Builders and developers in Lehi are facing a new one-time fee on every home and commercial building they construct, with the money earmarked for police and fire facilities. The Lehi City Council will hold a public hearing and vote on the charge Tuesday, July 28.

The hearing begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 131 N. 100 E., followed by a vote on Ordinance #33-2026. The ordinance would create Lehi's first public safety impact fee, according to the council's published agenda.

What the fee would do

Impact fees are one-time charges assessed when a building permit is issued. They require new development to pay a proportionate share of the public facilities that growth demands. Under Utah's Impact Fees Act (Utah Code Section 11-36a), a city must complete an Impact Fee Facilities Plan and a written Impact Fee Analysis before it can legally impose the charge.

Lehi posted its first public notice of intent to prepare those documents on Wednesday, May 20. The city's Finance Department presented the completed study to the council during a work session on Monday, July 14, setting the stage for the July 28 vote.

The fee would fund public safety facilities such as police stations and fire stations, though the city has not publicly identified specific projects. The exact dollar amounts per residential unit and per commercial square foot are contained in documents referenced in the agenda but not available online as of publication.

Why now

Lehi's growth is straining its public safety departments. The city added 2,386 residents between mid-2024 and mid-2025, ranking fifth in Utah for net population growth, according to a University of Utah Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute report. Lehi has landed in the state's top 10 for growth every year this decade.

That boom has consequences. The Lehi Police Department told the council during April 2026 budget discussions that its caseload has jumped 46% since 2021 and will keep climbing as the population grows. The fire department said it would need more than a 20% budget increase to make wages competitive with neighboring cities. Mayor Paul Binns' proposed fiscal year 2027 budget included a 6% fire department increase ($621,428) and a property tax hike generating $1.7 million for police, fire, parks, and justice courts.

The impact fee would shift some of that cost burden from existing taxpayers to the new construction driving the demand.

How to weigh in

The public hearing is Tuesday, July 28, at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Lehi City Hall, 131 N. 100 E. Written comments are also accepted. Copies of the Impact Fee Enactment Ordinance, Facilities Plan, and Analysis are available for review at the Lehi City Office or by calling the City Recorder at 385-201-2269. Residents needing ADA accommodations should contact the City Recorder at least 48 hours before the hearing.