Cash In Lieu of Water Rights Fee Increase
Summary
The city is considering more than doubling the fee developers pay when they don't bring water rights with their projects — from $6,000 to about $13,050 per acre-foot. That adds roughly $3,000 to a new single-family home's cost and funds future water supply for growth.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 4
- Last 30 days
- 2
Discussed at 2 meetings in the last 60 days; most recently Oct 19, 2026.
Impact analysis
Doubles a key development fee — about $3,050 per new single-family home and $1,620 per multi-family unit.
The city's long-term water supply — funds go toward securing new municipal water rights as Bozeman grows.
New homebuyers and developers, who absorb the higher fee — though the study notes Bozeman would still charge less than most Mountain West peers.
Mentions & discussions (4)
Community Development Board - Oct 19, 2026
The city is considering more than doubling the fee developers pay when they don't bring water rights with their projects — from $6,000 to about $13,050 per acre-foot. That adds roughly $3,000 to a new single-family home's cost and funds future water supply for growth.
City Commission - Oct 6, 2026
Property owners in Special Improvement District No. 789 would pay a total of $1,660,368 in special assessments to cover the Riverside wastewater improvements, at about $11,692 per listed parcel. Payments are split into semiannual installments over up to twenty years at 3% interest, with prepayment allowed.
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City Commission - Aug 18, 2026
Four special district assessments were slated to rise: streets (3%), tree maintenance (20%), street maintenance (15%), and parks and trails (23%) — targeted costs for property owners in those districts.
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