Charge 1: the tap or the meter
The City's fee schedule has three ways to get a 3/4-inch residential meter, depending on how much already exists at the lot. A water main tap and service, where the City taps the main and runs the service, is $1,625.00 for a 3/4-inch meter and $1,700.00 for a 1-inch meter. A stub out, where a service line already exists and the City installs the meter box and meter, is $975.00 for 3/4-inch.
A drop meter, where the box is in place and only the meter is installed, is $350.00 for 3/4-inch. Larger meters are priced separately, and taps above 1 inch are charged at cost.
The schedule also lists drilling the water main for a tap at $650.00 and a water system shutdown for a connection at $600.00. Ask the City which lines apply to your lot before you budget, since an existing stub can save a large part of the cost.
| Item | Charge | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Water main tap and service, 3/4-inch meter | $1,625.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| Water main tap and service, 1-inch meter | $1,700.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| Water service stub out, 3/4-inch (meter box and meter) | $975.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| Drop meter, 3/4-inch (meter only) | $350.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| Drill water main for tap | $650.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| Water system shutdown for connection | $600.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
Charge 2: system development fees
On top of the physical connection, a new single-family home pays system development fees for water and for sewer, charged per unit by heated square footage. For a house under 1,000 square feet they are $1,247.77 for water and $2,048.00 for sewer. A 1,000 to 1,500 square foot home pays $1,332.00 and $2,188.00.
The bands step up from there: $1,359.00 and $2,233.00 for 1,501 to 2,000 square feet, $1,443.00 and $2,370.00 for 2,001 to 2,500, $1,500.00 and $2,465.00 for 2,501 to 3,000, and $1,992.00 and $3,273.00 for homes over 4,000 square feet.
These fees fund system capacity, not your connection. They apply whether or not a tap is needed, so a house built on a lot with an existing stub still pays them.
| Heated area | Water SDF | Sewer SDF | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1,000 sq. ft. | $1,247.77 | $2,048.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| 1,000 - 1,500 sq. ft. | $1,332.00 | $2,188.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| 1,501 - 2,000 sq. ft. | $1,359.00 | $2,233.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| 2,001 - 2,500 sq. ft. | $1,443.00 | $2,370.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| 2,501 - 3,000 sq. ft. | $1,500.00 | $2,465.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| 4,000+ sq. ft. | $1,992.00 | $3,273.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
Ticked the boxes and still have water where it should not be? Send one request.
Free Quote RequestCall (828) 845-4910Charge 3: the sewer service
The City's schedule lists a 4-inch gravity sewer service installation at $1,600.00 and a 6-inch installation at $2,000.00. Most single-family homes use a 4-inch service.
Not every lot near Hendersonville drains to City sewer. The county permit FAQ lists the Metropolitan Sewer District at 828-225-8209 for tap fee information alongside Hendersonville Water & Sewer at 828-697-3063, and many rural lots use septic systems. Confirm the provider before you compare costs.
If the lot is on City water but not City sewer, the sewer fees here do not apply, and if a septic system is involved the county FAQ points septic sizing questions to Environmental Health at 828-694-6060.
| Item | Charge | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 4-inch gravity sewer service installation | $1,600.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| 6-inch gravity sewer service installation | $2,000.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| Sewer only, flat rate, inside city | $48.31 per month | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| Septic tank waste disposal (haulers), per 1,000 gallons | $60.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| Septic tank disposal permit (haulers) | $75.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
Charge 4: the county permit and the plumber
Henderson County's FAQ says a plumbing permit is required to hook up to public water or sewer, issued at the Permit Center at 100 N King St. The 2026-2027 fee schedule lists the plumbing trade permit at $75.00.
The plumber's work runs from the meter or the sewer tap to the house: trenching, pipe, backflow or pressure-reducing valves if required, and the connection inside. That is priced by the plumber, not the City, and depends on distance, soil and rock, and how the line enters the house.
Ask for the quote to separate the private line from any City fees the plumber is passing through, so you can see which part is negotiable and which is set by the fee schedule.
| Permit | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing trade permit | $75.00 | Henderson County 2026-2027 fee schedule |
| Electrical trade permit | $75.00 | Henderson County 2026-2027 fee schedule |
| Mechanical trade permit | $75.00 | Henderson County 2026-2027 fee schedule |
| Reinspection | $75.00 | Henderson County 2026-2027 fee schedule |
| Minimum permit fee | $75.00 | Henderson County 2026-2027 fee schedule |
| Penalty for starting work without a permit | $200 + permit fee | Henderson County 2026-2027 fee schedule |
| Renewal | 25% of original permit fee | Henderson County 2026-2027 fee schedule |
Charge 5: inspections and engineering on bigger jobs
For subdivisions and main extensions, the fee schedule has a separate engineering review section: an availability approval fee of $100.00, an extension project review fee of $400.00, and line inspection fees of $3.00 per linear foot for water lines and $6.00 per linear foot for sewer lines, each with a $100 minimum.
A single house tying into an existing main rarely sees these, but a homeowner extending a main along a private road to reach a group of houses may. Ask early, because extension projects take longer than a single tap.
Backflow rules also apply once connected. The schedule lists a $100.00 penalty for failing to test a required backflow assembly annually; see the billing policy checklist for the other account fees.
| Item | Charge | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Failure to test backflow assembly annually | $100.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| Failure to install backflow assembly, 1st notice | $400.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| Failure to install backflow assembly, 2nd notice | $500.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| Failure to replace or repair backflow assembly | $500.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
Before you dig
Call the City before any work starts to confirm which tap and meter line applies, whether a stub already exists, and which system development band your plans fall in. The heated square footage on your plans is what sets that band.
Get the plumber's quote in writing and make sure it says who applies for the county plumbing permit. The permit checklist covers inspections and expiry.
If you are moving from a well to City water, the well checklist covers the questions on the private side, including what happens to the old well connection.
Extensions and line inspections
Where a main has to be extended to reach a property, the schedule's engineering section applies: an availability approval fee of $100.00, an extension project review fee of $400.00, and inspection fees of $3.00 per linear foot for water lines and $6.00 per linear foot for sewer lines, each with a $100 minimum. These are City review charges, separate from the contractor's price for building the extension.
| Item | Charge | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Availability approval fee | $100.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| Extension project review fee (water or sewer) | $400.00 | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| Water line inspections ($100 minimum) | $3.00 per linear foot | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
| Sewer line inspections ($100 minimum) | $6.00 per linear foot | City of Hendersonville Fee Schedule |
Checked against: City of Hendersonville, NC: Fee Schedule (water, sewer, meter, rebate and billing fees); Henderson County, NC Permits & Inspections: Frequently-Asked Questions; Henderson County, NC Permits & Inspections: 2026-2027 Fee Schedule (PDF). Checked 2026-10-30.
Describe the problem once. Independent plumbers who work in Henderson County, NC can follow up.
Free Quote RequestCall (828) 845-4910Quick answers for Hendersonville, NC
What does a new 3/4-inch water tap cost in Hendersonville?
The City lists a water main tap and service for a 3/4-inch meter at $1,625.00.
Are system development fees separate?
Yes. A 1,000 to 1,500 square foot single-family home pays $1,332.00 for water and $2,188.00 for sewer.
Do I need a county permit to connect?
Yes. The county FAQ says hooking up to public water or sewer requires a plumbing permit.
Next checklists
- Well Pump and Well Plumbing in Henderson County, NC: A Checklist for Homes Off City Water
- Henderson County, NC Plumbing Permits: When You Need One and What It Costs (2026-2027)
- Plumbing in Fletcher, NC: Sort Out the Utility and the Permit, Then the Repair
- Hendersonville, NC Utility Billing Policy 2026: Due Dates, Late Fees and Payment Plans