Sec. 18-5. Water user fees and sewer user fees.
   (a)   There shall be a water user fee and a sewer user fee for each dwelling unit and each commercial unit, for which water and sewer service is available, regardless of whether or not the unit is connected to the system (G.S. 160A-317).
   For the purpose of this section, water and sewer user fees are due in the calendar month following the final plumbing inspection by the building inspector who shall promptly notify in writing the director of public utilities.
   (b)   Water user and sewer user fees shall be determined by the council from time to time. The schedule of such rates shall be posted in the town hall and will be on file in the office of the town clerk.
   (c)   System development fees and tap-on fees shall be determined by the council from time to time. All monies collected under the provisions and terms of this section shall be deposited in a capital reserve fund for future capital improvements and expansions. All newly created or constructed units, whether residential or commercial, shall be required to pay any and all required water and sewer system development fees upon presentation of written application for permit for connection to the town's water and sewer systems, as described in subsection 18-4(a), and shall be required to pay any and all tap-on fees before the issuance of building permits.
   (d)   For the purpose of this section, if the owner of real property replaces a unit or units on his property, he shall be charged only for the number of units constructed that exceeds the number of units that were on the property on the dates indicated below:
   Surf Condos south to Charlotte Avenue – March 10, 1989
   Surf Condos to Jones Avenue – July 6, 1989
   South Topsail Drive (1002, 1004, 1016 and 1104) – August 16, 1989
   Jones Avenue to Broadway Avenue – October 9, 1989
   South Topsail Drive from S curve north to Charlotte Avenue – October 11, 1989
   Pender/Onslow County line to Third Street on the canals and to Fifth Street on Highway 210 and North Shore Drive – December 4, 1989
   Third Street to Ninth Street on the canals and Fifth Street to the town limits on North Shore Drive and Highway 210, excluding Ninth Street canal section – January 25, 1990
   Ninth Street canal portion – January 31, 1990
However, a purchaser of real property on which there were units at one (1) time, but which property was clear of units at the time utility services were available, as referenced by the aforementioned dates, shall be charged for all units to be constructed on the property, regardless of the number of units originally on the property.
(Ord. No. 1992-1, 1-7-92; Ord. No. 1992-32, § 1, 9-1-92; Ord. No. 1992-35, § 1, 10-6-92; Ord. No. 2006-26, 6-6-06; Ord. 2021-09, 5-4-21)