Under ARS § 9-463.05 and the ADU preemption at ARS § 9-461.18, Surprise cannot charge development impact fees on ADUs under 1,000 square feet, and fees on larger ADUs must be proportionate to the unit's actual demand on infrastructure. The Surprise Development Services Fee Schedule sets building permit and plan-check fees through the Community Development Department. Water and wastewater capacity fees apply only when a new tap is installed.
Arizona Revised Statutes § 9-463.05 governs municipal impact fees and prohibits charging fees that are not proportionate to the burden a new dwelling places on infrastructure. The 2024 ADU statute (ARS § 9-461.18) reinforces this for accessory units: a municipality cannot charge impact fees on ADUs under 1,000 square feet, and fees on larger ADUs must be proportional to the square footage of the principal dwelling. Surprise publishes its Development Services Fee Schedule annually through the Community Development Department; permit fees for a typical ADU run from a few hundred dollars up to approximately $2,000 depending on valuation, with plan-check fees calculated as a percentage of the permit fee. Trade permits for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work are billed separately. Surprise's Development Impact Fees, listed on the city's Development Impact Fees page, cover parks, public safety, streets, and water/wastewater capacity. ADUs that share the principal dwelling's existing water and sewer taps typically avoid new connection charges from Surprise Water Resource Management. ADUs requiring a new water meter or sewer tap pay standard System Development Fees. The city does not offer an additional ADU-specific waiver beyond the state exemption.
Failure to pay required fees results in permit denial or revocation. Connecting to water or sewer service without paying System Development Fees is a violation of Surprise City Code Chapter 110 (Utilities) with civil penalties up to $2,500 per day and a lien against the property under ARS § 9-499.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Maricopa County.
See how other cities in Maricopa County handle adu impact fees.
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