Sanibel impact fees by project type
Sanibel: Single-Family Impact Fees
A new single-family home in Sanibel pays at least $9,759.00 per unit in impact fees (rates sourced July 14, 2026). All of it is levied by Lee County.
The largest line items are Roads Impact Fee (SFR - Lee County, 52.5%) ($5,248.00), School Impact Fee (SFR - Lee County, 52.5%) ($2,879.00) and Fire/EMS Impact Fee (SFR - Sanibel fire district) ($826.00).
Water Connection Fee (Sanibel — Island Water Association) and Sewer Connection Fee (City of Sanibel) are set by the utility and not published online. City Impact Fees (City of Sanibel) is set by the city and has no published standard rate. Contact the levying jurisdiction or utility to verify before budgeting; they are not included as dollar figures here.
View the full fee schedule
- Water Connection Fee (Sanibel — Island Water Association)Requires confirmationIsland Water AssociationUNCONFIRMED. Sanibel/Captiva water is supplied by The Island Water Association (IWA), a member-owned nonprofit co-op (not the City). Re-checked 7/13/2026: IWA's posted 2026 Rate Schedule (islandwater.com/s/RateSchedule.pdf) contains ONLY monthly demand/reading/usage charges - no capital, connection or membership fee is published. New service runs through IWA's 'New Membership / Meter Upgrade' request form, which does not display a fee. IWA raised rates 18%/yr for 2026-2028 (Sanibel City Council approval, eff. 6/1/2026). Get the new-membership/capital charge by phone: IWA (239) 472-1502.
- Sewer Connection Fee (City of Sanibel)Requires confirmationCity of SanibelUNCONFIRMED. City of Sanibel operates the sewer system. Re-checked 7/13/2026: mysanibel.com/432/Utility-Billing-Schedule-Rates returns an empty body via fetch (JS/CMS shell) and no one-time connection/capacity fee is posted elsewhere on the site. Confirm by phone: City of Sanibel Utilities (239) 472-6397 / Community Development (239) 472-4135.
- City Impact Fees (City of Sanibel)Requires confirmationCity of SanibelPlaceholder — Sanibel municipal (non-W/S) impact fees not yet researched; county overlay fees apply. ⚠️ VERIFY city impact fees. Contact City of Sanibel (239) 472-4135.
- Roads Impact Fee (SFR - Lee County, 52.5%)$5,248.00Lee CountyLee County base fee $9,996 x 52.5% = $5,248 for SFR. Ian moratorium holds 2018 rates through at least Oct 2026.
- School Impact Fee (SFR - Lee County, 52.5%)$2,879.00Lee CountyLee County base fee $5,484 x 52.5% = $2,879 for SFR.
- Fire/EMS Impact Fee (SFR - Sanibel fire district)$826.00Lee CountyUPDATED 7/13/2026. Lee County Ord. 26-01, eff. 5/4/2026: Sanibel fire district SFR = $766.00 (HELD FLAT - no increase in any of the four steps through 5/4/2029) + countywide EMS SFR $60.00 = $826.00. Source: leegov.com DCD Impact Fee Schedule (Fire table, Sanibel district; EMS Residential table).
- Parks Impact Fee (SFR - Lee County, 52.5%)$806.00Lee CountyCommunity ($464) + Regional ($342) = $806 combined at 52.5%.
Where in Lee County are you building?
Each jurisdiction applies its own fee schedule. Pick yours. = one or more fees are unconfirmed or have no published amount; the figure shown may not be the complete cost.
Sanibel: Multifamily Impact Fees
A new multifamily unit in Sanibel pays at least $5,369.00 per unit in impact fees (rates sourced July 14, 2026). All of it is levied by Lee County.
The largest line items are Roads Impact Fee - Mid-Rise (3-10 stories, 52.5%) ($3,024.00), School Impact Fee (MF - Lee County, 52.5%) ($1,115.00) and Fire/EMS Impact Fee (MF - Sanibel fire district) ($620.00).
Water Connection Fee (MF - Sanibel Island Water Association) and Sewer Connection Fee (MF - City of Sanibel) are set by the utility and not published online. City Impact Fees (MF - City of Sanibel) is set by the city and has no published standard rate. Contact the levying jurisdiction or utility to verify before budgeting; they are not included as dollar figures here.
Some fees are tiered by unit size or building type; amounts reflect the representative tier noted in the schedule below.
View the full fee schedule
- Water Connection Fee (MF - Sanibel Island Water Association)Requires confirmationUNCONFIRMED. Sanibel/Captiva water is supplied by The Island Water Association (IWA), a member-owned nonprofit co-op. Re-checked 7/13/2026: IWA's posted 2026 Rate Schedule shows only monthly demand ($13.57/unit), meter-reading and usage charges - no capital/connection/membership fee published, and no per-unit MF basis. IWA's demand charge IS per unit behind a master meter, so an MF capital charge likely exists per unit. Confirm by phone: IWA (239) 472-1502.
- Sewer Connection Fee (MF - City of Sanibel)Requires confirmationUNCONFIRMED. City of Sanibel operates the sewer system. Re-checked 7/13/2026: the city's Utility Billing Schedule & Rates page returns an empty body via fetch (JS/CMS shell) and no one-time connection/capacity fee is posted. Confirm by phone: City of Sanibel Utilities (239) 472-6397.
- City Impact Fees (MF - City of Sanibel)Requires confirmationPlaceholder — Sanibel municipal (non-W/S) impact fees not yet researched; county overlay fees apply. ⚠️ VERIFY city impact fees. Contact City of Sanibel (239) 472-4135.
- Roads Impact Fee - Mid-Rise (3-10 stories, 52.5%)$3,024.00Lee CountyLee County base fee $5,760 x 52.5% = $3,024 for MF mid-rise (3-10 stories). Default tier.
- School Impact Fee (MF - Lee County, 52.5%)$1,115.00Lee CountyLee County base fee $2,123 x 52.5% = $1,115 for MF.
- Fire/EMS Impact Fee (MF - Sanibel fire district)$620.00Lee CountyRE-CONFIRMED 7/13/2026 under the new schedule. Lee County Ord. 26-01, eff. 5/4/2026: Sanibel fire district MF = $582.00 (HELD FLAT through 5/4/2029 - no step-ups) + countywide EMS MF $38.00 = $620.00. Amount unchanged, but the underlying components changed (EMS fell $42 to $38 while fire held). Source: leegov.com DCD Impact Fee Schedule.
- Parks Impact Fee (MF - Lee County, combined)$610.00Lee CountyCommunity Parks ($351) + Regional Parks ($259) = $610 total. 52.5% collected.
Where in Lee County are you building?
Each jurisdiction applies its own fee schedule. Pick yours. = one or more fees are unconfirmed or have no published amount; the figure shown may not be the complete cost.
Sanibel: Commercial Impact Fees
Commercial development in Sanibel pays $6.91 per square foot in impact fees (rates sourced July 14, 2026).
For a 50,000 sq ft building, that comes to at least $345,557.50. The calculator below adjusts to your exact square footage.
The largest line items are Roads Impact Fee (Lee County, Commercial) ($6.02/sq ft), Fire Impact Fee (Sanibel Fire District, Commercial) ($0.82/sq ft) and EMS Impact Fee (Lee County, Commercial) ($0.07/sq ft).
Sewer Connection Fee (City of Sanibel) — 1.0 ERC minimum and Water Connection Fee (Island Water Association — Sanibel) are set by the utility and not published online. Contact the levying jurisdiction or utility to verify before budgeting; they are not included as dollar figures here.
View the full fee schedule
- Water Connection Fee (Island Water Association — Sanibel)Requires confirmationThe Island Water Association, Inc. (member-owned cooperative)$0 — UNCONFIRMED. The Island Water Association (a member-owned nonprofit cooperative, not a city utility) is the sole water provider for Sanibel and Captiva. IWA's published 2026 Rate Schedule PDF contains ONLY monthly service charges (demand charge $13.57/unit, meter reading charge $1.77, tiered gallonage) — no connection fee, plant-capacity fee, or meter-size capital ladder is published anywhere on islandwater.com. New service is handled through a 'New or Upgraded Memberships' request with no posted fee amount. Searched: IWA rate schedule, FAQ, membership page, governing documents. CALL IWA at (239) 472-1502 (3651 Sanibel Captiva Road) for the commercial membership/connection fee by meter size.
- Sewer Connection Fee (City of Sanibel) — 1.0 ERC minimumRequires confirmationCity of Sanibel Sewer System$0 — UNCONFIRMED (the $/ERC is not published). Sanibel Code Ch. 70, Art. III, Div. 2: the sewer connection fee is ERC-BASED, not meter-based. Sec. 70-105 formula: 'Total ERC value × connection fee per ERC = sewer connection fee,' with a MINIMUM of 1.0 ERC per separate establishment. Nonresidential ERC factors (Sec. 70-105) are per-fixture/per-unit, NOT per square foot for most uses — e.g. Office building (excluding food service and retail space) 0.038 ERC per 100 sq. ft.; deli/bakery/meat market 0.170 per 100 sq. ft.; restaurant/cafeteria 0.113 per seat; barber/beauty shop 0.340 per operator station; doctor/dentist office 0.943 each; auto repair 0.500 per bay. BUT Sec. 70-120 places the actual schedule of rates, fees and charges (including the $/ERC connection fee) ON FILE IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE — it is not codified and not on mysanibel.com (the posted Res. 25-052 sheet, eff. 10-1-2025, shows only monthly/quarterly service rates). CALL Sanibel Utility Billing / Finance at (239) 472-3700 for the current connection fee per ERC.
- City Impact Fees (City of Sanibel, Commercial)$0.00City of Sanibel$0 — CONFIRMED (resolved on audit 2026-07-13). Sanibel levies NO municipal impact fee, proved two ways: (1) no impact-fee chapter or article exists anywhere in the Sanibel Code of Ordinances (full Municode search — Ch. 14 Building & Building Regulations, Ch. 70 Utilities, Ch. 82 Administration and Ch. 86 Development Standards carry none); (2) the city's only adopted development fee schedule — Ord. 25-002, codified at Ch. 14, Art. IV, Sec. 14-191 (permit fees also at Ch. 90) — is a building-permit / cost-recovery schedule, with no impact fee of any kind. Sanibel's only city-levied one-time development charge is the Ch. 70 sewer connection fee (see Water/Sewer table). Nonresidential development in Sanibel pays the LEE COUNTY roads, fire (Sanibel Fire District) and EMS impact fees — see the County-type records. Contact: Sanibel Planning Dept (239) 472-4136.
- Roads Impact Fee (Lee County, Commercial)$6.02/sq ftLee County (collected by the City of Sanibel under interlocal)Lee County Impact Fee Schedule, Roads, 'Shopping Center/General Retail' row: base $11,476 × 52.5% collection rate = $6,024.90 per 1,000 sq. ft. Sanibel is a PARTICIPATING MUNICIPALITY under Lee County LDC Sec. 2-262 — Lee County's own Road Impact Fee Study identifies Sanibel and Fort Myers as the two cities that collect and administer the county road impact fee within their limits under interlocal agreement, retaining the proceeds for use inside city limits. Plus 3% admin fee.
- Fire Impact Fee (Sanibel Fire District, Commercial)$0.82/sq ftLee County (collected for Sanibel Fire & Rescue District)Lee County LDC Ch. 2, Art. VII, Div. 5, Lee Ord. 26-01 (2-3-2026). Sanibel fire-district column. IMPORTANT: the Sanibel district did NOT take the 2026-2029 increases — its rates are held FLAT at the pre-amendment level ($820.00 per 1,000 sq. ft. retail) through 5-4-2029, unlike most Lee districts which step up each 5/4. Same is true of the Boca Grande, Captiva Island and Upper Captiva districts. 3% admin fee added.
- EMS Impact Fee (Lee County, Commercial)$0.07/sq ftLee County Division of Public SafetyLee Ord. 26-01 (2-3-2026), countywide EMS Non-Residential 'Retail' row, eff. 5-4-2026. NEXT STEP-UP 5-4-2027 = $73.50. 3% admin added.
Where in Lee County are you building?
Each jurisdiction applies its own fee schedule. Pick yours. Totals shown are for a 50,000 sq ft building, including one-time water/sewer fees (assuming a 1-inch meter). = one or more fees are unconfirmed or have no published amount; the figure shown may not be the complete cost.
Sanibel: Industrial Impact Fees
Industrial development in Sanibel pays $1.93 per square foot in impact fees (rates sourced July 14, 2026).
For a 50,000 sq ft building, that comes to at least $96,525.00. The calculator below adjusts to your exact square footage.
The largest line items are Roads Impact Fee (Lee County, Industrial) ($1.77/sq ft), Fire Impact Fee (Sanibel Fire District, Industrial) ($0.15/sq ft) and EMS Impact Fee (Lee County, Industrial) ($0.01/sq ft).
Sewer Connection Fee (City of Sanibel) — 1.0 ERC minimum and Water Connection Fee (Island Water Association — Sanibel) are set by the utility and not published online. Contact the levying jurisdiction or utility to verify before budgeting; they are not included as dollar figures here.
View the full fee schedule
- Water Connection Fee (Island Water Association — Sanibel)Requires confirmationThe Island Water Association, Inc. (member-owned cooperative)$0 — UNCONFIRMED. The Island Water Association (a member-owned nonprofit cooperative, not a city utility) is the sole water provider for Sanibel and Captiva. IWA's published 2026 Rate Schedule PDF contains ONLY monthly service charges (demand charge $13.57/unit, meter reading charge $1.77, tiered gallonage) — no connection fee, plant-capacity fee, or meter-size capital ladder is published anywhere on islandwater.com. New service is handled through a 'New or Upgraded Memberships' request with no posted fee amount. Searched: IWA rate schedule, FAQ, membership page, governing documents. CALL IWA at (239) 472-1502 (3651 Sanibel Captiva Road) for the commercial membership/connection fee by meter size.
- Sewer Connection Fee (City of Sanibel) — 1.0 ERC minimumRequires confirmationCity of Sanibel Sewer System$0 — UNCONFIRMED (the $/ERC is not published). Sanibel Code Ch. 70, Art. III, Div. 2: the sewer connection fee is ERC-BASED, not meter-based. Sec. 70-105 formula: 'Total ERC value × connection fee per ERC = sewer connection fee,' with a MINIMUM of 1.0 ERC per separate establishment. Nonresidential ERC factors (Sec. 70-105) are per-fixture/per-unit, NOT per square foot for most uses — e.g. Office building (excluding food service and retail space) 0.038 ERC per 100 sq. ft.; deli/bakery/meat market 0.170 per 100 sq. ft.; restaurant/cafeteria 0.113 per seat; barber/beauty shop 0.340 per operator station; doctor/dentist office 0.943 each; auto repair 0.500 per bay. BUT Sec. 70-120 places the actual schedule of rates, fees and charges (including the $/ERC connection fee) ON FILE IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE — it is not codified and not on mysanibel.com (the posted Res. 25-052 sheet, eff. 10-1-2025, shows only monthly/quarterly service rates). CALL Sanibel Utility Billing / Finance at (239) 472-3700 for the current connection fee per ERC.
- City Impact Fees (City of Sanibel, Industrial)$0.00City of Sanibel$0 — CONFIRMED (resolved on audit 2026-07-13). Sanibel levies NO municipal impact fee, proved two ways: (1) no impact-fee chapter or article exists anywhere in the Sanibel Code of Ordinances (full Municode search — Ch. 14 Building & Building Regulations, Ch. 70 Utilities, Ch. 82 Administration and Ch. 86 Development Standards carry none); (2) the city's only adopted development fee schedule — Ord. 25-002, codified at Ch. 14, Art. IV, Sec. 14-191 (permit fees also at Ch. 90) — is a building-permit / cost-recovery schedule, with no impact fee of any kind. Sanibel's only city-levied one-time development charge is the Ch. 70 sewer connection fee (see Water/Sewer table). Nonresidential development in Sanibel pays the LEE COUNTY roads, fire (Sanibel Fire District) and EMS impact fees — see the County-type records. Contact: Sanibel Planning Dept (239) 472-4136.
- Roads Impact Fee (Lee County, Industrial)$1.77/sq ftLee County (collected by the City of Sanibel under interlocal)Lee County Roads schedule, 'Industrial Park or General Industrial' row: base $3,380 × 52.5% = $1,774.50 per 1,000 sq. ft. Sanibel participates via interlocal. Plus 3% admin. (Sanibel's land use plan permits almost no industrial development, but the rate is on the schedule.)
- Fire Impact Fee (Sanibel Fire District, Industrial)$0.15/sq ftLee County (collected for Sanibel Fire & Rescue District)Lee Ord. 26-01 (2-3-2026), Sanibel fire-district column, 'General Industrial' row. Held FLAT at $146.00 through 5-4-2029. Separate 'Public or Private Warehouse' row = $84.00 (not entered). 3% admin added.
- EMS Impact Fee (Lee County, Industrial)$0.01/sq ftLee County Division of Public SafetyLee Ord. 26-01 (2-3-2026), countywide EMS 'General Industrial' row, eff. 5-4-2026; flat at $10.00 through 2029.
Where in Lee County are you building?
Each jurisdiction applies its own fee schedule. Pick yours. Totals shown are for a 50,000 sq ft building, including one-time water/sewer fees (assuming a 1-inch meter). = one or more fees are unconfirmed or have no published amount; the figure shown may not be the complete cost.
Sanibel: Office Impact Fees
Office development in Sanibel pays $4.43 per square foot in impact fees (rates sourced July 14, 2026).
For a 25,000 sq ft building, that comes to at least $110,658.75. The calculator below adjusts to your exact square footage.
The largest line items are Roads Impact Fee (Lee County, Office) ($4.00/sq ft), Fire Impact Fee (Sanibel Fire District, Office) ($0.40/sq ft) and EMS Impact Fee (Lee County, Office) ($0.03/sq ft).
Sewer Connection Fee (City of Sanibel) — 1.0 ERC minimum and Water Connection Fee (Island Water Association — Sanibel) are set by the utility and not published online. Contact the levying jurisdiction or utility to verify before budgeting; they are not included as dollar figures here.
View the full fee schedule
- Water Connection Fee (Island Water Association — Sanibel)Requires confirmationThe Island Water Association, Inc. (member-owned cooperative)$0 — UNCONFIRMED. The Island Water Association (a member-owned nonprofit cooperative, not a city utility) is the sole water provider for Sanibel and Captiva. IWA's published 2026 Rate Schedule PDF contains ONLY monthly service charges (demand charge $13.57/unit, meter reading charge $1.77, tiered gallonage) — no connection fee, plant-capacity fee, or meter-size capital ladder is published anywhere on islandwater.com. New service is handled through a 'New or Upgraded Memberships' request with no posted fee amount. Searched: IWA rate schedule, FAQ, membership page, governing documents. CALL IWA at (239) 472-1502 (3651 Sanibel Captiva Road) for the commercial membership/connection fee by meter size.
- Sewer Connection Fee (City of Sanibel) — 1.0 ERC minimumRequires confirmationCity of Sanibel Sewer System$0 — UNCONFIRMED (the $/ERC is not published). Sanibel Code Ch. 70, Art. III, Div. 2: the sewer connection fee is ERC-BASED, not meter-based. Sec. 70-105 formula: 'Total ERC value × connection fee per ERC = sewer connection fee,' with a MINIMUM of 1.0 ERC per separate establishment. Nonresidential ERC factors (Sec. 70-105) are per-fixture/per-unit, NOT per square foot for most uses — e.g. Office building (excluding food service and retail space) 0.038 ERC per 100 sq. ft.; deli/bakery/meat market 0.170 per 100 sq. ft.; restaurant/cafeteria 0.113 per seat; barber/beauty shop 0.340 per operator station; doctor/dentist office 0.943 each; auto repair 0.500 per bay. BUT Sec. 70-120 places the actual schedule of rates, fees and charges (including the $/ERC connection fee) ON FILE IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE — it is not codified and not on mysanibel.com (the posted Res. 25-052 sheet, eff. 10-1-2025, shows only monthly/quarterly service rates). CALL Sanibel Utility Billing / Finance at (239) 472-3700 for the current connection fee per ERC.
- City Impact Fees (City of Sanibel, Office)$0.00City of Sanibel$0 — CONFIRMED (resolved on audit 2026-07-13). Sanibel levies NO municipal impact fee, proved two ways: (1) no impact-fee chapter or article exists anywhere in the Sanibel Code of Ordinances (full Municode search — Ch. 14 Building & Building Regulations, Ch. 70 Utilities, Ch. 82 Administration and Ch. 86 Development Standards carry none); (2) the city's only adopted development fee schedule — Ord. 25-002, codified at Ch. 14, Art. IV, Sec. 14-191 (permit fees also at Ch. 90) — is a building-permit / cost-recovery schedule, with no impact fee of any kind. Sanibel's only city-levied one-time development charge is the Ch. 70 sewer connection fee (see Water/Sewer table). Nonresidential development in Sanibel pays the LEE COUNTY roads, fire (Sanibel Fire District) and EMS impact fees — see the County-type records. Contact: Sanibel Planning Dept (239) 472-4136.
- Roads Impact Fee (Lee County, Office)$4.00/sq ftLee County (collected by the City of Sanibel under interlocal)Lee County Roads schedule, 'Office' row: base $7,614 × 52.5% = $3,997.35 per 1,000 sq. ft. Sanibel participates via interlocal. Plus 3% admin.
- Fire Impact Fee (Sanibel Fire District, Office)$0.40/sq ftLee County (collected for Sanibel Fire & Rescue District)Lee Ord. 26-01 (2-3-2026), Sanibel fire-district column, 'Office' row. Sanibel district rates are held FLAT at $398.00 through 5-4-2029 (no step-ups). 3% admin added.
- EMS Impact Fee (Lee County, Office)$0.03/sq ftLee County Division of Public SafetyLee Ord. 26-01 (2-3-2026), countywide EMS 'Office' row, eff. 5-4-2026. NEXT STEP-UP 5-4-2027 = $33.00.
Where in Lee County are you building?
Each jurisdiction applies its own fee schedule. Pick yours. Totals shown are for a 25,000 sq ft building, including one-time water/sewer fees (assuming a 1-inch meter). = one or more fees are unconfirmed or have no published amount; the figure shown may not be the complete cost.
Estimate your project in Sanibel
Set to single-family. Drop a pin or search an address for site-specific fees.
Location
Select a location to begin
Once you select an address or drop a pin, we'll identify the responsible city and county and generate a fee breakdown.
How impact fees work in Florida
Florida impact fees are one-time charges on new development, governed by Section 163.31801, Florida Statutes (the Florida Impact Fee Act). The statute requires fees to be based on the most recent and localized data, spent on the infrastructure category they were collected for, and adopted by ordinance.
Since 2021, the law also limits how fast fees can rise: increases up to 25% phase in over two years, increases of 25–50% phase in over four years, and increases above 50% are allowed only with a demonstrated extraordinary-circumstances study and at least a two-thirds vote of the governing body.
Counties and cities can both levy impact fees. Inside an incorporated city, a project typically pays the county's countywide fees plus any municipal fees the city has adopted, which is why totals differ between a city and the unincorporated county around it.
Frequently asked questions
What are the total impact fees for a single-family home in Sanibel, Florida?
A new single-family home in Sanibel pays at least $9,759.00 per unit in combined impact fees (rates sourced July 14, 2026). 3 additional fees have no published standard amounts and are not included, so the full cost may be higher; verify before budgeting.
How much are commercial impact fees in Sanibel?
Commercial development in Sanibel pays $6.91 per square foot in impact fees, at least $345,557.50 for a 50,000 sq ft building. 2 additional fees have no published standard amounts and are not included, so the full cost may be higher; verify before budgeting.
Does Sanibel charge its own impact fees?
Yes. Sanibel levies its own municipal impact or utility fees, and county-levied fees also apply inside city limits. The schedule on this page shows every fee that applies to development in Sanibel, with the combined total.
Can Florida impact fees increase at any time?
No. Section 163.31801, Florida Statutes limits increases to 50% at most, phased in over two to four years, unless the local government makes extraordinary-circumstances findings and approves the increase by at least a two-thirds vote.
Fee amounts on this page are compiled from official published schedules and are provided for planning purposes only. Rates change, and project specifics (unit size, meter size, location within special districts) can alter what applies. Always verify current fees with the jurisdiction and utility before relying on them.
Compare unincorporated rates and every other city on the Lee County impact fees page.