Tampa FY2027 Commercial Water Rates: October 1 Tiers, Sewer and Base Charges

October 1 begins the FY2027 schedule

The City of Tampa posted its FY2027 non-residential rate card on September 11. It applies October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. This is the next step in the City’s existing rate program, not a new October vote. Match the account’s service period and transition treatment to the utility’s billing rules.

Compared with FY2026, the inside-city water tiers move from $4.14, $6.96, $9.28 and $10.71 to $4.18, $7.03, $9.37 and $10.82 per CCF. Wastewater moves from $5.79 to $5.96. The listed two-inch monthly base rises from $64 to $72 for each applicable water or wastewater service.

The provider, location and classification come first

This schedule belongs to City of Tampa Utilities, including its customers outside city limits. A Tampa-area mailing address does not establish the provider or inside-city rate. Hillsborough County, Temple Terrace and other utilities have their own schedules.

Outside-city water tiers are $5.22, $8.78, $11.71 and $13.52 per CCF; wastewater is $7.45. The outside-city two-inch base is $90 per applicable service. These are separate alternatives, not additions to the inside-city rates. One CCF equals 748 gallons.

A business threshold determines how much reaches each tier

Monthly thresholds remain 25, 140 and 1,250 CCF for small, medium and large commercial accounts, and 13, 150 and 3,020 CCF for the corresponding industrial classes. Offices use 3 CCF per 1,000 square feet of net office space; hospitals use 10 per bed; hotels and inns use 6 per rental room or suite. Confirm the assigned category and unit count with the utility.

For a medium commercial account, the first 140 CCF occupy Tier 1, the next 140 Tier 2, the next 210 Tier 3, and volume above 490 Tier 4. A 600-to-480 CCF change therefore removes 110 CCF from Tier 4 and 10 from Tier 3. Pricing all 120 CCF at the highest tier overstates the change.

A declared 600-to-480 CCF comparison crosses two tiers

Smart Valve analysis: assume one inside-city medium commercial account has 600 CCF of water and separately confirmed billed wastewater quantity of 600 CCF in a month. FY2027 water usage charges are 140 × $4.18 + 140 × $7.03 + 210 × $9.37 + 110 × $10.82 = $4,727.30. Wastewater usage is 600 × $5.96 = $3,576.00. These two variable lines total $8,303.30.

At a declared 480 CCF on both lines, water is 140 × $4.18 + 140 × $7.03 + 200 × $9.37 = $3,443.40, and wastewater is $2,860.80. The included total is $6,304.20: a $1,999.10 difference, comprising $1,283.90 water and $715.20 wastewater. This is a hypothetical quantity comparison, not a forecast or a promise that Smart Valve will produce a 20% reduction.

For a separate rate-only comparison, unchanged 600 CCF on both lines would total $8,154.90 under FY2026 versus $8,303.30 under FY2027, a $148.40 increase in these variable charges. Both comparisons exclude meter bases, Tampa Bay Water pass-through charges, taxes, irrigation, reclaimed water, stormwater, solid waste, adjustments and all other lines.

Keep wastewater, base charges and irrigation separate

The City explains that water and wastewater charges generally follow registered meter volume. Verify the actual wastewater quantity and any approved adjustment before using the example. Its lawn-credit or sewer-maximum eligibility is described for qualifying single-family residential customers; a commercial site should not assume that residential cap.

Reclaimed irrigation remains $1.20 per CCF where available. The schedule says irrigation-water base charges do not apply when reclaimed water is used for irrigation. That exception does not waive potable-water or wastewater bases. Lower consumption also does not erase a meter-size base or a stormwater charge.

What to check before assessing an installation

Collect service dates, assigned class and threshold inputs, meter sizes, separate water and wastewater bases, both billed quantities, tier allocations, irrigation source, pass-through charges and adjustments. Compare the same account configuration before attributing a change to operations.

Smart Valve may fit a qualified potable-water installation after pressure, operating conditions, meter behavior and engineering requirements are reviewed. It does not change Tampa’s tariff, account class, irrigation restrictions or fixed charges. Use 12 months of bills and measured results to evaluate any project; the general calculator does not reproduce every Tampa tier or account condition.

FAQ

Sources

• City of Tampa — FY2027 non-residential rate card, effective October 1, 2026 (retrieved October 1, 2026)
• City of Tampa — FY2026 non-residential rate card, effective October 1, 2025; prior-period comparison (retrieved October 1, 2026)
• City of Tampa — rate periods, provider boundaries and reclaimed water (retrieved October 1, 2026)
• City of Tampa — billing basis, separate bases, sewer maximum and pass-through FAQ (retrieved October 1, 2026)
• City of Tampa — PIPES rate-program background (retrieved October 1, 2026)
• City of Tampa — FY2027 non-residential document notice, posted September 11, 2026 (retrieved October 1, 2026)