What is a capital recovery fee and why does Dublin charge one?
When a new customer connects, the city's treatment plants, tanks and mains have to carry more water and sewage. Sections 24-46.1 and 24-76 of the fee schedule recover part of that cost through capital recovery fees, charged per equivalent residential unit, or ERU, so that the fee corresponds to the capacity each customer needs. The current rates are $1,000.00 per ERU for water and $2,000.00 per ERU for sewer. A typical single-family home is the reference unit; larger or more intensive uses can count as more than one.
The schedule lists some situations in which the City Manager decides the fee, including replacement connections for a home demolished within the previous twelve months. If you are rebuilding on a lot that already had service, ask before assuming the full fee applies.
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Water capital recovery rate per ERU | $1,000.00 | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
| Sewer capital recovery rate per ERU | $2,000.00 | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
| Water meter tap installation service charge (nonrefundable) | As determined by City Manager | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
| Sewer tap fee (cost plus basis) | As determined by City Manager | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
What do the meter tap and sewer tap cost?
Unlike the capital recovery fees, tap charges are not a single published number. Section 24-37 sets the nonrefundable service charge for installing a water meter tap, and the charge for street repair resulting from that installation, as determined by the City Manager. Section 24-70 says sewer taps are calculated on a cost-plus basis, with pavement removal and repair added on the same basis. The price therefore depends on the distance to the main, the pavement and the meter size, and the city's Public Works department quotes it.
The city's Water Utilities page carries a Public Works Water and Sewer Application for anyone requesting a new meter, an irrigation meter or a sewage line installation. It asks for the property owner, the builder, the location and a brief explanation of the service needed. Submitting it starts the on-site review.
Know what the city charges, then let an independent local plumber price the repair.
Call (478) 772-6792Which meter size should a new connection have?
The monthly base charge depends on meter size. Inside city limits a 3/4-inch meter is $13.80, while a 1-inch meter is $17.66 and a 2-inch meter is $39.74, under the factor table in Section 24-38. A bigger meter costs more every month whether or not the capacity is used, so the plumber should size it to the fixtures, not to a guess. Irrigation meters are a common addition; because sewer is billed on metered water, a separate irrigation meter is often requested so that lawn water is not counted as sewage, which is worth asking Customer Service about before you install one.
| Meter size | Factor | Base charge | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/4 inch | 1.00 | $13.80 | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
| 1 inch | 1.28 | $17.66 | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
| 1 1/4 inch | 1.76 | $24.29 | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
| 1 1/2 inch | 2.08 | $28.70 | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
| 2 inch | 2.88 | $39.74 | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
What if the home is on septic and sewer is nearby?
Converting from septic to city sewer means a new sewer connection with the sewer capital recovery fee, a sewer tap priced at cost plus, a plumbing permit for the building sewer, and proper abandonment of the old tank. The fee schedule's Section 24-100 sets the fee for permit and inspection of building sewers and connections as determined by the City Manager. Outside the city, any septic repair, replacement or relocation is permitted by Laurens County Environmental Health instead; the septic permit guide covers that path.
Once connected, the sewer bill follows Section 24-72: inside city limits, a $13.80 minimum covering the first 2,000 gallons of water and $6.15 per 1,000 gallons after that. A property connected to sewer without a water meter is billed a flat rate of $124.50 a month inside the city.
| Charge | Inside city limits | Outside city limits | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum sewer charge (first 2,000 gallons of water) | $13.80 | $27.60 | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
| Each 1,000 gallons of water used above 2,000 gallons | $6.15 | $12.30 | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
| Flat-rate sewer for a property without a water meter | $124.50 | $249.00 | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
What questions should you settle with the city before construction starts?
Ask Public Works three things before a plumber trenches anything. Where is the nearest main that can serve the lot, and on which side of the street? Will the tap need a road cut, since street repair after a tap is charged on the City Manager's determination? And does the planned use count as one ERU or more, since the capital recovery fee is charged per ERU? Get the answers in writing or by email so the plumber can price the private side against them.
If the project replaces a house demolished within the previous twelve months, say so on the application, because the fee schedule lets the City Manager decide the capital recovery fee in that case. If the property is outside city limits but near a city main, ask whether service is available at all and at the outside-city rates, which are double the inside rates for both water and sewer.
How do you sequence a new connection with your plumber?
Start with the application so the city can review the site, then have the plumber price the private side: the yard line from the meter to the house, the building sewer from the house to the tap, and the plumbing permit. The base plumbing permit is $170.00 with up to two inspections if the job is a stand-alone permit; new homes have trade permits included in the building permit, as the permit guide explains. Open the account with Customer Service, which charges $25.00 to establish it.
For larger projects, the city's plan review document says to expect 30 to 90 days from initial submittal to building permits, with the New Utility Service Application coming after plan approval. The cut-on and cut-off guide covers turning the new service on. When you are ready to price the private-side work, a Free Quote Request reaches an independent plumber who works in Laurens County.
| Item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing permit requiring inspections, not subject to O.C.G.A. 48-13-9(e)(5): base permit, includes up to 2 inspections | $170.00 | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
| Each additional inspection required | $85.00 | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
| Trade permit for an accessory structure under 300 square feet | $85.00 | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
| Reinspection fee, 1st (may be waived by the City Manager) | $50.00 | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
| Reinspection fee, 2nd and subsequent | $100.00 | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
| Failure to call for inspection, per inspection | $150.00 | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
| Transfer of permit (contractor change) | $10.00 | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
| Failure to notify of a contractor change | $50.00 | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
| New single-family home or addition, per heated square foot, $200.00 minimum (includes trade permit costs) | $0.25 | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
| Temporary certificate of occupancy, residential and multi-family (up to 90 days) | $45.00 per unit | City of Dublin fee schedule, Res. #26-45 |
Figures on this page come from: City of Dublin Schedule of Fees, updated 9/3/2026, Resolution #26-45 (PDF); City of Dublin: Water Utilities department page; City of Dublin: Development Plan Review and Permitting Process (PDF); City of Dublin: Customer Service & Tax; Laurens County, GA: Building Permits (building, moving and septic permit steps and fees). Checked 2026-10-29.
Tell us the problem once. Independent plumbers who work in Laurens County can follow up.
Call (478) 772-6792Quick answers for Dublin homeowners
How much is the water capital recovery fee in Dublin, GA?
$1,000.00 per ERU under Section 24-46.1(d)(2) of the fee schedule updated September 3, 2026; sewer is $2,000.00 per ERU.
How much does a water tap cost in Dublin?
The fee schedule sets tap installation charges as determined by the City Manager, and sewer taps on a cost-plus basis, so Public Works quotes them per site.
How do I request a new meter?
Use the Public Works Water and Sewer Application on the City of Dublin Water Utilities page.