ADU Impact Fees: Cary vs Raleigh
How do adu impact fees rules compare between Cary, NC and Raleigh, NC?
Cary has fewer restrictions than Raleigh.
Cary, NC
Wake County
Cary does not charge a general residential impact fee on ADUs. North Carolina law (NCGS Ch. 162A) authorizes water and sewer system development fees (SDFs). NCGS 162A-205 exempts ADUs under 1,500 sq ft from sewer SDF when sharing a connection with the principal dwelling. Costs are limited to building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permit fees plus any new utility tap and capacity fees.
View full Cary rules →Raleigh, NC
Wake County
Raleigh does not impose development impact fees on ADUs, but standard building permit, plan review, and water and sewer connection fees apply through the Development Services Department and Raleigh Water utility under their published fee schedules.
View full Raleigh rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Cary | Raleigh |
|---|---|---|
| General Impact Fee | None | - |
| Permit Fees | By construction valuation | - |
| Sewer SDF Exemption | ADU <1,500 sq ft (NCGS 162A-205) | - |
| School Impact Fee | None in Wake County | - |
| Authority | NCGS Ch. 162A | - |
| Impact Fees | - | Prohibited by NC law |
| SDF Authority | - | NC Gen. Stat. 162A-205 |
| ADU on Shared Meter | - | No new SDF |
| Separate Meter | - | Optional |
| School Fees | - | None |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Cary FAQ
Are there impact fees on Cary ADUs?
No general impact fee. You pay permit and plan-review fees plus Cary water and sewer system development fees if a new utility connection is required. Under NCGS 162A-205, ADUs under 1,500 sq ft sharing utility service are exempt from the sewer SDF.
Does Cary charge a school impact fee on ADUs?
No. Wake County does not levy school impact fees. Some surrounding NC counties (Chatham, Orange) charge school fees on new dwellings, but those do not apply within Cary.
Raleigh FAQ
Does Raleigh charge impact fees on an ADU?
No. NC Gen. Stat. 160D-1108 prohibits local impact fees. Raleigh instead charges System Development Fees under NC Gen. Stat. 162A-205 for new water and sewer connections.
Do I need a separate water meter for my Raleigh ADU?
No, a separate meter is optional. ADUs that share the existing meter typically pay no new System Development Fee under the Raleigh Water fee schedule.
What fees apply to a Raleigh ADU?
Building permit fee based on construction value, plan review fee, and System Development Fees only if a new water meter is requested. No traditional impact fees apply.
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