YORK COUNTY, S.C. – Building a home in York County could soon become more expensive as local leaders consider increasing impact fees on new developments to support the construction of additional schools.
Under the proposed changes, impact fees could rise to $29,640 per new home and $20,796 per new apartment unit—significantly higher than the current rates of $18,158 per home and $12,020 per apartment, which have been in place since 2018.
The Fort Mill School District, which has already collected over $73 million in impact fees since their introduction, has fully funded Flint Hill Elementary School using these funds. With an estimated 5,221 new students expected to enroll by 2035, school leaders argue that increased fees are necessary to keep up with the county’s rapid growth.
During Monday night’s York County Council meeting, many residents voiced their support for the increase.
However, the proposal has sparked debate among council members. Chairwoman Christi Cox expressed concerns about the affordability of housing for essential workers, such as firefighters, teachers, and police officers.
“I supported the impact fee for Fort Mill when it first came through, but I’m struggling with this number,” Cox said. “How are we going to allow our first responders, our firemen, our teachers—how are they going to afford to live there?”
Despite the concerns, the York County Council voted to approve the ordinance on Monday night. Two additional discussions will take place before the proposal can receive final approval. If passed, the new impact fees would go into effect on July 1.
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