Pass-on charge
A cost a community passes along to residents, such as a tax or utility increase; some states define and limit how these may be charged.
Published May 31, 2026
A pass-on charge is a cost a community passes along to residents — for example, an increase in property taxes or certain utility costs that the community itself is charged and then divides among residents. The term overlaps in everyday use with pass-through charge, though some states define the two differently.
Where state law addresses pass-on charges, it tends to specify which costs may be passed along, how they must be calculated and disclosed, and what notice is required. The point of those rules is to keep such charges tied to real, documented costs rather than being open-ended.
How a charge is categorized — part of the lot rental amount, a user fee, a pass-through, or a pass-on — affects how it can be imposed. Because the definitions vary by state, the label alone is not decisive. This is general information, not legal advice.