Fee Schedule
Privacy Policy
Billing and account information will not be provided to the media, or to a business, agency, or other individual not included on the account, without the permission of the account holder. Current billing information may be released (excluding account history information) when it is deemed in the best interest of both the Town and the individual account holder in order to aid the account holder in paying the current bill. Information may also be shared, at the discretion of the Town, with another power company or municipality routinely requesting account history information.
Click the areas below for fee schedules.
Highlands Fee Schedule
Fees Schedule Main
| Topic | Setup Fees & Penalties | Effective Date | Applicable Code |
| Deposit for Non-Owners | If a deposit is deemed necessary: $150 residential $300 commercial |
10/18/11 | 15-97 |
| Delinquent Accounts | Both Commercial and Residential accounts shall be due within 21 days from date thereof and will be disconnected if bill is not paid within thirty days of billing date. Interest in the amount of 1.5% will be charged on accounts not paid within thirty days of billing. | 10/18/11 | 15-4(a) 15-96 |
| Reconnection |
Disconnected 1yr +: 1/2 the water connect fee plus $150 Electric Disconnected Less Then 1yr: all minimum charges accrued while disconnected plus $150 After business hours, the fee increases from $75 to $150 for water and $200 for electric. Includes CT meters |
7/1/23 | 15-4(b) |
| Minimum Charges | Monthly minimum charges are in effect for electricity, water, sewer, and garbage service regardless of usage. | 10/18/11 | |
Utilities - Electric
Effective June 1, 1995
Temporary Electric Service
$100.00
Effective July 1, 2014
Electric Rates
Residential: Basic Charge: $20.31
.1146 cents/kWh
Commercial: Basic Charge (Single Phase) $22.67
Commercial: Basic Charge (Three Phase) $32.69
First 3000 kWh: .1144
Next 6000 kWh: .0808
All over 9000 kWh: .0803
Demand: $7.64/kWh per month
Effective July 1, 2011
Yard Lights
$9.25 per month (plus initial cost of light and installation)
Effective June 1, 1997
Special Readings
$20.00
Effective September 20, 2012
Service Calls Effective July 1, 2023
$75.00 during regular business hours and $150.00 after regular business hours for water and $200.00 after regular business hours for electric
Solar PV Interconnection Rate Schedule
Utilities - Water
Effective July 1, 2006
Water Connection Fees
Size of Meter
3/4": $2,400 inside Town plus the cost of the meter and installation, $3,900 outside Town plus the cost of the meter and installation
1": $3,000 plus the cost of the meter and installation
Between 1" and 2": $4,000 plus the cost of the meter and installation
2" and larger: $5,500 plus cost of meter and installation
Effective July 1, 2024
Water Rates
Minimum Charges Residential
Size of Meter
3/4": $46 inside Town, $92 outside Town
1": $56 inside Town, $112 outside Town
2": $86 inside Town, $172 outside Town
3": $106 inside Town, $212 outside Town
Minimum Charges Commercial
Size of Meter
3/4": $56
1": $66
1 1/2": $96
2": $111
3": $126
Usage Rates
3/4" Meter
First 5,000 gallons: Minimum Charge
Next 1,000,000 gallons: $7.50 per 1000 gallons
1" Meter
First 9,000 gallons: Minimum Charge
Next 1,000,000 gallons: $7.50 per 1000 gallons
2" Meter
First 10,500 gallons: Minimum Charge
Next 1,000,000 gallons: $7.50 per 1000 gallons
3" Meter
First 12,500 gallons: Minimum Charge
Next 1,000,000 gallons: $7.50 per 1000 gallons
It is the policy of the Town of Highlands, in the event of a water leak on the customer's side of the meter, to adjust the water portion of the bill 50%, less the minimum charge. Such adjustment will be made only one time in any given 12 month period.
Effective July 1, 2024
Service Calls
$75.00 during regular business hours and $150.00 after regular business hours
Utilities - Sewer
Effective July 1, 2012
Bulk Water Charge
Follow water rates for residential/commercial inside/outside and apply to the total gallonage.
Effective July 1, 2024
Sewer Connection Fees
Single dwelling unit
$2500 plus installation
Multiple dwelling unit
$2500 per dwelling unit plus installation
Single business
$3500 plus installation
Multiple business
$3500 per business occupant plus installation
Hotels, motels, tourist
homes
$3000 initial fee, plus $500 additional for each room* plus installation
Restaurants
$5000 initial fee, plus $100 additional for each seat* plus installation
Assisted Living Units
One-half the single dwelling unit connection fee plus installation
* For changes in use to a use requiring a greater connection fee, the initial fee is waived but the additional amount must be paid.
Effective July 1, 2024
Sewer Connection Fees
Outside Corporate Limits
Sewer Connection Fees for property outside the Corporate Limits of the Town shall be 200% of the corresponding connection fee inside the Corporate Limits plus installation.
Effective July 1, 2024
Sewer Rates
100% of water rate
Effective July 1, 2015
Fee for Disposal of Waste
from Pumping Truck
$125.00 per load
Utilities - Solid Waste
Effective July 1, 2016
Residential Garbage Rates
Residential: $20.00 per month
Residents qualifying for ad valorem property tax senior citizens exclusion shall not be charged for garbage collection.
Effective December 8, 2016
Commercial Garbage Rates
| Pickups $20.00 *Max used as Charge | Charge w/no rental(s) | |
| Small | 1 to 2 pickups | $ 57.25 |
| $17.25 | 3 to 5 pickups | $ 117.25 |
| 6 to 7 pickups | $ 157.25 | |
| Medium | 1 to 2 pickups | $ 74.50 |
| $34.50 | 3 to 5 pickups | $ 134.50 |
| 6 to 7 pickups | $ 174.50 | |
| Large | 1 to 2 pickups | $ 109.00 |
| $69.00 | 3 to 5 pickups | $ 169.00 |
| 6 to 7 pickups | $ 209.00 |
|
Definitions |
| Small ~ 1 to 2 cans or 1 to 2 toters or shared 6yd dumpster with professional or retail business and less than 3 pickups per week for dumpster. |
| Medium ~ 3 or more cans or 3 or more toters with 3 or more pickups per week. A dumpster not shared with other businesses typically involves |
| Large ~ 1 or more dumpsters not shared. 3 or more toters with pick up 5 or more times per week or greater than 6 pickups per week on any |
Effective July 1, 2012
Dumpster Fees
$46.00 per month for single business use
For more than one business using a dumpster, the charge is $46.00 per month divided by the number of users. Dumpster fees are in addition to the current commercial garbage rates.
Effective December 8, 2016
Zoning Certificates
Minimum of $25.00 for up to $25,000 of the cost of improvements, then $2.00 per $1000 of the cost of improvements above the minimum.
Interior Modification Only: $25.00
Simple Review of Plat for Transfer of Title Only: $25.00 after the minimum.
Temporary Signs
Banner for civic event or special holiday: $25
(Effective December 15, 1993)
Sign for initial opening or special sales: $50 for a maximum of 10 days
Effective July 1, 2012
Permanent Signs
Wall signs: $1.00 per square foot of sign face - $25.00 minimum for each separate sign
Hanging signs: $1.00 per square foot of sign face - $25.00 minimum for each separate sign
Freestanding signs: $1.00 per square foot of sign face - $50.00 minimum
Temporary Development signs: $100.00
Effective July 1, 2012
Effective April 17, 1996
Real Estate Signs in Setback Area
$15.00 per sign
Effective June 20, 2013
Zoning Violations
$100.00 per day, per violation, until the violation(s) are remedied, per Section 15.2.2, Continuing Offenses, Unified Development Ordinance. $500 per tree removal without prior Town approval per Section 11.2.2, Tree Protection, as referenced in Section 15.4 Civil Penalties, 15.4.1 Citations, Unified Development Ordinance.
Application for Special Use Permit, Variance, or Appeal
$250
Application for Re-Zoning July 1, 2012
Conventional Rezoning: $500.00
Conditional District Rezoning: $1500.00
Application for Subdivision July 1, 2012
$500
Review of Erosion Control Permit
Minimum Fee of $300.00 plus any cost over $250.00 incurred as a result of review by the Town's Consulting Engineers
Business Licenses
General
Business licenses are valid from May 1 through April 30. New business licenses issued after May 1 will be prorated for the remaining portion of the valid license year.
Effective July 1, 2012
Business Licenses Limited by General Statutes
Town policy is to charge the maximum permitted by the General Statutes, as shown below, except where indicated.
- Beer On Premise: $15
- Beer Off Premise: $5
- Wine On Premise: $15
- Wine Off Premise: $10
Effective July 1, 2012
Regulation of Taxis Effective July 1, 2015
Per NCGG §160A-304 Taxis, Limousines, etc. $15.00
Pawn Shops
$275 annually
Penalties
The penalty for unpaid business licenses is 5% of the amount of the tax for each 30 day period that the tax is unpaid, with a minimum of 25%, or $5, whichever is greater.
Effective July 1, 2012
Electronic Gaming
Miscellaneous Fees
Fee to Answer Fire Call Outside 5 mile Radius
$250
Effective November 6, 1991
Charges on Returned Checks
The Town of Highlands has a policy of charging the payor a $20.00 fee if a returned check is redeposited and comes back bad a second time.
Effective January 1, 2013
Burglar Alarms
The alarm user shall be assessed the following fees based on the number of false alarm days in one year (January 1st-December 31st).
The civil penalties are as follows:
False Alarm Fees:
- 1 false alarm: Free - Courtesy
- 2 or more false alarms: $100.00 each
Effective May 28, 2015
Fire Alarms
$250 per false alarm, except that one free false fire alarm is permitted per year.
Effective June 25, 1997
Pole Attachment Fees
$10.00 per attachment annually
Effective August 16, 2018
Pole Attachment Permit Fee
$50.00 per pole
Effective March 21, 2013
Cemetery Fees
Highlands Memorial Park Cemetery Lot (single grave site): $400
Contribution to Perpetual Care Fund: $300
Corner Marker Installation: $80
Effective March 6, 2002
Fees for Columbariums
For qualifying individuals: $1000
For non-qualifying individuals: $1400
Amended April 5, 2006
Fine for Parking Violations
$50
Amended June 15, 2023
Fine for Violation of Section 7-107 & 108, Passenger Loading Zones & Commercial Loading Zones
Each citation is $50.00 payable within 15 days of date of issuance.
Amended June 19, 2014
Permit Fee & Fine for Violation of Section 13-18 Use of streets and sidewalks during construction activites
Permit Fee: $100.00 plus the amount applicant is responsible for compensation associated with the use of off duty Highlands Police Officers in coordination with the Police Chief.
Fine for Violation: $100.00 per day, each day continuing violation shall constitute a separate offense.
Adopted June 7, 2000
Boat Permit for Boats on Lake Sequoyah
Annual Permit: $10
Daily Permit: $5
October 6, 2003
Impoundment Fee for Automobiles Towed to Town Warehouse
$5
GIS Maps
- 8-1/2 X 11: $2
- 11 X 17: $4
- 13 X 19: $5
- 24 X 36: $15
- 36 X 48: $25
Administration
Copies: $0.25/page
Audio Information on CD: $5.00