Cabarrus County, N.C., tests whether development fees will slow growth.

Sep. 22--Cabarrus County's newly quadrupled fee for new houses could reshape growth in the Charlotte region, forcing home prices upward and pressuring other counties to adopt similar fees, experts and area officials said Tuesday.

The fee increase to $4,034 per lot, which takes effect immediately for new projects, is the state's second-highest for school construction. It's also likely to push less expensive homes out of Cabarrus County.

But officials in places that have such fees say they haven't slowed growth.

The Fort Mill (S.C.) School District is the only other place in the Charlotte region that charges such fees, but others are considering them.

Cabarrus increased its fee Monday from $1,008 per lot to raise millions for school construction and keep its property tax rate down.

"If you're going to come to Cabarrus County and create a problem, you're going to pay for it," said Cabarrus County commissioner Coy Privette.

Growing communities nationwide have turned to impact fees as an alternative to raising property taxes to pay for the roads, schools and…