You priced the land. You priced the building. Then a fee you never budgeted shows up at permit time.
Here is the short answer. Orange County charges impact fees on new buildings, and the amount depends on what the county calls your building. A 5,000 square foot shop in the suburban district could owe $7,699 in transportation fees as a warehouse, or $22,045 as light industrial. Same building. On June 16, 2026, the County Commission reviewed a study with higher rates and voted to defer. So your 2027 budget needs two things. The right category, and a contingency.
Dr. Paul Borosky has worked with 1,000+ small business owners over 14+ years as an Orlando business consultant. His rule is simple. A cost you can see coming belongs in the budget.
What Are Orange County Impact Fees?
An impact fee is a one-time charge on new development. It helps pay for roads, fire stations, deputies, parks, and schools. Orange County's brochure dated May 1, 2026 says:
- Fees are generally charged when the building permit is issued.
- Rates are based on the project submittal date.
- Commercial projects pay transportation, fire rescue, and law enforcement fees.
- Water and sewer capital charges are separate. They come from Orange County Utilities.
Here are current transportation rates per 1,000 square feet, by district:
| Use | Urban | Suburban | Rural |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini-warehouse | $660.71 | $891.61 | $1,020.78 |
| Warehouse | $1,200.25 | $1,539.76 | $1,761.51 |
| Light industrial | $3,563.03 | $4,408.92 | $5,041.05 |
| General office, 50,000 sq ft or less | $9,295.65 | $11,473.24 | $13,114.72 |
| Retail, 50,000 sq ft or less | $11,489.24 | $13,509.09 | $14,396.13 |
Look at the spread. Retail pays almost nine times what a warehouse pays ($13,509.09 / $1,539.76). Pull your own row from the Orange County Impact Fee Brochure, or call Impact Fee Administration at 407-836-5691. If you build inside a city, that city may charge its own fees.
Dr. Paul's Insight
From a business consultant's perspective, the category is the first number to pin down. It could move your fee more than any rate increase. Dr. Paul's view: ask the county how it will classify your building before you buy the land.
What Happened With Impact Fees in 2026?
Based on a published summary of the June 16 Commission meeting:
- The county's new study found construction costs up 33% since 2020.
- Total costs, including design and right-of-way, are up 50%.
- The Commission was given three options. Defer. Raise fees 20.9% with a phase-in. Or raise them 36.1%, which needed a unanimous vote.
- The Commission chose to defer. Current fees stay for now.
Not every use went up in the study. Rates for general office came in lower than current fees. Single-family homes went the other way:
| Home, 2,001 to 3,500 sq ft | Current | Study rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban | $11,617 | $19,506 | +68% |
| Suburban | $14,299 | $20,959 | +47% |
| Rural | $16,339 | $22,345 | +37% |
Read the full summary of the June 16 decision. "Deferred" is not "decided." The cost pressure behind the study has not gone away.
Why Do Impact Fees Blow Up Building Budgets?
- They show up late. The fee may not hit until permit time. By then the land is bought and the loan is sized.
- They are paid in cash. A fee due at permit could strain cash at the worst moment.
- They depend on a label. Warehouse, light industrial, office, and retail carry very different rates.
- They can change. A project priced today could be submitted under a different schedule.
What Are Your Options Locally?
- Confirm the category first. Get the county's answer in writing before you close on land.
- Pick the district on purpose. For a warehouse, the urban rate is $561.26 less per 1,000 square feet than the rural rate ($1,761.51 - $1,200.25).
- Watch the timing. Rates are based on the submittal date. Know yours.
- Lease before you build. An existing building could avoid the fee. A change in use could still bring one. Ask first.
What Should You Put in the 2027 Budget?
Run the fee for your building. Then run it again one category up.
Worked Example: A 5,000 Square Foot Contractor Shop, Suburban District
Rates from the county brochure dated May 1, 2026. The county decides the category. Plug in your own size and district.
| Step 1. Transportation as warehouse (5 x $1,539.76) | $7,698.80 |
| Step 2. Law enforcement (5 x $119.00) | $595.00 |
| Step 3. Fire rescue at the industrial rate (5 x $102.00) | $510.00 |
| Step 4. Total as warehouse ($7,698.80 + $595.00 + $510.00) | $8,803.80 |
| Step 5. Transportation as light industrial (5 x $4,408.92) | $22,044.60 |
| Step 6. Category difference ($22,044.60 - $7,698.80) | $14,345.80 |
| Step 7. Warehouse transportation with a 20.9% increase ($7,698.80 x 1.209) | $9,307.85 |
| Step 8. Cost of that increase ($9,307.85 - $7,698.80) | $1,609.05 |
$14,346 rides on the category
A 20.9% rate increase would add $1,609. The wrong category adds $14,346. Water and sewer capital charges are on top of all of it.
For a small shop, the rate debate is not the big risk. The label is.
Homebuilders face the opposite problem. On 10 suburban homes, the gap between today's fee and the study rate is $66,600 (($20,959 - $14,299) x 10). That is $6,660 a home.
Dr. Paul's Insight
A project that only works at the lowest fee is a fragile project. From a business consultant's perspective, the contingency line is not pessimism. It is what lets you say yes with confidence. Dr. Paul's view: if the deal dies one category up, find out on paper.
How Do You Budget It With Organize-Plan-Grow™?
- Organize. List every fee by name. Transportation, fire rescue, law enforcement, water and sewer capital charges, plus permits. One line each.
- Plan. Build three versions. Your expected category at today's rate. The same category with an increase. One category up. Set a contingency you can fund.
- Grow. Bid and buy land with the fee already in the numbers. Still running trucks from the house? Start with where Orlando contractors can park their trucks.
Business Plan Writer Tip
Give impact fees their own line in your sources and uses table. Do not bury them in "soft costs." A lender who sees the fee named, priced, and stress tested knows you did the homework.
Restaurants pay the most. The brochure lists a high-turnover restaurant at $41,894.42 per 1,000 square feet in the suburban district. A new 3,000 square foot building would owe $125,683.26 in transportation fees alone (3 x $41,894.42). That is one reason owners look at second-generation spaces. If you do, check the grease trap before you sign the lease.
Building in Orange County in 2027?
You know your trade. Dr. Paul knows the numbers. Stress test the budget before you break ground.
Orange County Impact Fee Questions
Did Orange County raise transportation impact fees in 2026?
No. On June 16, 2026, the Orange County Commission reviewed a new study and voted to defer any change. Current fees remain in place unless the Commission takes it up again.
How much are impact fees for a small commercial building in Orange County?
It depends on the use and the district. In the suburban district, the current transportation fee per 1,000 square feet is $1,539.76 for a warehouse, $4,408.92 for light industrial, and $11,473.24 for general office of 50,000 square feet or less. Fire rescue and law enforcement fees are added.
When are Orange County impact fees paid?
The county's brochure says impact fees are generally charged when the building permit is issued, and rates are based on the project submittal date.
How much is the transportation impact fee for a new home in Orange County?
For a single-family home of 2,001 to 3,500 square feet, the current fee is $11,617 in the urban district, $14,299 in the suburban district, and $16,339 in the rural district. Confirm your exact fee with the county's current schedule.
Last Updated: October 9, 2026