Service buildings

This article is considered accurate for the current version of the game.

All but the tiniest of villages require service buildings to provide services and transportation to its citizens and business. These public institutions are distinct from the "private" buildings which spontaneously grow in zones. As the city grows past the different milestones, more services and their buildings will be unlocked. Residents will usually start demanding these services shortly after they are unlocked.

Different service buildings provide their services in different ways. For example, water and power buildings must connect up to supply grids to be effective whereas seaports and airports must connect both to your city's internal transport system and to an external route. Many operate by sending out service vehicles (police cars, fire engines etc.) onto your city's roads to deliver their service. Several passively provide a happiness bonus to nearby areas and almost all service buildings require road access.

All buildings have a maintenance cost which is a function of the relevant service's current budget. This, and other statistics relating to a building's function can be viewed on its info window. A building can be switched off via this info window, eliminating the maintenance cost but also halting the service provision and any happiness bonus.

Most service buildings employ citizens, however, unlike the info windows of zoned buildings which employ people, details of these jobs are hidden and cannot be seen in the unmodded game. Buildings will never complain about the supply or education level of workers, and can actually function with zero workers if needs be.

Relocation

Service buildings can be relocated via an option in their info windows. This is expensive, but is always cheaper than demolishing the building and building a new instance.

Cemeteries, snow dumps and landfill sites cannot be relocated (or demolished) unless they are empty.

List of service buildings

This list does not include the numerous Parks and Plazas and unique buildings. For details of these, please see the appropriate article. Some Monuments are also unique service buildings and are therefore included in the tables where applicable for comparison purposes only.

Electricity

Main article: Power

Building	Unlocked	Cost (₡)	Upkeep (₡/week)	Pollution	Noise Pollution	Water (m3/week)	Electricity (MW)	₡/MW/week	Size (cells)	DLC	Notes
Advanced Wind Turbine	Boom Town	12,000	200	0	75	0	20	10	7×7	-	Power Output: 0 - 20 MW (0.41/tile, 10₡/MW) Must be built in water. Output is based on wind speed in area.
Coal Power Plant	Start	19,000	560	50	50	0	40	14	6×5	-	Power Output: 40 MW (1.34/tile, 14₡/MW)
Fusion Power Plant	Megalopolis	1,000,000	8,000	0	75	4,000	16,000	0.5	16×8	-	Monument Power Output: 16,000 MW
Geothermal Power Plant	Busy Town	65,000	1,040	0	50	0	80	13	5×16		Power Output: 80 MW (1/tile, 13₡/MW)
Hydro Power Plant	Small City	varies	varies	0	0	0	0	0	varies	-	Power Output: varies The cost/upkeep and size are all variable. The bigger the dam, the bigger those values will be. The power output also varies and does depend on water height on either side of the dam.
Nuclear Power Plant	Colossal City	200,000	8,000	0	50	1,920	640	12.5	15×9	-	Power Output: 640 MW (4.75/tile, 12.5₡/MW)
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Plant	Colossal City	250,000	6,400	0	70	960	480	13.33	×		Power Output: 480 MW (?/tile, 13.3₡/MW) Plant must be placed on shoreline.
Oil Power Plant	Busy Town	50,000	1,920	35	50	80	120	16	8×5	-	Power Output: 120 MW (3/tile, 16₡/MW)
Solar Power Plant	Grand City	80,000	1,200	0	25	80	160	7.5	12×12	-	Power Output: 160 MW (1.12/tile, 7.5₡/MW) Night time output is 70% of daytime output.
Solar Updraft Tower	Big Town	90,000	2,240	0	50	320	240	9.33	12×13		Power Output: 240 MW (1.54/tile, 9.3₡/MW)
Wave Power Plant	Boom Town	14,000	160	0	40	0	20	8	5×3		Power output: 0-20 MW (1.34/tile, 8₡/MW) Must be built in water. Output is based on wind speed in area.
Wind Turbine	Start	6,000	80	0	75	0	8	10	7×7	-	Power Output: 0 - 8 MW (0.16/tile, 10₡/MW) Doesn't require road access. Output is based on wind speed in area.

Transport

Main article: Transportation

Building	Unlocked	Cost (₡)	Upkeep (₡/week)	Pollution	Noise Pollution	Water (m3/week)	Electricity (kW)	Size (cells)	DLC	Notes
Airport	Metropolis	150,000	4,800	0	150	960	1,600	64×22	-	Provides tourist access to city.
Biofuel Bus Depot	Boom Town	40,000	960	0	25	240	640	6×4		Source of Biofuel buses.
Bus Depot	Boom Town	30,000	720	0	50	320	800	6×6	-	Source of buses.
Bus Station	Busy Town	65,000	1,200	0	75	320	800	16×8		Not a source of buses. Allows multiple bus routes to have a stop in one location without blocking the road.
Cable Car Stop	Small City	15,000	272	0	50	80	160	3×6		Cable car lines can end at or pass through this stop.
Cable Car Stop, End-of-Line	Small City	15,000	272	0	50	80	160	3×4		Cable car lines end at this stop.
Cargo Airport	Metropolis	200,000	3,200	0	150	800	1,920	64×26		Airport specializing in cargo delivery. Truck and plane cargo transfer area.
Cargo Airport Hub	Megalopolis	250,000	4,000	0	200	1,120	2,400	64×26		Airport specializing in cargo delivery. Truck, train and plane cargo transfer area.
Cargo Harbor	Capital City	60,000	1,920	0	120	1,040	1,600	15×8	-	Allows trucks to transfer cargo to/from ships. Must be built on shoreline with access to shipping route. Ships travel to/from outside connections (off the map), and to other Cargo Harbors and Cargo Hubs within the city.
Cargo Hub	Colossal City	90,000	2,400	0	120	11,020	19,200	24×8		Combination of "Cargo Train Terminal" and "Cargo Harbor". Provides direct rail access for cargo arriving/departing via ship, in addition to trucks.
Cargo Train Terminal	Small City	60,000	1,440	0	115	400	1,200	16×6	-	Trucks transfer cargo to/from trains. Trains travel to/from outside connections (off the map), and to other Cargo Train Terminals in the city. Unlike Passenger Trains, players do not create "routes".
Ferry Depot	Boom Town	33,000	752	0	75	320	800	12×8		Spawns Ferries and must be connected to ferry pathways. Does not act as a stop.
Ferry Stop	Boom Town	5,000	96	0	50	80	160	4×7		A small ferry stop that fits in a canal easily.
Ferry Pier	Boom Town	7,000	112	0	70	80	240	12×12		A large ferry stop with room for two ferries at once.
Ferry and Bus Exchange Stop	Busy Town	75,000	1,040	0	75	80	160	12×8		Connect ferry and bus networks with this combined stop.
Harbor	Capital City	80,000	1,600	0	120	1,040	1,600	15×8	-	Provides tourist access to city. Must be built on shoreline with access to shipping route. Ships travel to/from outside connections (off the map).
Hot Air Balloon Tours	Big Town	7,500	64	0	0	0	48	7×13		Organizes hot air balloon tours over the city. Tours with a high appeal value around the starting point are more popular.
International Airport	Megalopolis	2,500,000	8,000	0	175	1,280	4,800	64×64		Provides tourist access to city. Metro station built in. Requires additional 60×14 cells for the runway.
Metro Station	Big Town	15,000	240	0	50	160	480	2×2	-	Metro station tunnels have a length of 10 tiles (this length can be changed with Steam Workshop modifications).
Metro-Monorail-Train Hub	Small City	70,000	1,040	0	135	400	1,200	20×8		Passengers can switch between metro/monorail/train inside the building. Metro trains/Monorails/Passenger trains travel between stations as dictated by player made routes. Passenger trains will travel to/from outside connections (off map) if "Allow Intercity Trains" is enabled.
Monorail Station	Small City	15,000	240	0	115	160	480	10×3		Monorail station built beside a road.
Monorail Station With Road	Small City	20,000	320	0	115	160	480	8×4		Same as "Monorail Station", but built on top of a road. Road is a 'medium' "Four-lane Road".
Monorail-Bus Hub	Small City	32,000	512	0	125	400	800	16×10		A monorail station built on top of road, with built-in bus stops on both sides of the road. Road is a 'medium' "Four-lane Road".
Post Office	Boom Town	6,000	80	0	10	160	640	4×3		Provides local postal service. Post vans: 10 Post Trucks: 2
Post Sorting Facility	Big Town	25,000	400	0	30	240	1,280	9×12		Large trucks collect mail from local post offices for sorting and delivery outside the city. Sorting Capacity: 8,000 pieces of mail/week Post Trucks: 20
Sightseeing Bus Depot	Busy Town	35,000	800	0	50	320	800	6×4		Sends out buses to bus tour lines.
Taxi depot	Boom Town	15,000	160	0	40	160	160	6×3		Source of taxi cabs. Taxis are dispatched as required, and return here at the end of their shift. Capacity: 25 taxis
Taxi stand	Boom Town	1,000	16	0	10	32	80	4×1		Not a source of taxi cabs. When a taxi cab is not busy it will return to the closest taxi stand to wait for a fare - unless a taxi depot is closer. Capacity: 5 taxis
Train Station	Small City	45,000	960	0	115	400	1,200	16×3	-	The train station platforms have a length of 60 tiles. Passenger trains travel between stations as dictated by player made routes. Passenger trains will travel to/from outside connections (off map) if "Allow Intercity Trains" is enabled.
Train Station, Multi-platform	Small City	60,000	960	0	125	400	1,200	20×16		A train station with 12 platforms (six pairs of track). Passenger trains travel between stations as dictated by player made routes. Passenger trains will travel to/from outside connections (off map) if "Allow Intercity Trains" is enabled.
Train Station, Multi-platform End Station	Small City	60,000	960	0	125	400	1,200	16×25		An end-of-line train station with 12 platforms (six pairs of track). Passenger trains travel between stations as dictated by player made routes. Passenger trains will travel to/from outside connections (off map) if "Allow Intercity Trains" is enabled.
Tram depot	Boom Town	40,000	768	0	75	80	240	10×12		Source of trams and must be connected to tram tracks.

Healthcare

Main article: Healthcare

Building	Unlocked	Cost (₡)	Upkeep (₡/week)	Pollution	Noise Pollution	Water (m3/week)	Electricity (kW)	Size (cells)	DLC	Notes
Cemetery	Boom Town	8,000	160	0	0	64	128	10×8	-	Patient capacity: 3,000 Hearses: 10 Can only be moved or demolished when empty.
Community Pool	Busy Town	75,000	1,200	0	0	960	480	6×6		Health benefit to area. Visitor capacity: 120
Crematorium	Big City	25,000	720	0	0	160	480	3×3	-	Patient capacity: 105 Hearses: 7
Cryopreservatory	Big City	32,000	800	0	0	320	640	4×4		Effectively equivalent to a larger Crematorium. Patient Capacity:120 Hearses: 10
Hospital European Hospital	Busy Town	65,000	2,400	0	0	400	960	10×8 8×5	-	Patient capacity: 500 Ambulances: 30
Medical Center	Megalopolis	650,000	14,400	0	0	640	1,440	15×9	-	Monument Patient capacity: 1,000 Ambulances: 50 Helipad accepts Medical Helicopters.
Medical Clinic European Medical Clinic	Little Hamlet	10,000	400	0	0	320	640	4×4 5×4	-	Patient capacity: 100 Ambulances: 8
Medical Helicopter Depot	Boom Town	50,000	1,200	0	15	128	720	13×9		Picks up patients and delivers them to a hospital, clinic or Medical Laboratory. Medical helicopter capacity: 3
Medical Laboratory	Busy Town	42,000	1,280	0	0	640	960	10×6		Clinic without ambulances. Patients can walk in, or be delivered by helicopter. Patient Capacity: 20
Sauna	Big Town	25,000	400	0	0	240	240	3×4		Saunas create a health bonus to the neighborhood around them and increase happiness. Visitor capacity: 60
Sports Hall and Gymnasium	Tiny Town	120,000	2,400	0	0	640	960	6×8		Health benefit to area. Visitor capacity: 180
Yoga Garden	Small City	90,000	1,600	0	0	480	320	4×5		Health benefit to area. Visitor capacity: 90

Disaster services

Main article: Disaster Services

Building	Unlocked	Cost (₡)	Upkeep (₡/week)	Pollution	Noise Pollution	Water (m3/week)	Electricity (kW)	Size (cells)	DLC	Notes
Deep Space Radar	Big Town	25,000	720	0	0	160	480	10x10		Radar scans the heavens for any asteroids. Provides early warning and approximate impact site. One building covers the whole city. Detection distance depends on "Emergency Services" budget. At 50%, 25%. At 100% and above, 100%.
Disaster Response Unit	Boom Town	15,000	640	0	0	160	480	14x21		Dispatches emergency teams to search for cims in destroyed buildings. Rescue Trucks: 10 Rescue Helicopters: 3
Earthquake Sensor	Big Town	3,500	43	0	0	0	0	1x1		Provides early warning of earthquakes and sinkholes. Does not require road access. Detection range depends on "Emergency Services" budget. At 50%, 500m. At 100%, 2000m. At 150%, 2500m.
Emergency Shelter, Small	Boom Town	24,000	480	0	0	400	1,040	2x3		A shelter to allow cims to be safe from disasters. Shelter Capacity: 1,000 Evacuation buses: 5
Emergency Shelter, Large	Big Town	74,000	1,600	0	0	960	1,760	4x10		A shelter to allow cims to be safe from disasters. Shelter Capacity: 10,000 Evacuation buses: 10
Radio Mast, Short	Boom Town	10,000	208	0	0	0	240	1x2		Transmits emergency broadcasts. Areas with coverage will have more citizens going to shelters when called. Terrain can hinder radio signals. Does not require road access. Transmission power depends on "Emergency Services" budget. At 50%, 100kW. At 100%, 400kW. At 150%, 500kW. Mast height: 100m
Radio Mast, Tall	Big Town	25,000	432	0	0	0	480	23x20		Transmits emergency broadcasts. Areas with coverage will have more citizens going to shelters when called. Terrain can hinder radio signals. Does not require road access. Transmission power depends on "Emergency Services" budget. At 50%, 156kW. At 100%, 600kW. At 150%, 756kW. Mast height: 220m
Tsunami Warning Buoy	Busy Town	4,000	48	0	0	0	0	1x1		Monitors water level for changes indicating tsunami approaching. Place on water. Road access not required. Detection sensitivity depends on "Emergency Services" budget. At 50%, 40m. At 100% and above, 10m.
Weather Radar	Busy Town	25,000	720	0	0	160	480	3x2		The Weather Radar predicts strong thunderstorms and tornados. Provides early warning and approximate location. One building covers the whole city. Forecast advanced warning depends on "Emergency Services" budget. At 50%, 4 days. At 100%, 14 days. At 150%, 18 days.

Education

Main article: Education

Building	Unlocked	Cost (₡)	Upkeep (₡/week)	Pollution	Noise Pollution	Water (m3/week)	Electricity (kW)	Size (cells)	DLC	Notes
Community School	Little Hamlet	12,000	240	0	0	160	320	8×4		An alternative to Elementary School. Student capacity: 250
Elementary School European Elementary School	Little Hamlet	10,000	160	0	0	240	480	6×4 4x3	-	Student capacity: 300
Faculty	Big Town	24,000	640	0	0	320	320	3×5		A small University. Student Capacity: 800
Hadron Collider	Megalopolis	800,000	9,600	0	100	640	1,440	14×11	-	Monument Provides all education the for city.
High School European High School	Tiny Town	24,000	560	0	0	640	1,440	6×5 9×10	-	Student capacity: 1,000
Institute of Creative Arts	Tiny Town	30,000	720	0	0	240	640	10×6		An alternative to the High School. A prestigious school specializing in creative arts. Student capacity: 800
Modern Technology Institute	Big Town	90,000	2,400	0	0	480	1,200	12x13		An alternative to the University. Teaches in the ways of technology. Student capacity: 4,000
University European University	Big Town	75,000	1,920	0	0	640	1,440	14×8 11×9	-	Student capacity: 4,500

Fire

Main article: Fire Department

Building	Unlocked	Cost (₡)	Upkeep (₡/week)	Pollution	Noise Pollution	Water (m3/week)	Electricity (kW)	Size (cells)	DLC	Notes
Fire Helicopter Depot	Busy Town	55,000	1,400	0	15	128	480	10×14		Fire helicopters must pick up water from a water source (ocean/lake/river) before proceeding to the fire. Fire helicopter capacity: 3
Fire House European Fire House	Worthy Village	12,000	560	0	0	480	720	4×3 3×2	-	Fire engine capacity: 6
Fire Station European Fire Station	Busy Town	60,000	1,440	0	0	960	1,440	6×4 4×3	-	Fire engine capacity: 25
Fire Watch Tower	Big Town	9,000	96	0	0	0	0	2×2		Fire Watch Towers can spot forest fires early. Doesn't require road access. Tower height: 36m

Heating

Main article: Heating Systems

Building	Unlocked	Cost (₡)	Upkeep (₡/week)	Pollution	Noise Pollution	Water (m3/week)	Electricity (kW)	Size (cells)	DLC	Notes
Geothermal heating plant	Boom Town	55,000	480	0	75	160	160	9×15		Heating Output: 80 MW (0.6/tile, 6₡/MW)
Boiler station	Boom Town	60,000	640	35	75	80	320	6×4		Heating Output: 120 MW (5.3/tile, 5.3₡/MW)

Garbage

Main article: Garbage disposal

Building	Unlocked	Cost (₡)	Upkeep (₡/week)	Pollution	Noise Pollution	Water (m3/week)	Electricity (kW)	Size (cells)	DLC	Notes
Floating Garbage Collector	Big City	50,000	1,120	0	10	0	0	4×4		Lessens water pollution. A floating building. Must be placed on water. Has nothing to do with garbage at all. When placed in contaminated water it removes the sewage pollution around it.
Incineration Plant	Big Town	30,000	1,440	100	50	192	0	5×4	-	Eliminates garbage and produces a small amount of electricity as well as a significant amount of pollution. Garbage truck capacity: 27 Capacity: 400,000 Processing rate: 48,000/week Power Output: 12 MW
Landfill Site	Little Hamlet	4,000	160	100	0	0	0	8×10	-	Accumulates garbage until it is full, and pollutes the surrounding area. Storage only. Garbage truck capacity: 15 Capacity: 8,000,000 Can only be moved or demolished when empty.
Recycling Center	Little Hamlet	16,000	240	25	10	240	240	7×4		Eliminates garbage and produces resources which get distributed to industrial buildings that require them. It pollutes the surrounding area less than the incinerator or landfill. Garbage truck capacity: 15 Capacity: 200,000 Processing Rate: 24,000/week Produces small amounts of raw materials from the waste.
Ultimate Recycling Plant	Megalopolis	750,000	8,000	0	80	640	0	16×8		Monument Processing Rate: 480,000 / week Power Output: 60 MW Garbage Truck Capacity: 100

Police

Main article: Police Department

Building	Unlocked	Cost (₡)	Upkeep (₡/week)	Pollution	Noise Pollution	Water (m3/week)	Electricity (kW)	Size (cells)	DLC	Notes
Intelligence Agency	Busy Town	60,000	1,600	0	25	800	1,280	10×8		Effectively a Police Station. Prisoner capacity: 15 Patrol Car Capacity: 20
Police Headquarters European Police Headquarters	Busy Town	60,000	1,600	0	0	480	1,280	6×4 6×5	-	Prisoner Capacity: 60 Patrol car capacity: 25
Police Helicopter Depot	Big Town	60,000	1,600	0	15	160	1600	14×8		Helicopters patrol city reducing crime. Police helicopter capacity: 3
Police Station European Police Station	Worthy Village	12,000	480	0	0	240	640	4×3 4×3	-	Prisoner Capacity: 20 Patrol car capacity: 10
Prison	Big Town	120,000	2,400	0	100	1,120	1,920	15×9		Prison vans pick up prisoners from police stations and transfer them to the prison. Prisoner Capacity: 500 Prison van capacity: 5

Road maintenance

Main article: Maintenance

Building	Unlocked	Cost (₡)	Upkeep (₡/week)	Pollution	Noise Pollution	Water (m3/week)	Electricity (kW)	Size (cells)	DLC	Notes
Road maintenance depot	Busy Town	40,000	480	0	0	160	160	8×4		Maintenance Trucks boost speeds on roads for a short while. Maintenance truck capacity: 10
Snow dump	Little Hamlet	5,000	32	0	100	160	160	10×8		Snow ploughs clear snow from roads and take it to the Snow Dump where it is slowly melted. Can only be moved or demolished when empty. Capacity: 10 snow ploughs and 250,000 snow

Water & Sewage

Main article: Water and sewage

Building	Unlocked	Cost (₡)	Upkeep (₡/week)	Pollution	Noise Pollution	Water (m3/week)	Electricity (kW)	Size (cells)	DLC	Notes
Eco Water Outlet	Start	4,000	480	0	10	0	480	2×7		Drain capacity: 60,000 m3/week Pollution output reduced. Doesn't require road access.
Eco Water Treatment Plant	Capital City	25,000	560	0	15	0	1,280	8×9		Drain capacity: 160,000 m3/week Pollution output reduced by 94%. Doesn't require road access.
Water Drain Pipe	Start	2,500	320	0	10	0	240	2×7	-	Drain capacity: 120,000 m3/week Doesn't require road access.
Water Pumping Station	Start	2,500	240	0	25	0	240	3×5	-	Pumping capacity: 120,000 m3/week Doesn't require road access.
Water Tower	Start	3,500	240	0	25	0	240	2×2	-	Pumping capacity: 60,000 m3/week Doesn't require road access. Do not place on polluted ground or water supply will be contaminated.
Water Treatment Plant	Big City	15,000	640	0	15	0	480	8×9	-	Drain capacity: 160,000 m3/week Pollution output reduced by 85% Doesn't require road access.
Fresh Water Outlet	Tiny Town	2,500	320	0	10	0	240	1×3		Drain capacity: 24,000 m3/week Doesn't require road access.
Pumping Service	Busy Town	100,000	1,600	0	40	0	1,440	8×14		Vacuum trucks suck up flood water, and empty at Pumping Service. Released through sewer system. Storage capacity: 1,000,000 m3 Vehicle Capacity: 10
Tank Reservoir	Boom Town	25,000	720	0	0	0	480	5×12		Water tanks fill when there is excess production, and release water if production is low. Storage capacity: 600,000 m3 Operating Rate: 120,000 m3/week