# Denver Wastewater Tap Fees Explained

Wastewater tap projects carry several different charges from different bodies, and they are easy to confuse. Denver Sewer and Water is a private contractor. We do not set or collect any of these fees. This page explains what each category is for and who charges it.

- Fee categories explained in plain terms.
- Who charges what, and to whom.
- Authority fees versus contractor cost.
- No amounts published here.
- Private contractor, not the city.

## The Categories of Charge on a Wastewater Tap Project

Owners are usually surprised not by any single charge but by how many separate bodies are involved. A wastewater connection can involve the wastewater authority, the local building department, and the right of way authority, each with its own fee schedule.

The clean way to think about it is two sides. Authority side charges pay for capacity in the public system and for review and inspection of your connection. Contractor side charges pay for the physical work of getting your service to the main.

Every category below is charged by a public body, not by us. We help you identify which ones apply so nothing shows up unexpectedly mid-project.

- Connection or tap fee for joining the public sanitary system.
- System development or plant investment charge tied to capacity.
- Permit fee for the tap or the plumbing work.
- Inspection fee for the required inspections.
- Right of way or street cut permit fee where work is in a public street.
- Restoration or pavement fee where the authority controls surface repair.
- Ongoing wastewater service charges billed after connection.

## Who Authorizes the Tap and Who Performs the Tap

Denver Sewer and Water is a private, family owned and operated contractor. We are not Denver Water or the City and County of Denver. We do not issue permits, set fees, own the mains, or approve service. The utility or municipality with jurisdiction does all of that.

The wastewater authority sets connection and capacity related charges. The municipality sets permit, inspection, and right of way charges. Ongoing service billing comes from the utility after the connection is live.

Denver Sewer and Water charges only for the construction work. We do not add a markup to authority fees and we do not receive any part of them.

The authority authorizes. The licensed contractor performs. Below is the split for this type of work.

- Authority: Sets every fee schedule and publishes it.
- Authority: Collects tap, capacity, permit, and inspection charges from the property owner.
- Authority: Bills ongoing wastewater service after connection.
- Denver Sewer and Water: Identifies which fee categories apply to your project type and address.
- Denver Sewer and Water: Confirms current published figures with the authority before scheduling.
- Denver Sewer and Water: Quotes construction cost separately and transparently.
- Denver Sewer and Water: Coordinates payment timing so approvals are not held up.

## How Fees Sequence Through a Project

1. **Scope Determines the Fee Set** New connection, replacement, upsizing, and change of use do not carry the same charges. Scope comes first.
2. **Authority Confirmation** We confirm the applicable categories and current amounts with the authority for your address, in writing.
3. **Payment Before Authorization** Authorities generally require applicable fees to be settled before a permit is issued and work is authorized.
4. **Inspection and Service Start** After inspection and acceptance, ongoing service billing begins on the utility's cycle.

## Why We Do Not Publish Amounts

Fee schedules change, they differ by jurisdiction, and they vary by service size and use type. A number published on a contractor website is out of date the moment the authority revises its schedule.

We do not publish fee amounts. Tap fees, plant investment fees, permit fees, and inspection fees are set by the authority with jurisdiction and change on their schedule, not ours. We confirm the current figures in writing with that authority for your address before work is scheduled.

## Frequently asked questions

**Do you collect the tap fee?**

No. Authority fees are paid to the authority. We quote only the construction work.

**Can tap fees be financed or deferred?**

Some authorities offer arrangements and some do not. That is a question for the authority with jurisdiction over your address.

**Why is my neighbor's fee different?**

Fees commonly scale with service size, meter size, use type, and the year the connection was made.

**Are you Denver Water?**

No. Denver Sewer and Water is a private, family owned and operated company. We are not Denver Water or the City and County of Denver. We are the licensed contractor who performs the physical work after the authority with jurisdiction issues the permit.

**Can you tell me my tap fee amount over the phone?**

We can tell you which fees apply to your project type and who charges them. The dollar amounts come from the authority with jurisdiction, and we confirm them for your specific address rather than quoting from memory.

## Related Tap Services and Municipal Process Pages

- [Sewer Tap Installation](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/sewer-tap-installation) Connecting a property to a sanitary sewer main, from permit through inspection.
- [Tap Permit Process in Denver](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/tap-permit-process-denver) How a tap moves from application to authorized construction in Denver.
- [Sanitary Sewer Connection for New Construction](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/sanitary-sewer-connection-new-construction) Sequencing the sewer connection inside a new build schedule.
- [Denver Water Tap Installation](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/denver-water-tap-installation) Who authorizes a water tap, who physically makes the connection, and how the two fit together.
- [Tap Process in Aurora](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/tap-process-aurora) Aurora runs its own water and sewer utility, so the process differs from Denver.
- [Storm Drain Connection](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/storm-drain-connection) Connecting site drainage to a public storm system and why it is a separate approval.

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Denver Sewer and Water is a privately owned, licensed and insured plumbing contractor. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Denver Water, the municipal water utility, or any government entity. To pay a municipal water bill or reach the public utility, visit denverwater.org.

Source: https://www.denversewerandwater.com/taps/denver-wastewater-tap-fees-explained