Where Chandler installs the service line and meter box, the inside-city fee is $1,819.00 for a 3/4 inch meter and $1,847.00 for a 1 inch meter, plus the city's costs for street repair. Where a developer installs the service line and box, the meter fee is $419.00 for 3/4 inch and $447.00 for 1 inch.
“Properties inside City limits to be connected to the municipal water or reclaimed water distribution system shall pay a fee for which the City will install a service line and meter box in accordance with the following schedule”
- Applies to:
- Owners, developers and contractors connecting a new building or subdivision to Chandler's municipal water system
- Official fee:
- City Code 50-9.1: 3/4 inch $1,819.00, 1 inch $1,847.00, 1 1/2 inch $1,942.00, 2 inch $2,044.00 (inside City); 50-9.2: 3/4 inch $419.00, 1 inch $447.00 and up by size
- In force:
- Chandler City Code 50-9 as amended by Ord. 5148 (2026)
- Last verified:
- September 29, 2026, against the official page
Chandler puts the water meter fee in the city code, and the number depends on one question: who builds the service line and meter box. The gap between the two schedules is $1,400 for the 3/4 inch and 1 inch meters.
What does Chandler City Code 50-9 say?
City Code 50-9.1 covers properties inside the city that connect to the municipal water or reclaimed water system. They "shall pay a fee for which the City will install a service line and meter box in accordance with the following schedule plus all applicable costs incurred by the City for concrete and asphalt repair and replacement in the public right-of-way required for installation."
City Code 50-9.2 sets a lower schedule for properties where the subdivider or developer installs the service line, from the water main to the property line, and the meter box. The developer is charged only for the meter installation.
Two more rules matter. Under 50-9.3, meters larger than 2 inches always have the service line and meter box installed by the subdivider or developer to city-approved specifications, and that party pays the meter charges. Under 50-9.4, all water meters remain city property and the city maintains them.
What are the fees by meter size?
The city installs the service line and meter box (50-9.1, inside the city):
| Meter size | Inside city | Outside city |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4 inch meter fee | $1,819.00 | $2,547.00 |
| 1 inch meter fee | $1,847.00 | $2,586.00 |
| 1 1/2 inch meter fee | $1,942.00 | $2,719.00 |
| 2 inch meter fee | $2,044.00 | $2,862.00 |
A developer installs the service line and meter box (50-9.2), first sizes:
| Meter size | Inside city | Outside city |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4 inch meter fee | $419.00 | $587.00 |
| 1 inch meter fee | $447.00 | $626.00 |
| 1 1/2 inch meter fee | $542.00 | $759.00 |
| 2 inch meter fee | $644.00 | $902.00 |
Section 50-9.2 continues with larger sizes: for example a 3-inch turbine meter is $2,186.00 and a 3-inch compound meter $3,405.00 inside the city, and fire protection meters have their own lines. Installation outside the city is 1.4 times the inside-city fee. Where an installation needs more than two service calls, an extra $97.00 per meter inside the city ($135.80 outside) is charged for each return trip and shown on the utility bill.
What do the terms mean?
- Service line: the pipe from the city water main to your property line and meter.
- Meter box: the box in the ground that holds the meter.
- Subdivider or developer install: the builder puts in the line and box to city specifications, and the city charges only for the meter.
- Compound and turbine meters: larger meter types priced separately in 50-9.2.
Who does this cover?
It covers any property connecting to Chandler's municipal water or reclaimed water system. Where the city installs the line and box for a meter up to 2 inches, 50-9.1 applies. Builders of new subdivisions and anyone needing a meter over 2 inches use 50-9.2 and 50-9.3. System Development Fees are separate, and this page does not cover them.
Quick check: which schedule applies?
| Situation | Schedule | Meter fee |
|---|---|---|
| Fee for a 3/4 inch meter, city installs line and box, inside city | 50-9.1 | $1,819.00, plus the city's street repair costs |
| Fee for a 1 inch meter, city installs line and box, inside city | 50-9.1 | $1,847.00, plus the city's street repair costs |
| Fee for a 3/4 inch meter where the developer installs the lines | 50-9.2 | $419.00 |
| Meter larger than 2 inches | 50-9.2 and 50-9.3 | Developer installs line and box; fee per 50-9.2 |
| Property outside city limits | Either | 1.4 times the inside-city fee |
| Extra fee when installation needs more than two service calls | Extra charge | $97.00 per return trip inside the city |
What does this look like in real life?
A small restaurant building on a single lot. The owner asks the city to install a 1 inch service line and meter box. Under 50-9.1, the fee is $1,847.00 plus the city's costs for any concrete or asphalt repair in the public right-of-way.
A new subdivision. The developer trenches the service lines and sets the meter boxes to city specifications. Each 3/4 inch meter fee is $419.00 under 50-9.2 instead of $1,819.00.
The edge case: the extra trips. A meter installation that needs more than two service calls adds a $97.00 fee for each return trip, and the charge is shown on the utility bill. The code ties the charge to each return trip needed to complete the installation.
What should you do next?
- 1Decide who will install the service line and meter box: the city or your developer or contractor.
- 2For a non-residential meter, have the registered architect, landscape architect or engineer complete form UDM-114, the Non-Residential Water Meter Certificate (chandleraz.gov, Public Works and Utilities, Utilities Division, 975 E. Armstrong Way, 480-782-3800). The form says System Development Fees and Meter Fees apply to any certified meter.
- 3Attach a Sustainable Water Service Application when the form calls for one: a domestic meter of 3 inches or larger, or meters on a parcel using more than 50,000 gallons a day on annual average.
- 4Find your schedule and meter size in the tables above, add the city's street repair costs when the city installs the line, and multiply by 1.4 if you are outside the city limits.
- 5Ask Chandler Development Services (215 E. Buffalo St., 480-782-3000) about System Development Fees, which are not part of this schedule.
What do people get wrong?
- "The meter fee is the total connection cost." It is not. System Development Fees, street repair costs, and your own plumbing are separate.
- "A big meter can use the city-installed schedule." Meters larger than 2 inches are installed by the developer under 50-9.3.
- "Fees are the same as last year." Municode's history note lists Ordinance 5148 as January 22, 2026, and the schedule can change again.
- "The meter belongs to me." Section 50-9.4 says all meters remain city property.
Fees change by ordinance. This page reflects City Code 50-9 as read on the date above.
How Do Other Valley Cities Handle It?
| Where | What applies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Scottsdale | The city taps the main and installs the service line and meter box at set rates, for example $2,730 for a 3/4 inch meter and service line and $2,880 for 1 inch. | Scottsdale Revised Code 49-21(a) Verified September 29, 2026 |
| Mesa | A separate water and wastewater capacity fee, $9,528 for a 3/4 inch meter under Table 1, must be paid before the city installs a new or upsized meter. | Mesa City Code 8-10-13(E) and Table 1 Verified September 29, 2026 |
This page explains the rule. The official text at the source above governs.
- Chandler City Code 50-9, water meter installation fees (Municode)
- Chandler form UDM-114, Non-Residential Water Meter Certificate (City of Chandler Public Works and Utilities)
- Scottsdale Revised Code 49-21, water meter and service connection fees (Municode)
- Mesa City Code 8-10-13, water and wastewater capacity fees (Municode)
Water Supply and Pipes in Other Cities
More Chandler Codes and Permits
- Backflow PreventionChandler backflow testing: annual test, notices and water shutoff
- Commercial PlumbingCan a Chandler business get an annual permit for repeat plumbing alterations?
- Permits and InspectionsWhat does Chandler City Code 29-4 change in the International Plumbing Code?
- Sewer LinesDo you have to connect to Chandler city sewer if you have a septic tank? City Code 51-3
- Sewer LinesChandler sewer line responsibility: who repairs the pipe to the main
- Sewer LinesChandler sewer tap permit: what 51-7 and the street permit require