Scottsdale wrote the strictest utility language of any Valley city into its ADU ordinance, and it changes the budget in one specific way: your casita must have its own electric meter and, if it uses gas, its own gas meter. Water and sewer, on the other hand, work the way they do in Phoenix. Here is how each connection is handled on a Scottsdale lot, what we verify, and what it costs.
The short version
In Scottsdale, your ADU branches off the water and sewer tap your home already has, and gets its own electric meter and its own address. Both of those are required by the City, not optional.
Distance from your home's lines to the ADU is still the biggest driver of utility cost. We route trenches as short as the lot allows, and in Scottsdale we plan the electric run first, because the meter location is set by the utility, not by us.
Sewer: share the tap, branch on your property
The City's ADU guidance says water and sewer "will utilize the existing tap at the public water or sewer line, but will then branch on private property to separate connections to the ADU." In practice that is the same as Phoenix: your ADU ties into your home's sewer line, and there is no new tap at the street. Scottsdale's design standards require each lot to have one individual service line unless the Water Resources Department approves a second one in writing, so a separate tap is the exception, not the plan (City of Scottsdale ADU page).
Sewer in Scottsdale is billed off your water meter, so there is no separate sewer account for the ADU. What we verify at the site visit:
- Grade. Sewer flows by gravity. If the ADU sits lower than your home's line, a small ejector pump may be needed.
- Pipe size and condition. Scottsdale's residential minimum is a 4-inch line. Older homes may get a camera inspection first; damaged pipe is replaced as a change order.
- Easements. Scottsdale lists every utility you need written consent from before building over a public utility easement, and we check the parcel map before we place the unit.
- Septic lots. If your home is on septic, Maricopa County Environmental Services reviews the system for the added bedrooms and fixtures before the City will issue a permit.
Water: tee off after your meter, then check the meter size
Your ADU tees off your home's water line after the existing city meter, with its own shutoff valve. Scottsdale sizes the meter by fixture units: the City's single-family meter sizing form counts your existing fixtures plus the ADU's, and that count determines whether your current meter is adequate. The same form is used to set the water meter fee, the water development fee, and the sewer connection fee if a larger meter is needed (City of Scottsdale meter sizing form).
- Meter size check. Most homes with a 3/4-inch or 1-inch meter carry a one-bedroom ADU without an upsize. A large home with a big fixture count plus a two-bedroom unit may not. We run the calculation before we price the job.
- Optional private submeter. Renting the unit? A submeter on the ADU's water line lets you track its use and bill a tenant. The City doesn't read it; you do. Arizona's tenant-billing rules are in our separate meter vs. submeter guide.
Electric and gas: separate meters, required
This is the Scottsdale difference. The City's ADU ordinance states that the owner "must provide separately metered electrical and gas utility connections to the ADU," subject to the utility's requirements (City of Scottsdale ADU FAQ). Feeding the casita from your home's panel on one shared bill, which is an option in Phoenix, is not the standard path here.
- APS or SRP. Scottsdale is split between the two, roughly APS in the north and SRP in the south, and the line runs through neighborhoods. We confirm by address. Either way, SOKO applies for service, the utility sets the meter location, we trench and install conduit to their design, and they pull wire and set the meter.
- Unique address. Every Scottsdale ADU must have its own address, separate meter or not. SOKO submits the addressing request to the City's Planning & Development Records group with the site plan.
- Gas. Our standard ADU scope is all-electric and excludes gas service. If you want a gas range or water heater in the unit, Scottsdale requires its own Southwest Gas meter, which we price separately.
- Lead time. Meter scheduling is set by APS or SRP, not SOKO. We start the application as soon as the site plan is approved.
One thing to weigh before you commit: if you have rooftop solar on the main house, a separately metered ADU can't use it. That's a real cost over time, and it's covered in detail in our meter guide.
What it costs in Scottsdale
Utility connections are priced per linear foot of trench plus fixed connection items. Your proposal shows the measured run lengths for your site.
Standard connections
| Item | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Sewer line, ADU to home's line | $65 / LF | Trench, 4" pipe, bedding, backfill, compaction |
| Sewer tie-in + cleanout | $1,200 each | Connection to your home's line, required cleanout |
| Water line, in shared sewer trench | $20 / LF | Pipe and fittings in the same trench as sewer |
| Water line, separate trench | $35 / LF | Trench, pipe, fittings, backfill |
| Water tie-in + ADU shutoff valve | $750 | Tee after your city meter, dedicated ADU shutoff |
| Electric trench + conduit | $40 / LF | Trench and conduit per APS/SRP design |
| New meter service + ADU panel (required) | $6,000 | Meter base, main disconnect, ADU panel, grounding |
| ADU address (required for every Scottsdale ADU) | $350 | SOKO request and coordination with the City |
| Utility and City fees | At cost | APS/SRP, City of Scottsdale, passed through with no markup |
Add-ons and site conditions
| Item | Price | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Water submeter on ADU line | $750 | Optional, for rental billing |
| Separate Southwest Gas meter | Quoted per project | Only if the ADU has gas appliances; required by the City |
| Sewer camera inspection | $350 | Older homes or unknown pipe condition |
| Sewer pump (ejector) | $4,500 allowance | Only if the ADU sits too low for gravity flow |
| Water meter upsize | City fee at cost + $1,500 | Only if the fixture calculation exceeds your current meter |
| Caliche, rock, or hardscape removal | Cost + 25% | Found during excavation |
Example: a 40-foot run with shared sewer and water trench, a separate 40-foot electric trench, the required meter and address comes to about $13,300 before City and utility fees.
What moves the number
- Distance. Every foot between your home's lines and the ADU is priced. Scottsdale's 10-foot minimum separation between the house and a detached ADU sets the floor.
- Soil and hardscape. North Scottsdale lots run to rock and caliche; older central lots run to mature landscaping and pool decks. Both slow excavation.
- Existing conditions. Old or damaged sewer pipe, a shallow sewer line, or an undersized water meter add scope.
- Utility requirements. APS or SRP sets the meter location and service route, which can lengthen the electric trench.
- City fees. If a meter upsize is required, Scottsdale charges meter and service line fees by size. Whether the City's water and wastewater development fees apply to an ADU on an existing meter is something we confirm with the City for your lot; state law limits fees imposed specifically to accommodate an ADU.
What this pricing assumes
- Pricing applies to City of Scottsdale projects. For other cities see our posts for Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, and unincorporated Maricopa County.
- Run lengths are measured at the site visit and confirmed on the permit site plan.
- Utility and City fees are billed at cost, as invoiced.
- Excludes gas service, relocation of existing utilities, landscape and hardscape restoration beyond the trench, and repairs to existing home systems.
- Requirements reflect the City of Scottsdale's ADU ordinance (Ordinance 4687, adopted September 2025) and utility policies as of September 2026 and may change.
We run this for you
In Scottsdale the utility side has more moving parts than most cities: two possible electric providers, a required address, a required meter, and a fixture-count meter check. We handle all of it before the plans are drawn, so the connection line in your proposal is a real number. Building a casita in Scottsdale? Check your property or call 480-660-3133.
Sources: City of Scottsdale ADU page and ADU FAQ; Scottsdale Design Standards & Policies Manual Chapters 6 and 7; City of Scottsdale water meter sizing form and meter/service fee schedule; SRP Electric Service Specifications; APS Electric Service Requirements Manual; Maricopa County Onsite Wastewater Guide. City policies, utility requirements, and fees change; verify current requirements with the City of Scottsdale and your utility before making design decisions. Pricing shown is SOKO's standard connection pricing as of September 2026 and is confirmed in your written proposal.
