DURHAM, N.C. — Homebuilders may soon have to pay higher prices to put up homes in Durham County.

A bill filed Tuesday in the state house could give Durham County the right to charge builders impact fees.

Impact fees help local governments recover the cost of providing public facilities such as schools for new developments. According to the proposed legislation, the impact fees would only be used for improvements to public schools within the county.

Developers may pass the cost on to homebuyers purchasing the newly developed property.

These impact fees are also at the center of a court case.

Builders in Durham had gone to court because the county had been imposing impact fees without legislative approval, they said. A judge ruled the county needed to pay back $2 million it collected. But this decision is on hold because of an appeal.