Merger Communities - Permitting for Water and Sewer

Before you apply

Availability can be determined by sending an email. Please include your address, what utilities you plan to connect to, and the size/type of service required.

Water-only connections may be allowed. 

Sewer only connections are prohibited, except in the case of public health concerns where failing septic cannot be repaired.  Wake County approval is required to connect to Raleigh’s Utility.  If water and sewer are both available, the requestor must connect to both utilities.

The property must be within the extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) of the merger community (Garner, Knightdale, Rolesville, Wendell, Wake Forest and Zebulon). If the property is outside the jurisdiction, connection to utilities cannot be made without annexation of the property into the appropriate jurisdiction.

Apply for a permit for a water or sewer service in a Merger Community

An application for water and sewer connections in a merger community, or Wake County, must be submitted on the City of Raleigh's Permit and Development Portal.

Prior to applying for a water and/or sewer service connection, you must have the following items available and completed:

• An approved plumbing or building permit from Wake Forest, Garner, or the Wake County Permit Portal for the towns of  Knightdale, Wendell, Zebulon, or Rolesville;
• Accepted water and sewer mains by Raleigh Water;
• A ruling on annexation into the town limits when requesting utilities outside city limits; and,
• A valid address in the Wake County system.  Each new meter request must have a unique address assigned. If you do not have an address, please contact your town or GIS911addressing@wake.gov to get an address.

When applying online, please read thoroughly and follow the steps on the portal.

General Guidance for Applications

Contact information

• Any contact must have a valid email address to receive electronic notifications and system communications.
• If you are hiring a licensed utility contractor (public utility contractor) to make taps, please add them into the optional contacts.
• A design firm and contact is required when submitting plans for a non-residential permit request.

Information about the service request 

• Sewer-only accounts are not permissible without an existing water service, or if an emergency is identified.  See Sewer-Only Service Connections.
• Meter size must match tap size (except 3/4-inch tap and 5/8-inch meter).
• Irrigation services require a separate application from a domestic service application.
• City installed taps:  The City will not make taps for new homes, demolition and new build, developments plans, non-residential taps, or water taps greater than one inch or sewer taps greater than four inches.
• You must list a permit number assigned by Wake County, Garner, or Wake Forest.
• Parcels outside town limits must receive a ruling by the town regarding annexation.

Attachments

• Residential plans (new dwellings or town homes) - Include a plot plan showing the water and sewer service location and recorded map number and lot number.  The plot plan must be stamped by a surveyor or design professional.
• Stand-alone service requests for existing homes – Provide a plot plan and plat and/or deed reference of the property, and a picture of where the service location is requested.
• Non-residential plans – Include the approved construction plan, a building plan, and plumbing plan.
• Stand-alone service request for non-residential uses – Provide a site plan showing the proposed service location, meter size and tap size, and the make and model of backflow device.

Utility Connection and Stub Permit requests are processed individually with each town within 10 business days.  When the permit is approved, customers must pay through the Permit and Development Portal for the water and sewer connection permit issuance. 

Pay Permit / Schedule Inspections/Request Meter

• All fees are based on the current Development Fee Schedule.
• After approval of the permit request, the applicant will receive a final fee estimate.
• Fees can be viewed and paid for on our Permit and Development Portal.

Raleigh Water Fees that can apply to your project:

• Capital Facilities Fees – Applied if making a direct tap on the main for irrigation or if splitting of a fire line.
• Meter fees.
• Tap fees for City-installed taps. 
• Stub fee (Only applies for taps installed by Licensed Utility Contractor)

Other Fees:

• Public Utility Review Fee for non-residential buildings (See Development Fee Schedule) 

Scheduling Inspections and requesting meters

• Merger town Inspections Request
• When all inspections are completed, you may request the meter and set up your account at Start or Stop Utility Services.