Salt Lake City's flat apartment sewer fee leaves some renters paying $64 a month
Rule Changes Salt Lake City, UT localThe city has charged $48.94 per unit since July; where a building's total is split among occupied units, some renters pay more
Overview
Salt Lake City charges apartment buildings a flat sewer fee of $48.94 per unit, replacing a charge that rose and fell with water use. Public Utilities made the switch in July 2026.
Renters can pay more than the city rate: where a building's total charge is divided only among occupied apartments, vacant units still count toward the bill. FOX 13 reported Megan Fretwell's sewer charge rising from $13.79 in July to $63.94 in August, and a Reddit poster in a studio described $11 to $16 a month becoming $64. Deputy director Jesse Stewart told FOX 13 the flat rate covers the cost of service and gives property owners predictable bills.
Why it matters
Low-water-use Salt Lake City renters can no longer cut their sewer charge by conserving, and those billed through a split among occupied units pay more than the city's $48.94 rate.
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Voices
Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.
People Involved
Organizations Involved
The elected body that set Salt Lake City's new flat-rate sewer billing for apartments.
The city department that sets and bills water, sewer and stormwater charges, including the flat multifamily sewer rate.
Timeline
July 2026 October 2026
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Renter reports $64 monthly sewer bill
Latest ReportA r/SaltLakeCity poster says a studio's sewer charge went from $11-$16 a month to $64 under the flat fee.
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Flat per-unit apartment sewer fee takes effect
Policy ChangeSalt Lake City replaced the usage-based multifamily sewer charge with a fixed $48.94 per dwelling unit; FOX 13 reported the change took effect in July.
Scenarios
Salt Lake City council revises apartment sewer rate
Discussed by: Local press and tenant complaints reaching council meetings (no public source has predicted this yet)
If the increase draws enough public pushback, council members could amend the rate structure, introduce income-based tiers, or restore a usage-linked component for low-consumption units. The tenant's viral post could feed that pressure.
Flat-rate sewer billing remains in effect
Discussed by: Default scenario absent a council reversal
The flat per-unit fee stays the city's multifamily sewer rate. Tenants absorb the increase, and landlords may fold it into future rent adjustments.
City's 2027 sewer rate study revisits the flat apartment fee
Discussed by: Salt Lake City's written response to the Legislature's utilities audit, as reported by The Utah Ledger
The city told the Legislature it would complete and implement a sewer rate study by July 2027. If that study covers multifamily billing, the $48.94 flat rate could be revised or replaced before the end of that year.