Cape Coral assesses impact fees on new residential units, including any ADU permitted in the RE district, to fund roads, parks, public safety, and utility expansion. Total impact and capital expansion fees for a new dwelling unit typically run several thousand dollars and are due before certificate of occupancy. Lee County impact fees may also apply for countywide facilities.
Impact fees in Cape Coral are set by city ordinance and reviewed periodically by the City Council. A new single-family dwelling (which includes a detached ADU treated as a separate unit) is generally subject to city impact fees in the range of approximately $3,700 plus utility capital expansion fees of roughly $1,106 to $4,454 depending on the water/sewer district. Lee County collects separate impact fees for roads, schools, and emergency services on top of the city's charges. Plan review fees are calculated as 65 percent of the building permit fee, with a minimum charge. Florida Statute 163.31801 governs how impact fees must be calculated and limits the frequency of increases. Guest houses without separate utility connections are typically not assessed full residential impact fees because they are not separate dwelling units, but staff confirmation is required.
Failure to pay required impact fees prevents issuance of the certificate of occupancy and may result in code enforcement action and liens against the property. Misrepresenting an ADU as a non-habitable accessory structure to avoid fees is a code violation and can lead to back-billing with penalties plus civil fines under Chapter 162, Florida Statutes.
Cape Coral, FL
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See how Cape Coral's adu impact fees rules stack up against other locations.
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