Impact Fees
Water & Wastewater Impact Fees | New Braunfels Utilities
Supporting Responsible Growth
As New Braunfels grows, additional water and wastewater infrastructure is needed to serve new homes and businesses. Impact fees are one-time charges paid by new development to help fund that infrastructure.
New development does not simply mean a newly constructed building. For impact fees, Texas state statute focuses on new development that ties into NBU lines and creates a demand for additional capacity.
At New Braunfels Utilities, we believe growth should pay for growth. Impact fees help ensure that a portion of the cost of expanding the utility system is paid by new development rather than existing utility customers. For decades, NBU has assessed water and wastewater impact fees to help ensure growth contributes to the infrastructure it requires.
One-Time Charges
Impact fees are one-time charges collected during the development process to help fund water and wastewater infrastructure needed to serve growth. Impact Fees are paid by developers and are not included in existing customers’ monthly utility bills.
Impact fees may be used to fund eligible capacity-related improvements such as water and wastewater treatment facilities, water storage, transmission mains, wastewater collection systems and other infrastructure needed to serve new development. They are separate from utility rates and may only be used for specific capital improvements authorized by state law.
Under Texas law, impact fees are calculated using a prescribed methodology that establishes the maximum allowable fee. NBU currently assesses the maximum allowable water and wastewater impact fees as adopted by the City of New Braunfels in accordance with Chapter 395 of the Texas Local Government Code.
Why Is NBU Conducting an Impact Fee Assessment?
Texas law requires water and wastewater impact fee programs to be periodically reviewed using updated growth projections, infrastructure needs and construction costs. In addition, recent changes to state law require an Impact Fee Audit to be completed in conjunction with each new impact fee study.
This process helps ensure impact fees are based on projected growth, infrastructure needs to serve that growth and remain consistent with Chapter 395 of the Texas Local Government Code.
The impact fee update follows a process established by state law.
- Land Use Assumptions
- Capital Improvements Plan
- Impact Fee Calculations
- IFAC Review
- Public Input/Hearing
- Board & City Council Consideration
Water & Wastewater Impact Fee Advisory Committee (IFAC)
The Water and Wastewater Impact Fee Advisory Committee (IFAC) is a committee established by the City of New Braunfels as part of the impact fee update process required by Chapter 395 of the Texas Local Government Code. The committee reviews the technical studies used to calculate impact fees, considers public input and provides recommendations to the New Braunfels Utilities Board of Trustees and the New Braunfels City Council before any changes are considered.
The IFAC consists of nine members, including the Mayor, the NBU Chief Executive Officer, the NBU Board President, one representative from the City’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), and five City Council appointed representatives from the real estate, development and building industries, as required by law.
Meetings & Timeline
Stay informed about upcoming advisory committee meetings, public hearings and key milestones throughout the 2026 Impact Fee Update.
For meeting dates and agendas, visit our Municode page.
Meeting One – July 23 @ 5:30 pm
Current Impact Fees
View the current water and wastewater impact fee schedules and 2023 Impact Fee Report.