, which publishes the Planning Department Fee Schedule covering rezoning, conditional use permit, special exception, PUD, subdivision, site plan, and Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area application fees, plus the Department of Development and Permits building permit and plan review schedules; and the Department of Public Utilities, which administers the city's own water distribution and sewer collection systems and levies water and sewer connection fees codified in City Code Sec. 78-86. The Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) provides regional wastewater treatment and is published separately on ZoneFee. All planning application fees are set by city council as part of the annual budget ordinance per CZO Sec. 20-102.
Current Schedule
City of Chesapeake Planning Department Fee Schedule effective February 18, 2026, with building permit and plan review fees from the Department of Development and Permits schedules effective July 1, 2022, and the codified water and sewer connection fees under City Code Sec. 78-86 (Ord. No. 22-O-091, effective July 1, 2022). Captured line items include rezoning ($930 + $100 per acre), conditional use permit ($850), special exception ($100), PUD deviation ($200) and modification ($500 + $50 per acre), subdivision variance ($580), CBPA committee and exception fees, preliminary site plan and subdivision fees ($930 + $100 per acre), building permit and plan review fees, and the codified water and sewer connection fees by meter size for city-funded and developer-funded lines. Verify current amounts with the City before relying on them.
Fee Summary
| Fee Type | Status | Top-Line Figure | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoning, Subdivision, Site Plan, and Building Permit Fees | Confirmed | Rezoning $930 + $100 per acre; Conditional Use Permit $850; Special Exception $100; Subdivision Ordinance Variance $580; building permit $50 admin + $10 per 100 sq ft | 2026-02-18 |
| Water and Sewer Connection Fees (Sec. 78-86) | Confirmed | SFR 5/8" city-funded line: $3,697.00 water + $3,519.00 sewer; scales to 10" non-residential ($425,155.00 water / $404,685.00 sewer); developer-funded lines lower | 2022-07-01 |
| Impact Fees (Va. Code 15.2-2317) | Not administered by this jurisdiction | Chesapeake has adopted no transportation impact fee ordinance; the City Code contains no impact-fee article | - |
| Cash Proffers (Va. Code 15.2-2303.4) | Unavailable via published sources | Voluntary conditional-zoning proffers under CZO Article 16; no mandatory per-unit cash-proffer schedule published | - |
| Special District Fees | Not administered by this jurisdiction | The 17 city service districts (Sec. 30-563) are city-administered utility-financing assessments, not independent special-district developer fees | - |
Zoning, Subdivision, Site Plan, and Building Permit Fees - Current Operative Schedule
Source: City of Chesapeake Planning Department Fee Schedule (as of February 18, 2026; DocumentID 2944), the Plan Review Fee Schedule (revised July 1, 2022; DocumentID 1875), and the Commercial and Residential Fee Schedules (DocumentIDs 1864 and 1874). Fees are set by city council as part of the annual budget ordinance per CZO Sec. 20-102. Applications requiring a public hearing are subject to additional advertising costs and sign fees billed by the city. A 2% state levy is added to all plan review fees.
Planning Application Fees
| Fee Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Rezoning Application | $930 + $100 per acre |
| Conditional Use Permit Application | $850 |
| Conditional Use Permit for Excavation/Borrow Pit | $850 |
| Conditional Use Permit for Solid Waste Management Facility | $850 |
| Special Exception Application | $100 |
| PUD Deviation Application | $200 |
| PUD Modification & Criteria Amendment Application | $500 + $50 per acre |
| PUD Zoning Certification Letter | $50 |
| Preliminary Site Plan Application & E-911 Mapping Fee | $930 + $100 per acre |
| Preliminary Site Plan for Communication Tower | $500 |
| Preliminary Subdivision Application & E-911 Mapping Fee | $930 + $100 per acre |
| CBPA Committee Application Fee | $150 per lot |
| CBPA Exception Application Fee | $300 per lot |
| After-the-fact South Norfolk Certificate of Appropriateness | $250 |
| Certificate of Appropriateness | $0 |
| Resubdivision | $250 |
| Preservation Division | $250 |
| Subdivision Ordinance Variance | $580 |
| Subdivision & Street Name Change 911 | $250 |
| Street Closure Application | $200 |
| Environmental Site Assessment Review, Phase I | $1,600 |
| Environmental Site Assessment Review, Phase II | $2,300 |
| Advertising Fee Reimbursement | Billed by City Planning Dept. |
| Public Notice Signs | Billed by City Planning Dept. as required |
| Lot Validation Letter | $0 |
| Section 15.2.2232 Review Application | $0 |
Plan Review Fees
Plan Review Fee Schedule revised July 1, 2022. A 2% state levy is added to all plan review fees.
| Fee Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Plan Review - Residential New One-and-Two-Family | $100.00 |
| Plan Review - Residential Additions 0-1,999 sq ft | $75.00 |
| Plan Review - Model Home per model | $100.00 |
| Plan Review - Additional option sets | $40.00 |
| Plan Review - Commercial New Buildings/Additions | $25.00 per 1,000 sq ft (max $500.00) |
| Plan Review - Commercial Alterations 0-2,499 sq ft | $50.00 |
| Plan Review - Commercial Alterations 2,500-4,999 sq ft | $75.00 |
| Plan Review - Commercial Alterations 5,000-7,499 sq ft | $100.00 |
| Plan Review - Commercial Alterations 7,500-9,999 sq ft | $125.00 |
| Plan Review - Commercial Alterations 10,000-12,499 sq ft | $150.00 |
| Plan Review - Commercial Alterations 12,500-14,999 sq ft | $175.00 |
| Plan Review - Commercial Alterations 15,000-17,499 sq ft | $200.00 |
| Plan Review - Commercial Alterations 17,500+ sq ft | $225.00 |
| State Levy on all Plan Review Fees | 2% |
Building Permit Fees
| Fee Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Building Permit - Commercial New Structures & Additions | $50 Administrative Fee + $10 per 100 sq ft |
| Building Permit - Residential New Construction, Additions, Garages, Sheds >256 sq ft | $50 Administrative Fee + $10 per 100 sq ft |
Applications with ** notation on the Planning Department Fee Schedule may require a Phase I or Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Review fee. All planning application fees are set by city council annually per CZO Sec. 20-102.
Department of Public Utilities - Water and Sewer Connection Fees
Source: City of Chesapeake City Code Sec. 78-86 - Connection fees (Chapter 78 Utilities, Article IV Rates, Charges and Fees), most recently amended by Ord. No. 22-O-091 (adopted 9-13-22; effective July 1, 2022; Municode version JUN 4, 2026 CURRENT). Chesapeake administers its own water distribution and sewer collection systems. Connection fees are split into two tiers: city-funded lines (higher rates) and developer-funded lines (lower rates, for connections to developer-installed infrastructure). HRSD provides regional wastewater treatment, but Chesapeake independently levies sewer connection fees for city-owned sewer collection lines. Water meter installation fees under Sec. 78-86(3) are additional to the connection fees below.
Water Connection Fees - City-Funded Line (eff. July 1, 2022)
| Connection | Amount |
|---|---|
| SFR 5/8 inch meter | $3,697.00 |
| SFR 3/4 inch meter | $5,546.00 |
| SFR 1 inch meter | $9,243.00 |
| SFR 1-1/2 inch meter | $18,485.00 |
| SFR 2 inch meter | $29,576.00 |
| Multifamily/SFA/Two-family per dwelling unit | $2,958.00 |
| Multifamily detached condo per dwelling unit | $3,697.00 |
| Non-residential 5/8 inch meter | $3,697.00 |
| Non-residential 1 inch meter | $9,243.00 |
| Non-residential 2 inch meter | $29,576.00 |
| Non-residential 3 inch meter | $59,152.00 |
| Non-residential 4 inch meter | $92,425.00 |
| Non-residential 6 inch meter | $184,850.00 |
| Non-residential 8 inch meter | $295,760.00 |
| Non-residential 10 inch meter | $425,155.00 |
Water Connection Fees - Developer-Funded Line (eff. July 1, 2022)
| Connection | Amount |
|---|---|
| SFR 5/8 inch meter | $3,108.00 |
| SFR 3/4 inch meter | $4,662.00 |
| SFR 1 inch meter | $7,770.00 |
| Multifamily per dwelling unit | $2,486.00 |
Sewer Connection Fees - City-Funded Line (eff. July 1, 2022)
| Connection | Amount |
|---|---|
| SFR 5/8 inch meter | $3,519.00 |
| SFR 3/4 inch meter | $5,279.00 |
| SFR 1 inch meter | $8,798.00 |
| SFR 1-1/2 inch meter | $17,595.00 |
| SFR 2 inch meter | $28,152.00 |
| Multifamily/SFA/Two-family per dwelling unit | $2,815.00 |
| Multifamily detached condo per dwelling unit | $3,519.00 |
| Non-residential 5/8 inch meter | $3,519.00 |
| Non-residential 1 inch meter | $8,798.00 |
| Non-residential 2 inch meter | $28,152.00 |
| Non-residential 3 inch meter | $56,304.00 |
| Non-residential 4 inch meter | $87,975.00 |
| Non-residential 6 inch meter | $175,950.00 |
| Non-residential 8 inch meter | $281,520.00 |
| Non-residential 10 inch meter | $404,685.00 |
Sewer Connection Fees - Developer-Funded Line (eff. July 1, 2022)
| Connection | Amount |
|---|---|
| SFR 5/8 inch meter | $2,702.00 |
| SFR 3/4 inch meter | $4,053.00 |
| SFR 1 inch meter | $6,755.00 |
| Multifamily per dwelling unit | $2,162.00 |
Water Meter Installation (Sec. 78-86(3))
| Service Connection | Amount |
|---|---|
| 3/4 inch service connection | $150.00 |
| 1 inch service connection | $200.00 |
| 1-1/2 inch service connection | $300.00 |
| 2 inch service connection | $500.00 |
| 3 inch and larger service connection | Cost plus 15% |
Coverage Notes - What This Page Does Not Cover
Per ZoneFee's Partial-Verified Publication Standard, the items below were not closed via confirmed fee amounts on this page. They are disclosed here rather than estimated or omitted silently.
Impact Fees (Va. Code 15.2-2317)
Chesapeake City Code Chapter 30 (Finance and Taxation; Municode current as of June 4, 2026) contains no transportation impact fee ordinance. The 21-article chapter covers general finance, payrolls, assessments, agricultural land assessment, recordation tax, bank franchise tax, utility tax, cigarette tax, retail sales tax, transient occupancy tax, food and beverages tax, admission tax, short-term rental tax, court fees, property tax, uncollectible taxes, tax increment financing, service districts, OPEB trust, and C-PACE - none is a transportation or capital-improvement impact fee article. Virginia Code Section 15.2-2317 allows designated high-growth localities to adopt transportation impact fees; Chesapeake has not adopted such a program as of the current code. Chapter 70 (Subdivisions) was also probed and found no impact fee authority. Closed-search outcome: not administered by this jurisdiction.
Cash Proffers (Va. Code 15.2-2303.4)
Chesapeake has adopted Virginia conditional zoning (CZO Article 16 - Zoning Amendments; Conditional Zoning; Ord. No. 16-O-083 adopted 9-20-16, retroactive to 7-1-16, incorporating Va. Code Sec. 15.2-2303.4 post-2016 proffer reform). CZO Sec. 16-102.B.11-12 explicitly states that for residential and mixed-use rezonings, applicants may, but are not required to, offer onsite or offsite cash proffers to address public facility impacts. No city-published mandatory per-unit cash proffer schedule or proffer calculation methodology was found on the Planning Department website, in the Zoning Ordinance, or in the city code. A Proffer Statement form and a Voluntary Declaration and Election for Residential Rezoning form are published, confirming the mechanism is active but voluntary. Closed-search outcome: unavailable via published sources (no mandatory schedule published).
Special District Fees
Chesapeake Chapter 30 Article XIX (Sec. 30-563 to 30-567) creates 17 named service districts for city water and sewer extension with special tax assessments of $2,600 (water), $5,200 (sewer), or $7,800 (both) - last amended Ord. No. 14-O-117, 9-16-14. These are city-administered special assessments within the municipal government structure, not fees levied by an independent special district authority separate from the City of Chesapeake. Sec. 30-567 provides an installment payment option as an alternative to lump-sum payment. No independent special-district developer fee authority covering Chesapeake development was identified. HRSD is a published ZoneFee authority and operates separately. Closed-search outcome: no independent special-district developer fee found.
HRSD Wastewater Treatment Connection
The Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) provides regional wastewater treatment for Hampton Roads and is a separate authority from the City of Chesapeake's own sewer collection infrastructure. The City of Chesapeake collects its own city sewer connection fees for its collection-system lines (captured above under Sec. 78-86). HRSD is published separately on ZoneFee. Whether HRSD also charges its own separate wastewater treatment capacity connection fee in addition to the Chesapeake city sewer connection fee is tracked as a non-blocking open item and is not represented as a Chesapeake city fee on this page.
Fee Authorities
| Authority | Fee Types | Official Source |
|---|---|---|
| City of Chesapeake - Planning Department (zoning and subdivision application fees) | Rezoning, conditional use permit, special exception, site plan, subdivision, PUD, and CBPA application fees | cityofchesapeake.net - Planning Department Fee Schedule |
| City of Chesapeake - Department of Development and Permits (building permit and plan review fees) | Building permit, plan review, and inspection fees | cityofchesapeake.net - Plan Review Fee Schedule |
| City of Chesapeake - Department of Public Utilities (water and sewer connection fees) | Water connection, sewer connection, and water meter installation fees | library.municode.com - Chesapeake City Code Sec. 78-86 |
Sources
| Document | Agency | Accessed |
|---|---|---|
| Planning Department Fee Schedule (as of February 18, 2026; SHA-256 ffa98c46...) | City of Chesapeake, VA - Planning Department | 2026-06-25 |
| Plan Review Fee Schedule (Revised July 01, 2022; SHA-256 a8d712da...) | City of Chesapeake, VA - Department of Development and Permits | 2026-06-25 |
| Chesapeake City Code Sec. 78-86 - Connection fees (Municode JUN 4, 2026 CURRENT; SHA-256 6e4e6eb5...) | City of Chesapeake, VA - Code of Ordinances (Municode, official codifier) | 2026-06-25 |
| Commercial Fee Schedule - Building Permit Fees (SHA-256 16814daa...) | City of Chesapeake, VA - Department of Development and Permits | 2026-06-25 |
| Residential Fee Schedule - Building Permit Fees (SHA-256 9efe0ffa...) | City of Chesapeake, VA - Department of Development and Permits | 2026-06-25 |
Last verified by ZoneFee: 2026-06-25. Fee schedules are subject to change. Verify current rates directly with the City of Chesapeake Planning Department, Department of Development and Permits, and Department of Public Utilities before relying on this data for any financial decision.
This page reflects fee data sourced from the City of Chesapeake Planning Department Fee Schedule (as of February 18, 2026; SHA-256 ffa98c46...), the Plan Review Fee Schedule (revised July 01, 2022; SHA-256 a8d712da...), the Commercial and Residential Fee Schedules (SHA-256 16814daa... and 9efe0ffa...), and the codified Chesapeake City Code Sec. 78-86 connection fees under Ord. No. 22-O-091 effective July 1, 2022 (SHA-256 6e4e6eb5...). ZoneFee does not guarantee that fee amounts are current at the time you read this page. Fee schedules change. Chesapeake has not adopted a Va. Code 15.2-2317 transportation impact fee, uses voluntary conditional-zoning proffers under Va. Code 15.2-2303.4 with no mandatory cash-proffer schedule, and administers its 17 service districts as city utility-financing assessments rather than independent special-district developer fees. Verify all current rates directly with the City of Chesapeake 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.