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Council adopts requirement for individual water meters on new units
Summary
Smithfield adopted ordinance 2025-25 to require a separate water meter for each new residential and commercial unit (including ADUs) going forward; the change is prospective only and will not force retroactive meter splits on existing properties.
Smithfield City Council voted on Nov. 17 to adopt ordinance 2025-25, an amendment to the city’s Construction and Design Standards (Culinary Water System Design) that would require an individual water meter for each new residential and commercial unit.
City staff described recurring problems with shared meters—examples included a commercial owner who would not pay and tenants left without an effective enforcement path, and multifamily units where landlords divide a single bill across tenants in ways tenants consider unfair. Staff said the amendment would apply only to new construction and accessory dwelling units going forward; existing shared-meter situations would be grandfathered and remain in place because retrofitting current properties can be disruptive and expensive.
During the brief public hearing a resident recounted a past local example where shared meters created a billing kerfuffle and said the ordinance would prevent similar issues in the future. Council members asked clarifying questions and then moved and passed the ordinance by roll-call vote.
The ordinance aims to simplify utility billing, reduce enforcement costs, and prevent disputes by ensuring each unit pays for its own measured consumption. Staff said enforcement and technical details will be implemented as part of new building permits and utility connections.
