Stormwater Fees - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why Does Takoma Park Have its Own Stormwater Authority?

Takoma Park accepted the transfer of ownership of the stormwater system from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) in 1990. At that time Maryland passed a law banning continued ownership by the utility. The city deliberated and compared the options of County versus City ownership and decided to take over the system to secure control of the infrastructure and to ensure that maintenance and new system needs would be most effectively addressed.

If the City were to transfer the management of the stormwater system to Montgomery County, Takoma Park would no longer get the attention to its stormwater system that it has in the past. The stormwater fee currently goes directly into the City’s program. If the program was managed by the County, the fee paid by residents would be used for the Countywide program, of which Takoma Park would be a small piece.

When Was the Stormwater Utility Fee Established?

The City established the Stormwater Utility Fee in 1996 as a way to establish a stable system of funding and enable charges to be levied on all property owners, including those that were tax-exempt. Takoma Park was the first jurisdiction in Maryland to set up such a fee (we received a grant from the EPA to develop the program). Many other jurisdictions followed suit.

What Does the City Do with The Funds Generated by the Stormwater Utility Fee?

The revenue generated by the Stormwater fee can only be used on the stormwater program. It is a dedicated utility fee with a separate budget. The City is required to meet State and Federally mandated conditions associated with our discharge permit (known as NPDES – see details in next bullet)

In the 1990s and early 2000s, the main activity was the maintenance and cleaning of the existing system of pipes, inlets, and outfalls. Currently, the program addresses that routine inspection and maintenance through video inspection, cleaning, and repair, but also undertakes water quality testing, new system design, and construction and engineering oversight. In addition to the traditional system of inlets, pipes, and outfalls, which channel run-off into the nearby creeks and streams, the City must also implement a program to provide water quality treatment for 20% of the existing impervious area by 2025.

Currently, the City has established a 5-year Capital budget for major stormwater projects in addition to an annual budget for specific repairs or improvements to the existing system. Because the City oversees street and sidewalk repairs we are also able to respond to stormwater problems that are identified when doing that work. The City’s stormwater infrastructure includes over 17 miles of storm drain pipes (some over 100 years old). Since 2006, the City has installed 72 bioretention and treatment facilities.

What are the Permit Requirements for the City’s NPDES Discharge Permit?

As a municipality responsible for water discharge from our jurisdiction, the City is required to have programs in place to address 6 minimum control measures, which include:

• Public Education and Outreach
• Public Involvement and Participation
• Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination
• Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control
• Post Construction Stormwater Management
• Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping

In addition, the City is required to develop and implement an Impervious Area Restoration Workplan to provide water quality treatment for 20% of the existing impervious area by 2025

Why Doesn’t the City Have a Rainscapes Program Like Montgomery County?

Montgomery County has a program to give rebates to property owners who install water quality improvements like rain gardens, permeable pavement or pavement removal, and conservation landscaping to slow and filter water Montgomery County Rainscapes Program.

The County program offers rebates up to a capped amount on a first-come, first-served basis for available funds. Each type of improvement has its own rebate amount. Once a property owner has received the cumulative maximum rebate (generally $7,500), they may no longer use the program. The program is not available to Takoma Park residents because they do not pay into the County system.

The program currently offered as a rebate in the City is the bi-annual bulk buy tree program, in which the City provides a $115 reduction in the cost for a tree planted on private property.

The City has focused its stormwater program and staffing on public infrastructure improvements to meet the State and Federal requirements for water treatment. It is more efficient for the City to meet those environmental requirements using larger-scale public projects than by monitoring individual projects on private property. The administrative time needed to review individual applications and inspect the completed work is significant. If City funds are spent on this program, we would need to count these projects towards our treatment program which also requires verification every three years of their operation.

Rebates and funds to establish a Rainscapes type program would require additional funding, which would require higher fees. The primary beneficiaries of a rebate program are property owners who have the funds to make landscape improvements and have the time and resources to prepare the plans and apply for the rebates. Between the higher Stormwater fees, and the disproportionate benefit to wealthier property owners, a Rainscapes type program would run counter to the City’s Racial Equity goals.

Why is the Stormwater Management Program not Funded by Tax Revenues?

The City’s stormwater management services were funded by tax revenues until the fiscal year 1997; however, tax revenues were not a reliable source of funding for the program as the budget needs had to compete annually with all other City programs. The stormwater utility fee creates a more stable funding source, ensuring that the stormwater system receives adequate funding, independent of tax revenue fluctuations. The utility fee approach is also a more fair and equitable revenue source than a tax based on the assessed value of the property because:

• The fee is based on each property’s actual contribution to stormwater runoff
• Each property, including tax-exempt ones, contributes a fair and equitable share towards the overall cost of the stormwater management program

Does That Mean I Pay Less Tax?

Yes. The dedicated portion of the property tax that was used for the stormwater program was eliminated in 1998. When the funds for the program came through the property tax base, the rates varied from 3 cents to 8 cents per $100 of assessed value. About 80 percent of single-family homeowners pay less for stormwater management under the fee system than they paid when the program was funded through the property tax system.

How is the Rate Established and Residential Property Fees Determined? 

On March 24, 2021 the City Council passed Ordinance 2021-12 which changed the stormwater utility fee from a  flat rate of $92 per single-family property to a tiered rate in which $25 is charged for every 500 square feet of impervious area.

For example, below are the City’s first five tiers:

Currently the city’s highest tier is 9001 – 9500 square feet. The stormwater fee for the highest tier is $475. The new fee structure will be implemented beginning with the FY22 budget billing cycle. For this first year of implementation the stormwater fee is capped at $275.

How are Non-Residential or Multi-Family Property Fees Determined?

Multi-family properties and all non-residential properties are billed at a rate based on their actual impervious area. The base rate in FY1996 was $24, it increased to $48 in 2007 and has been at $92 since FY2018.

Currently, the annual fee is determined for multi-family and non-residential properties by dividing the total impervious area on the property by the ERU (“Equivalent Residential unit” or the average impervious area of single-family properties which is 2,116 sf) and then multiplying that result by the stormwater base fee.

Why Did the City Council Change the Fee Structure?

In 2018, the City hired Black & Veatch to complete an impervious area review of properties in the City and recommend fee options. The study, published in January 2019, can be found here.

Their analysis found that the average impervious area on single-family lots was larger and had a wider variation than originally assumed, with a range from 100 square feet to 10,500 square feet. The consultants recommended the City consider changing the stormwater fee for single-family properties from a flat fee to one that is tiered and based on the actual impervious area on the property. The amount of revenue generated by the proposed new fee structure would produce the same amount of funding as the current flat fee rate.

Under the proposed tier system 20% of single-family property owners would pay less, 24% would pay $100 and 55% would pay more than with the current flat-rate.

How is the Amount of Impervious Area on a Property Determined?

For each single-family property, the Montgomery County Parcel Database was used to determine the impervious area square footage. The database contains the most up-to-date impervious area analysis data available and is based on aerial imagery from MD iMAP, ESRI, Google Maps and LIDAR, parcel data from tax records to identify parcel boundaries, and planimetric data from GIS to identified impervious area information such as roofs, driveways, parking lots and walkways.

How Often Will the City Re-Evaluate Impervious Areas on Private Property?

Montgomery County updates its impervious area database approximately every three years. When new data becomes available the City will reevaluate the stormwater fee for private property.

What is the Definition of Impervious Surface?

City Code 16.08.030: Impervious surfaces means a surface that is compacted or covered with a material that is resistant to infiltration by water, including, but not limited to, most conventionally surfaces streets, roofs, sidewalks, patios, driveways, parking lots, and any other oiled, graveled, graded, compacted or another surface that impedes the natural infiltration of surface water.

For the calculation of the amount of impervious area on private property, the City does not include public streets and sidewalks, even if located within a private property.

Is a Gravel Surface Considered Impervious?

In regard to gravel surfaces, the City follows the general guidance supported by the Maryland Department of the Environment:

Gravel surfaces are considered impervious when used in a way that compacts the gravel over time, such as:

• Storage of equipment
• A driveway or road
• A parking lot for vehicles, boats, or trailers

However, if the gravel surface meets specific criteria, it may qualify as a BMP (best management practice) and be credited accordingly. The surface must be at least 8 inches thick with a layer of geotextile fabric separating the gravel from the ground, covered by at least six inches of number 2 stone, then at least two inches of number 6 or 7 stone gravel surface.

Are Tax-Exempt Properties Exempt from the Stormwater Fee?

No, because it is a fee, not a tax. Taxes are based on the value of the property. The stormwater fee is assessed based on the amount of impervious surfaces on a property.

Can I Appeal the Impervious Area Calculation for my Property?

A property owner may request a correction to the impervious area total for their property or to their property boundary designation if they believe it to be in error. Grounds for correction of the fee include:

• Errors in the square footage of impervious surface area on the property
• Mathematical errors
• Property owner identification error

To request a correction, use this Application Form. The application can be completed online or printed and returned via email to publicworks@takomaparkmd.gov or by mail to Public Works at 31 Oswego Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

The current Code requires submitting a request in writing within 30 days of the assessment notice or receipt of the bill. This requirement is being waived for the first year of implementation. Requests for correction will be accepted through March 31, 2022

A property owner may be required to provide documentation, such as a property survey,  composed by a registered engineer or professional land surveyor when asserting an error in impervious surface calculation.

To request a credit, use the Stormwater Credit Application Form

The City has developed a credit program to recognize efforts already taken by private property owners to reduce stormwater run-off from their property.  The maximum credit available is a 50% reduction of the original Stormwater Utility Fee. Property owners can apply for one or multiple eligible credit categories. Credits are calculated based on the amount of the impervious area treated by the qualifying stormwater control facility.

Qualifying measures include:

• Tree planting (2 tree minimum)
• Rain Garden
• Bioretention Facility
• Bioswale
• Dry Well
• Permeable Pavement
• Green Roof

The Stormwater Utility Fee Credit Policy and Guidance Document can be found here: Stormwater Utility Fee Credit Policy and Guidance Document

To apply for a credit, use the Stormwater Credit Application Form

The Stormwater credit application can be completed online or printed and returned via email to publicworks@takomaparkmd.gov or by mail to Public Works at 31 Oswego Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910. The application does require submission of additional documentation to verify the details of the facility and the impervious area treated. 

Why Do I Have to Pay When I Do Not Have Any Drainage Problems?

Everyone in the City benefits from the Stormwater Management Program. Rain generates run-off and these waters must be managed to keep it off private property and provide safe conveyance into our area creeks and streams. The City must have a program and funding to manage the runoff and reduce pollutants. Direct benefits may include protecting your property from upstream runoff, protecting property downstream from your runoff, and improving water quality in Sligo Creek.

My Neighborhood has Drainage Problems. Who Do I Call to Get Some Action on These Problems?

You can call the Public Works Department at 301.891.7633. The issue will be investigated and if the problem is City’s responsibility, we will add it to our maintenance and repair schedule.

The City Council is currently considering establishing a program to assist private property owners who are experiencing flooding and erosion issues on their property. The details of the program are still under consideration, as is the funding source. The program would be in recognition of the impacts of climate change and the increasing frequency and severity of storms, as well as the complexity of the solutions that may likely involve multiple properties.

What Can I do To Reduce Stormwater Run-Off from My Property?

There are many things that you can do to reduce run-off from your property. Some are low or no cost, while others can be major projects. Some examples of simple measures include:

• Redirect or extend downspouts into grassy areas or garden beds
• Mow your lawn less often
• Plant water-loving shrubs and trees, especially in areas where water collects
• Avoid using pesticides or fertilizers to reduce pollutants in the run-off
• Avoid washing your car on a paved surface, instead, park it on the lawn or better still use a commercial car wash that captures and treats the water at a wastewater treatment plant.
• Cover areas of bare soil with grass seed or ground cover or mulch

Some more ambitious measures include: 

• Add a planting bed or rain garden (especially beneficial if it replaces hardscape or grass)
• Install a French drain to capture and funnel water away from building foundations and driveway and to areas of the yard where it can be absorbed
• Install a dry well or cistern and route your roof drains or sump pump to it
• Remove existing pavement and/or replace it with permeable pavement
• Install a green roof
• Consider altering the layout of your lawn; change slope to reduce run-off as much as possible, provide low areas to encourage water to pond and soak into the ground, terraced slopes to slow the flow of run-off (please keep in mind existing trees and not increasing run-off to neighboring properties)

Want More Information?

 If you would like additional information on the stormwater management utility or have specific concerns about stormwater management issues, please visit the Maryland Stormwater Management page or contact:

Public Works Director,
Email: DarylB@takomaparkmd.gov,
Phone: 301 891 7615