City of Bakersfield to increase one-time sewer connection fees by over 4%

Fees would be paid to connect to the city’s sewer system, city officials say

UPDATE: The Bakersfield City Council unanimously voted to adopt the resolution of Bakersfield’s one-time sewer connection fees increase during its meeting on Wednesday, with Councilmember Ken Weir absent.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A public hearing is set on Wednesday to discuss an increase in Bakersfield’s one-time sewer connection fees, according to the Bakersfield City Council agenda.

Connection fees are a one-time fee paid when someone applies for a building permit or a permit to connect an existing building to the city’s sewer system, according to city officials. Connection fees were evaluated as part of the Sewer Rates and Connection Fees Study completed in March 2022.

According to the agenda, the Bakersfield City Council is required to establish enough fees to recover the costs of the city providing sewer connection services each year. This includes the costs related to, and required by, the upgrading and expanding of sewer facilities.

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City staff is recommending a 4.33% increase in sewer connection fees for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, the agenda said.

This change will increase the connection fee for a single-family home from $6,947 to $7,248 and the fee for a multiple-family residence will go from $5,002 to $5,218. The commercial connection fee will go from $278 to $329.50 per fixture unit, according to city officials.

If approved, the new fees will go into effect on Oct. 1, according to the agenda. The collected fees will go to the Sewer Enterprise Fund.

The public hearing is scheduled to take place during the city council’s 5:15 p.m. meeting at the City Hall’s Council Chambers, located at 1501 Truxtun Ave. The Bakersfield City Council is recommended by staff to approve the resolution to adopt the new fees.