Impact Fees

New Development Impact Fees

The City of Brenham Impact Fee Ordinance 24-003 is effective July 1, 2024.

What is an Impact Fee?

Impact Fees are authorized under Chapter 395 of the Texas Local Government Code and are defined as a charge or assessment imposed by a political subdivision against new development in order to generate revenue for funding or recouping the costs of capital improvements or facility expansions necessitated by and attributable to the new development. Adopting Impact Fees lessens the burden of increasing utility rates and taxes on existing residents and employers that are currently paying for such infrastructure improvements. February 22, 2024 Brenham City Council adopted Impact Fees on Water and Wastewater infrastructure and no impact fee was adopted on roadways.

Staff Contact: Stephanie Doland | 979-337-7269 | sdoland@cityofbrenham.org

When is an Impact Fee Assessed?

Impact Fees are assessed when new development results in an increase to the public infrastructure system. Impact fees are assessed at the time of subdivision plat and collected at the time of building permit issuance.

Impact Fee Exemptions

New development not requiring a change in the existing water tap connection shall not be assessed an Impact Fee.
New development which has submitted a complete application for approval or received final plat approval as of July 1, 2024 shall be eligible for a 1-year waiver of impact fees. Any permits issued after the 1-year grandfather period shall be assessed an impact fee.
No impact fees shall be assessed for connections only utilized to provide fire protection.
Irrigation meters that are 1.5-inches or greater shall be assessed an impact fee for water and shall not be assessed an impact fee for wastewater.

For a complete list of the Impact Fee assessment policy please review Chapter 28 – Impact Fees of the City of Brenham Code of Ordinances.

As Required by State Law

2023 Impact Fee Study (February 6, 2024)
Land Use Assumptions and Capital Improvement Plans (R-23-044 Adopted December 7, 2023)
Ordinance 24-003 Establishing Impact Fees (Adopted February 22, 2024)
Ordinance 24-014 Clarifying Impact Fee Policy (Adopted June 20, 2024)

Impact Fee Calculator

Single Family Home - impact fee example*

Water (1" Meter Size)	$4,794
Wastewater (1" Meter Size)	$620
Total	$5,414

*Water and wastewater impact fees are determined based on the water meter connection size. Irrigation meters which are a sub-meter to the main meter are not assessed an additional impact fee.

City of Brenham Adopted Fee Chart

Meter Size (Inch)	Water Meter Type	Water Impact Fee	Wastewater Impact Fee	Total Impact Fee
1"	Displacement Type	$4,794	$620	$5,414
1.5"	Displacement Type	$9,589	$1,241	$10,830
2"	Displacement Type	$15,341	$1,985	$17,326
2"	Compound	$15,341	$1,985	$17,326
3"	Compound	$33,560	$4,343	$37,903
3"	Turbine Vertical Shaft	$42,190	$5,460	$47,650
3"	Turbine High Velocity	$67,120	$8,686	$75,806
4"	Compound	$57,563	$7,445	$65,008
4"	Turbine Vertical Shaft	$80,545	$10,423	$90,968
4"	Turbine High Velocity	$124,652	$16,130	$140,782
6"	Compound	$129,446	$16,751	$146,197
6"	Turbine Vertical Shaft	$165,883	$21,466	$187,349
6"	Turbine High Velocity	$268,481	$34,742	$303,223
*Larger sizes available upon request
**Water & wastewater impact fees are determined based on the water meter connection size

Capital Improvements Advisory Committee (CIAC)

On July 13, 2023 the City Council approved the formation of the Capital Improvements Advisory Committee (CAIC) which is an 11-member committee. The CIAC is tasked with the review of the impact fee study, annual impact fees assessed and collected and recommendations to the Brenham City Council on amendments to the adopted Impact Fee rates.

Impact Fee Setting for the 2024 Impact Fee Adoption

As part of the 2023-2024 Impact Fee Study and Adoption process, Strand Associates, Inc. and City Staff hosted multiple public meetings and a developer’s workshop to inform citizens, the development and business communities on the consideration and need to adopt Impact Fees. These presentations included what Impact Fees are, the Impact Fee development processes, Land Use Assumptions, Capital Improvement Plans, Maximum Assessable Impact Fees, hypothetical development scenarios and the work of the Capital Improvements Advisory Committee.