Jaylen Baron
•8/18/2026
Residents of West Cape Estates in Cape Coral are raising concerns about a citywide rule requiring properties to connect to municipal water and sewer services, citing potential costs of over $300,000 per home. Daniel Root, who purchased his home in the community off Old Burnt Store Road last June, said he was surprised when his homeowners association received a letter from the city in February informing residents of the mandatory connection. "I wouldn't have made this investment if I would have known there would have been a $200,000 to $300,000 assessment," Root said. Last Wednesday, the Cape Coral City Council heard from West Cape Estates residents. Councilmember Keith Long shared his thoughts on the financial impact of the mandate. "And then the way that it also was gonna add on another $150,000 each, by the way, that doesn’t go on their tax roll, like over 30 years now somebody's situation $150,000 bill," Long said. Root agreed with Long, explaining that the estimated costs include a $60,000 city connection fee, the expense of tearing out paver roads, and the destruction of fully functional private systems. He said homeowners are facing an out-of-pocket cost exceeding $300,000 per home. The city attorney emphasized the mandatory nature of the connection in the letter sent to residents. "Let there be no misunderstanding, connection to the City's potable water and wastewater systems is mandatory," the letter stated. Root said the financial strain has led his family to reconsider their future in the community. "I would love for my family to continue to live here, but we've been having honest conversations at the dinner table if it's still the place that we want to raise our family, and that's heartbreaking," he said. Root also pointed to a 2017 resolution that he said excluded West Cape Estates from the utility extension project. According to Root, the resolution explicitly stated that fees would only be triggered if homeowners voluntarily applied for service. The city clarified that the 2017 resolution excluded West Cape Estates from the North 2 utility assessments because it was a private development. However, the city said the resolution does not exempt the community from mandatory connection requirements. Root described the situation with an analogy, comparing it to being forced to scrap a $60,000 car, replace it with a $300,000 one paid for upfront, and then hand the title over to the city for free. "On top of losing ownership, you’re charged a monthly fee just to keep using it," he said. The city has set a deadline of June 1, 2026, for West Cape Estates residents to submit a written plan to connect to city water. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.
