What Utilities Does a New Home Site Need?
The five services every build needs, who pays for what, and the costs that vary most by lot.
Every build needs water, a way to handle sewage, and electricity. Most also want natural gas and internet. What varies enormously is how far away each of those is and who pays to bring it in.
Water
Either a public tap or a well. Public water means a tap fee to the utility plus the cost of running the service line from the main to the house. Tap fees vary by jurisdiction and can be substantial, so confirm the number rather than estimating. A well means a permit, drilling, a pump and pressure tank, and post-drilling water testing. See well and septic.
Sewage
Either public sewer or a septic system. Public sewer means a tap fee and a lateral run to the main. Septic means a soil evaluation, a design, a health department permit, and installation by a registered installer. The difference between these two options is one of the larger cost swings between otherwise similar lots.
Electric
The cost depends almost entirely on distance to the nearest transformer and whether the service will be overhead or underground. Underground looks better and costs more. A long run on a rural parcel can be a meaningful line item, and the utility's contribution and charges vary. Get a written estimate from the utility early rather than assuming.
Natural gas
Available in most developed areas and not everywhere. If gas isn't available, your heating, water heating, cooking and fireplace decisions change, which affects design. Verify before you finalize mechanical selections. See HVAC options.
Internet
Worth checking specifically, not assuming. Rural coverage in Northeast Ohio is inconsistent and it matters a great deal if anyone in the household works from home. Check the actual address with the providers rather than trusting a coverage map.
Who pays for what
Generally, the utility owns and maintains up to a connection point, and everything from there to the house is yours. Tap fees, connection fees and service line costs are typically outside a builder's base price. See what's not included in a quote and soft costs.
Verify all of this before you buy the lot
A parcel with all utilities at the road is a different financial proposition from one that needs 800 feet of electric, a well and a septic system. Both may be good buys; they aren't the same buy. See evaluating a lot.