Cape Coral Utilities Extension Project 2025 — What’s Accelerating, What’s Slowing, and How to Prepare
Written by Tracie Finley, Southwest Florida Real Estate Agent & Cape Coral Specialist
A Two-Minute Refresher on the UEP
Cape Coral’s multi-decade Utilities Extension Project (UEP) is phasing out septic tanks and shallow wells and replacing them with:
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Gravity sewers (good-bye nutrient-rich runoff)
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Deep-aquifer city water (no more well-screen sediment in your dishwasher)
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Reclaimed irrigation water (freeing up potable supply)
Until now, areas north of Pine Island Road were scheduled in numerical order (North 1, North 3, etc. (North 2 Completed in 2018)). Early this year, Council adopted Resolution 65-25, reshuffling the deck to curb a mounting groundwater crisis.
What’s Changing in 2025
| UEP Area | New Construction Window | Previous Target | Why the Shift? |
|---|---|---|---|
| North 6 (Kismet Pkwy ➜ Durden Pkwy / Burnt Store Rd ➜ El Dorado Blvd) |
2026 – 2030 | 2030 – 2035 | Aquifer dropped 4.2 ft; >200 well failures in 2024 |
| North 3 (Burnt Store Rd ➜ Old Burnt Store Rd / Jacaranda Pkwy ➜ Kismet Pkwy) |
2026 – 2028 design & start pushed 2 yrs | 2024 – 2026 | Crews and PVC re-allocated to North 6; budget smoothing |
| North 1 West | 2023 – late 2025 | unchanged | Work already 70 % complete |
| North 1 East | Early 2025 – 2027 | unchanged | Design is 80 % complete |
| North 4/5 | 2031 – 2035 | depends on new reclamation plant | TBD |
| North 7-11 | 2040 – 2045 | unchanged (may tighten) | TBD |
What North 6 Home-owners Should Expect
| Topic | Key Points |
|---|---|
| Assessments | $35 k – $45 k per property (20-30 yr pay plan; hardship deferrals available) |
| Construction | Street trenching begins 2026, finished surfaces by 2030 |
| Immediate To-Do | • Get on my UEP Update List • Photograph driveways & landscaping • Budget the first annual installment |
What North 3 Residents Need to Know About the 2028 Delay
| Time-frame | Smart Moves |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Evaluate well health; inexpensive repairs beat full replacement |
| 2026 | 60 % design review—flag driveway culvert or big-tree conflicts early |
| 2027 | Assessment hearing; projections $33 k – $43 k (indexed to CPI) |
| 2028 | Construction begins—arrange parking & document property for restoration claims |
Silver lining: Delayed construction = more time to save and possibly refinance before assessments hit.
Market Impact at a Glance
| Scenario | Likely Outcome |
|---|---|
| Selling in North 6 before 2030 | City-water premium may add value once pipe is in the ground—even before final hook-up. |
| Selling in North 3 before 2028 | “Assessment not yet levied” message attracts budget-minded buyers; disclose the 2028 schedule clearly. |
| Buying a vacant lot in either area | You can build sooner, but you’ll install well & septic now and pay to remove them later—budget an extra $20 k-$25 k. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep my well for lawn watering once the city connects me?
Yes, but the well must be permanently isolated from household plumbing and inspected for cross-connection and the city is bringing grey water irrigation to you, which could render the well obsolete.
Will North 3 assessments be higher because of the delay?
Only by normal inflation adjustments. The City caps annual UEP assessment increases to CPI.
Is it worth pre-paying an assessment up front?
If you have the cash, yes—interest on the 20-30 year pay plan adds quite a bit to the total (UEP1 interest rate was 6.5% annually). But never drain your emergency fund just to pre-pay.
Action Checklist for Every UEP Zone
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Verify your boundary. Use the City’s interactive map or call me and I’ll look it up.
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Subscribe to project emails. Each area has its own blast list.
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Budget realistically. Line-item the assessment, potential driveway re-pours, and temporary lodging if you work from home during construction.
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Talk to your lender early. Some mortgages require escrow for upcoming assessments.
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Plan resale strategy. Paid-in-full assessments generally shorten days-on-market; financed assessments give buyers a lower entry cost. We can model both.
Final Thoughts
Cape Coral’s growth isn’t slowing, and neither are the environmental pressures on our groundwater. Fast-tracking North 6 brings relief where it’s most urgent; delaying North 3 buys residents time to plan and save. Either way, informed preparation will turn a disruptive project into a long-term equity boost.
Have questions about how the new timeline affects your property plans? Call or text me at (239) 355-5898, or email FinleyT@sellmyflorida.house.
Let’s navigate the UEP together—so your next real-estate move taps every drop of opportunity Southwest Florida offers.
Transparent Realty – Making Real Estate Great Again.