Palm Coast utility rates change Oct. 1 across four services

Palm Coast residents will see updated charges for water, wastewater, stormwater and solid-waste services beginning Oct. 1, 2026. The four services appear on the city’s monthly utility bill, but each charge follows a different approved rate schedule or service agreement.

The city said the changes are part of its established rate structure and are not newly introduced or unplanned increases. Water and wastewater rates will rise 5.1%. The monthly stormwater charge will increase by $2.17 per equivalent residential unit, and the monthly residential solid-waste rate will be $34.37.

The Oct. 1 changes by service

Water and wastewater rates will increase 5.1% on Oct. 1. Palm Coast said that annual adjustment is included in the approved utility-rate ordinance and the city Utility Strategic Plan. The percentage is based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index Water and Sewerage Maintenance Services Index, according to the city announcement.

The stormwater rate will move from $36.16 to $38.33 per equivalent residential unit, commonly identified as an ERU. That is a $2.17 monthly increase for one ERU. The city said the adjustment is part of a five-year fee schedule created through its 2023 Stormwater Rate Study.

The monthly residential solid-waste charge will be $34.37. Palm Coast said that figure follows its residential solid-waste agreement with FCC Environmental Services Inc. The announcement did not provide the prior solid-waste charge, so the exact change for that line should be confirmed on the customer’s current and October bills.

All four services are included on the city utility bill. That does not mean every household will see the same total-dollar change. Water and wastewater portions can depend on the rate schedule and a customer’s usage, while stormwater is stated by ERU and the announced residential solid-waste amount is a monthly charge. The city did not publish a sample household bill in its notice, so residents should use the detailed schedule enclosed with their bill rather than apply one estimate to every account.

Why the city says the rates are changing

Palm Coast said the adjustments support continued operation, maintenance and long-term planning for the services and infrastructure used by residents. Those categories cover different systems: drinking-water and wastewater operations, stormwater management and contracted solid-waste collection. The city’s announcement connects each adjustment to an existing ordinance, study or contract instead of presenting the four changes as one new fee decision.

That distinction helps residents trace each line on the bill. The water and wastewater percentage follows an annual index-based adjustment. The stormwater amount follows the multi-year schedule adopted after the 2023 rate study. Solid waste follows the city’s agreement with its service provider. Customers who have a question about one charge can therefore ask about the rule or agreement tied to that service rather than treating the full utility bill as a single rate.

The announcement does not say that every additional dollar is assigned to a specific construction project. It says the adjusted revenue supports operations, maintenance and long-term planning. Residents looking for project-level information can review the city’s Utility Strategic Plan, which Palm Coast cited as the place to learn more about utility projects and infrastructure planning.

What customers should check on the October bill

Palm Coast said every utility customer will receive a notice in the Oct. 1 utility bill with a complete schedule of updated rates. That schedule is the most important document for understanding how the changes apply to a specific account. Customers can compare each service line with the previous bill and separate the fixed monthly charges from any portion affected by use or account classification.

For stormwater, residents should confirm the number of equivalent residential units assigned to the property before multiplying the $2.17 increase. For water and wastewater, customers should consult the complete schedule to see how the 5.1% adjustment applies to the rates shown on their account. For solid waste, the new residential amount is $34.37 per month under the city’s announcement.

A higher total bill does not by itself show which service produced the change. Usage, account details and the three announced adjustments can all affect the comparison. Looking at the individual lines will make it easier to determine whether a question concerns consumption, the new rate schedule, an ERU assignment or the solid-waste service charge.

Where to find more information

The city directs residents to palmcoast.gov/utility-strategic-plan for information about utility projects and long-term infrastructure planning. Customers should also retain the rate notice included with the October bill because it provides the full schedule that was not reproduced in the city’s news release.

The Oct. 1 change has several moving parts, but the central facts are straightforward: water and wastewater rates rise 5.1%, the stormwater charge becomes $38.33 per ERU, and the monthly residential solid-waste rate becomes $34.37. Checking those figures separately will give Palm Coast households the clearest view of what changed on their own bill.