How much will the North 3 utility assessment cost Cape Coral property owners?

For a typical 10,000-square-foot parcel, the City of Cape Coral estimates the North 3 utility assessment at $35,264 east of Burnt Store Road and $41,029 west of it, for city water, sewer and irrigation, with a final council vote set for Nov. 2, 2026. I'm Frank Glaab, P.A., a Realtor with Epique Realty in Cape Coral, and here's what the North 3 Utilities Extension Project (UEP) means if you own, buy or sell a home or lot in northwest Cape Coral.

What is the North 3 utility project?

North 3 brings city water, wastewater and irrigation lines to areas now on wells and septic. WINK News (Oct. 7, 2026) says it covers about 5,100 parcels in northwest Cape Coral. Gulfshore Business puts the city's estimated total cost at $384.1 million, financed with bonds repaid mainly by owners in the project area.

How much will owners pay?

City figures reported by the Cape Coral Breeze (Sept. 29, 2026) for one equivalent parcel (EP), which is 10,000 square feet of land:

• East of Burnt Store Road: about $35,264 ($26,920 line extension plus $8,344 capital facility charge)
• West of Burnt Store Road: about $41,029, which includes $5,765 for an added roadway, drainage and multimodal upgrade the city calls "Alternative 5"

Oversized lots pay more. Owners should also budget for hookup: about $3,000 to $5,000 for a plumber, $100 for the septic abandonment permit, $325 for the water meter and a $225 account deposit.

What are the payment options?

• Initial prepayment (Nov. 3, 2026 to March 31, 2027): lowest total cost.
• Interim prepayment (April 1 to July 31, 2027): about $279 more east and $322 more west.
• Annual installments on the property tax bill starting November 2027: about $4,266 (east) or $4,963 (west) a year over 20 years, $3,895 or $4,532 over 25 years, and $3,648 or $4,244 over 30 years, including interest.

The city also offers an income-based hardship deferral and Community Development Block Grant help with connection costs for very-low-income households.

What are the key dates?

• Oct. 14, 2026: City Council Committee of the Whole, where the city says the Alternative 5 road charge will be discussed in detail.
• Oct. 19, 2026, 5 to 8 p.m.: open-house homeowner information meeting for North 3 property owners in Council Chambers (second floor), Cape Coral City Hall, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd. Staff will review individual assessments.
• Nov. 2, 2026, 4 p.m.: final assessment hearing and construction contract votes.

Dates can change, so check the city's notices before you go.

What does this mean if you're buying or selling?

If you're relocating to Cape Coral or buying a lot for new construction in the northwest Cape, ask early whether the parcel is in North 3, which side of Burnt Store Road it sits on, and how the assessment and hookup costs will be handled in your contract. An extra $3,600 to $5,000 a year on the tax bill changes your monthly budget. Sellers should know their numbers too, since buyers and lenders will ask. Your title company and lender can help sort out who pays what at closing.

FAQ

Is the North 3 assessment final?

No. The figures are city estimates until the final assessment hearing, currently set for Nov. 2, 2026.

Who can attend the Oct. 19 meeting?

The city says it is only for property owners in the North 3 project area, and you can drop in anytime from 5 to 8 p.m.

When would the first tax-bill installment show up?

November 2027, for owners who don't prepay.

Thinking about buying or selling in northwest Cape Coral? Search Cape Coral homes for sale or get a free home value estimate, and reach out with questions: Frank Glaab, P.A., Epique Realty | (239) 243-6224 | frank@movecapecoral.com. I help buyers and sellers with Gulf-access, waterfront, relocation and new-construction homes across Cape Coral and Southwest Florida.

Sources: Cape Coral Breeze (Sept. 29 and Oct. 7, 2026); WINK News (Oct. 7, 2026); Gulfshore Business. Figures are City of Cape Coral estimates for one equivalent parcel and may change at the Nov. 2 hearing. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.