ADU Sewer and Water Hookups: The Utility Costs Nobody Quotes
"The contractor quoted me $175,000. I signed. Six weeks later, the city sent a bill for $19,000 just to replace the sewer lateral. That was never in the proposal." You locked in a budget, reviewed the permit timeline, and committed to a backyard home. Then the utility company sent an invoice that had nothing to do with your contractor. The adu cost on paper and the adu cost at project close are two different numbers -- and the difference almost always lives underground. This post covers every utility line item that belongs in a complete bid, and why most bids leave them out. What Are Most ADU Quotes Getting Wrong? Most quotes cover the structure. They don't cover the ground it connects to. Utility tie-ins fall under a separate jurisdiction from the building department. Your GC coordinates with the building department. The sewer lateral involves the city public works department. The water meter involves the utility company. Neither of those vendors is your contractor, and ...